The short answer
In London, Ontario, garage door spring repair typically starts around $220 for a standard residential job, including the spring itself and labour. Most homeowners pay somewhere between $220 and $350 depending on the type of spring, how many need replacing, and the size of the door.
That range covers the large majority of homes. Heavier doors, double-spring systems, or hard-to-source spring sizes can push the price higher — but a typical single-spring replacement on a standard door sits at the lower end.
A garage door spring is under extreme tension. This is not a DIY repair — a spring that lets go can cause serious injury. Always have springs replaced by a trained technician.
Torsion springs vs extension springs
Garage doors use one of two spring systems, and which one you have affects the cost.
Torsion springs
These mount on a metal bar above the door opening and are the more common, more durable choice. Torsion spring replacement usually runs slightly higher because the part costs more and the installation requires more skill — but the system lasts longer and operates more smoothly.
Extension springs
These run along the horizontal tracks on either side of the door. They are typically less expensive to replace, but they wear faster and most technicians recommend replacing them in pairs so the door stays balanced.
If your door has two springs and one has broken, it is almost always worth replacing both at the same time. The second spring has the same age and wear, and replacing them together saves you a second service call within months.
What changes the price
A few factors move the cost up or down from that baseline:
- Single vs double spring system — two springs means more parts and labour
- Door size and weight — heavier insulated and double-wide doors need higher-cycle springs
- Spring quality — standard-cycle vs high-cycle springs that last longer
- Accessibility — a cluttered or hard-to-reach garage adds time
- Emergency or after-hours service — same-day and overnight calls may carry a premium
A reputable company will give you a firm, all-in quote before any work begins — not a vague estimate that climbs once the job is underway.
How to tell if your spring is actually broken
Before you call anyone, these quick checks confirm whether the spring is the real problem. Each takes a minute and none of them require touching the spring itself.
- 1
Look for a visible gap in the spring
Stand inside the garage with the door closed and look at the spring above the door or along the tracks. A broken torsion spring usually shows a clear two-to-three inch gap where it separated. This is the most obvious sign.
- 2
Check if the door is too heavy to lift
With the opener disconnected by pulling the red release cord, try to lift the door by hand. A door with a broken spring feels extremely heavy — often 150 to 250 pounds of dead weight — because the spring is no longer counterbalancing it.
- 3
Watch the opener struggle or stop
If the opener motor runs, strains, and the door barely moves or only lifts a few inches, the opener is fine but the spring can no longer do its job. Openers are not built to lift the full weight of a door alone.
- 4
Listen for the bang
A torsion spring failing makes a loud bang — many homeowners think something fell or a firework went off in the garage. If you heard that sound and the door stopped working right after, the spring is almost certainly the cause.
Repair or replace the whole door?
A broken spring on its own is a repair, not a reason to replace the door. Springs are wear items — they have a limited number of open-close cycles and eventually fail even on a perfectly good door. Replacing the spring restores the door to full working order.
Replacing the whole door only makes sense if the door itself is also damaged, badly insulated, or you simply want a new look. If the panels, tracks, and rollers are sound, a spring replacement is the sensible, cost-effective fix.
