Garage doors vary in size depending on multiple factors, including material, size, thickness, and insulation.
Generally, the number can be anywhere from 100 pounds to over 400 pounds! While wanting to know your garage’s weight may not be high on your list of priorities, it is important nonetheless.
Should you ever need to replace a broken-down component of your garage, you may need to know your garage’s weight, which is a relatively straightforward process and one that most homeowners can do on their own, especially when following this guide!
Garage Door Weight by Material
While wood garage doors are beautiful, they’re also one of the heaviest options, given that solid wood is a hefty material. As a result, you can expect a single wood garage door to weigh over 300 pounds for a single door and a double to be over 500 pounds, nearly double cheaper alternatives.
This industry standard is also one of the lightest garage door options. Steel doors typically weigh around 80 pounds for a single door and over 150 pounds for double garage doors. However, it’s important to note that the weight will vary significantly when it comes to steel doors, depending on the thickness. Overall, steel doors are less than half the weight of wood doors!
A unique mixture of steel and wood, the overlay door is becoming increasingly popular. This door combines the best of both worlds while mitigating any detriments associated with either material. As the name suggests, the garage door is a steel base with a wood overlay. A bit lighter but maintaining the natural wood beauty, the typical weight for this type of door can be anywhere from 250 pounds for singles to 400 pounds or so for a double door.
Glass garage doors, while contemporary and beautiful, increase significantly when it comes to price and weight. You can expect any high-quality glass garage door to weigh more than 300 pounds for a single door and nearly double that for a two-car garage door at 550 or more pounds.
Garage Door Weight by Dimensions
In addition to material, you can also estimate the weight of your garage based on its dimensions, width, or the length by width configuration. But there are general weights available based on material.
If using a vinyl garage door as an example, the following measurements are applicable:
9×7 Garage Door Weight:
- Expect a 9×7 uninsulated vinyl garage door to weigh between 85 and 95 pounds.
- If insulated, the weight can increase substantially, making the new weight anywhere between 95-115 pounds.
14×7 Garage Door Weight:
- Expect a 14×7 uninsulated vinyl garage door to weigh between 135 pounds and 150 pounds.
- If insulated, the weight can increase to between 145-170 pounds.
How Insulation Affects Garage Door Weight
Insulation’s effect on weight can vary depending on the quality and the size of the door being insulated and the type of insulation you choose. As a result, you can expect a difference between insulated and non-insulated door of anywhere from 10 to 20 pounds or more! Though it may not seem like it in the grand scheme of things, the weight that insulation adds may bump your garage into a higher weight bracket, meaning you need to purchase new components to keep your garage door running smoothly.
Note: if you want to learn more on how to properly insulate your garage door, check out our guide on How To Insulate A Garage Door Yourself The Right Way
How Thickness Affects Garage Door Weight
Because there is more material in a thicker garage door cut, you can expect it to weigh more than a thinner door. Doors can vary in thickness, anywhere from just over an inch thick to more than three inches thick, depending on material and purpose.
The thinnest doors will be the least inexpensive but also the least durable. With that being said, most garage doors sit in the middle at 2 inches, a perfect merging of price and durability for most. The thinnest door, usually 1 3/8 inches, is nearly 30% lighter than the thickest option, a 2-inch door.
How Accessories Affect Garage Door Weight
Though you might not think to include your garage door’s accessories in overall weight, it’s essential that you do! Having components that are fitted for your actual door’s weight-bearing capacity is very important for the integrity of your garage. From window inserts to eye-catching hardware, we’ve rounded up the most popular additions.
Windows Inserts
Window inserts for garage doors provide many benefits for garage owners and are a popular choice for adding a little light and style to a garage space. However, if you find yourself with window inserts, you’ll want to factor in that extra weight. For reference, one of the lightest options, acrylic window panels, is still 1.5 pounds with dimensions of 24×18 inches and a 0.08-inch thickness.
Note that if your garage door panels are made out of heavy material, the door might become lighter after installing the inserts.
Reinforcing Struts
Reinforcement struts help to keep your garage door from bulging by providing extra support to the structure. Unfortunately, these reinforcement struts are typically made from steel and can add quite a bit of weight to the garage door, despite being extremely beneficial to the door’s overall integrity.
For a rough calculation, expect a 1-pound addition per 12 inches of reinforcement braces added to your door. So, if the struts are supporting a 12-foot span, you can expect an additional 12 pounds of weight added to the garage door. Of course, the exact number will depend on your garage door size, but it’s easy to figure the total using this simple calculation.
Decorations
Garage door hardware, such as metal handles and hinges, are standard on new homes, particularly those with carriage or modern farmhouse themes. However, if heavier metals like iron are being used, the weight added to your door is substantial given how small the pieces usually are. The amount can be as much as 20 pounds per fixture, so don’t skimp on factoring in your hardware’s weight!
How to Weigh a Garage Door
Should you need to weigh the door yourself, luckily it is an easy process, and here are a few steps on how to do so:
The first thing you will need to do is carefully unravel the door’s springs so that you relieve the tension in the torsion cables. The door should be left open following this step.
The next step is to slide your scale underneath the garage door opening so that the garage door will meet it when it closes. Depending on the dimensions of your garage door, you may need an industrial scale, or you can use a regular one you have in your home.
You will need to close your garage door until it gently rests on the scale in the last step. If the door is within your garage door’s capabilities, you should have instant results. Be sure to correct the springs back to their full functionality afterward!
Garage Door Weight Calculators
Garage door weight is just as unique as your garage door itself. So when it comes down to it, you will need to do some calculations to find an accurate number, especially when making modifications. If you’re not in the mood to do calculations with pen and paper, there are plenty of online calculators available:
