Automated garage door openers got popular in the 1970s and have evolved into a substantial market with a huge selection of different types of automatic garage door openers for residential and industrial garages. Automatic garage door openers took the trouble out of having to get out of the car to personally open the garage door.

There are four styles of garage door openers: chain drive, belt driven, screw drive, and jack-shaft. Each kind operates differently and your particular needs will lead you to the most ideal opener for your garage door.

Points to consider when purchasing an opener:

Do you prefer additional safety capabilities for your opener? If you have children, this is especially important.
Are you shopping for a very quiet opener?
Do you live in a climate with harsh temperature levels (in which a screw drive opener would be optimum option)?
Do you need remote control access?
Does your garage facilitate ceiling setup of the opener, or do you have cathedral ceilings (which would make a jack-shaft the most ideal choice)?
What is your budget? Chain-drive garage door openers are the least expensive of the four options.
Chain Drive
Chain-drive garage door are the most favored of the four types of garage door openers. They are the least pricy. They are the noisiest of the four kinds, they are extremely durable and are a good garage door opener option.

Belt Drive
Belt-drive openers are quieter than chain drives due to the fact that they use rubber belts. They cost a little bit more than chain-drive openers and are best for those with living rooms on top of or next to the garage. There are also reduced vibrations associated with this opener type.

Screw Drives
This overhead door opener kind is often used in environments with extreme temperatures since they are developed to withstand temperature changes. Screw-drive openers will not suffer from iced over chains or other weather-related issues. The tracks are plastic-lined and there is very limited upkeep required.

Jack-shaft
Jack-shaft drives are excellent for abolishing that large garage door opener box on the ceiling of your garage. Jack-shaft openers are mounted on the side wall of your garage and are perfect for garages with high ceilings. Another perk is that they are incredibly quiet.

Find a local garage door service provider who can help you make a decision if you are unsure about whichever garage door opener is here best for your garage.


Automatic garage door openers became popular in the 1970s and have evolved into a huge market with a plethora of different kinds of automatic garage door openers for commercial and residential garages. Automatic garage door openers took the inconvenience out of having to get out of the car to manually open the garage door. When safety is such an important issue, as it is with garage doors and garage door openers, it's simply better to leave it to the experts.