Short answer
Before buying a garage door, know your opening size, door type and material, and whether your area needs a wind-rated door. Standard sizes are 8 or 9 feet wide for singles and 16 or 18 feet for doubles. To maintain one, lubricate moving parts and test the auto-reverse monthly, as CPSC advises.
Key facts
- Amarr (Mar 2024): standard single garage doors are 8, 9 or 10 feet wide and doubles 16, 18 or 20 feet, in heights of 7 or 8 feet.[1]
- CPSC: inspect the garage door and opener every 30 days and test the reverse function with a 2x4 on the floor.[2]
- HomeGuide (Jul 2025): most garage door openers are 1/2 HP and last 10 to 15 years.[3]
- IBHS: the garage door is the largest opening in a home and one of its most vulnerable areas in high winds.[4]
Buying a garage door
Types of garage doors. Sectional, roll-up, tilt-up, sliding, carriage house and glass styles, plus steel, aluminum, wood, vinyl and fiberglass. HomeGuide calls the sectional door the most popular style, at $250 to $1,400 for the door alone[5].
Garage door sizes. Standard single doors are 8, 9 or 10 feet wide and doubles 16, 18 or 20 feet, in heights of 7 or 8 feet[1]. The guide covers how to measure width, height, headroom, side room and backroom, with door prices by size.
Hurricane garage doors. IBHS calls the garage door the largest opening in a home and one of its most vulnerable areas[4]. The guide explains wind ratings and design pressure, and which Texas coastal areas fall under windstorm certification.
Openers
Garage door openers. Chain, belt, screw, direct drive and wall-mount jackshaft openers compared, with horsepower, smart features and battery backup. HomeGuide says most openers are 1/2 HP and last 10 to 15 years[3]. It also covers California's battery backup law and the federal safety rules every opener must meet.
Keeping a door working
Garage door maintenance. What to lubricate and what not to, the monthly auto-reverse and sensor tests, and what a professional tune-up includes and costs. CPSC advises inspecting the door and opener every 30 days[2].
When something has already gone wrong, start with garage door troubleshooting.
Prices
These guides explain options. For prices, see:
- Garage door installation cost
- Garage door opener installation cost
- Garage door repair cost
- Garage door panel replacement cost
- The garage door cost estimator
Quick answers
- Most common door: a steel sectional door[5].
- Most common sizes: 8x7 or 9x7 for one car, 16x7 for two cars[1].
- Most common opener size: 1/2 HP[3].
- The one safety test to do monthly: close the door on a 2x4 laid on the floor. If it does not reverse, CPSC says to disengage the opener until it is adjusted, repaired or replaced[2].
- The one part never to touch: the springs, and the cables connected to them.
How we write these guides
Every number on these pages links to a source: door and opener makers, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, FEMA, IBHS, the Texas Department of Insurance and national cost publishers. Prices are national ranges, not quotes. We are an information site that can connect homeowners with independent garage door contractors; we do not install or repair doors.
When to call a pro
- Any job that touches springs, cables or tracks.
- A new door or opener install, so the door is balanced and the safety system tested.
- Your area may require a wind-rated door or a windstorm inspection.
- To turn a national range into a firm price for your garage.
Sources
- What's the standard garage door height? A garage door sizing guide (Mar 29, 2024), Amarr. Accessed 2026-10-15.
- Non-reversing automatic garage door openers are a hazard (Pub. 523), U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Accessed 2026-10-15.
- How much does a garage door opener installation cost? (Jul 10, 2025), HomeGuide. Accessed 2026-10-15.
- Why a strong garage door matters, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). Accessed 2026-10-15.
- Garage door prices (Jul 9, 2025), HomeGuide. Accessed 2026-10-15.
Garage Repair Quote is an information and referral service run by Strive LeadGen LLC. We may be paid by contractors when we connect a homeowner with one; that never changes what we publish. Found an error? Tell us. We review safety and legal reports within 2 business days and all others within 7 days.