Best Quiet Garage Door Opener Reviews – Top Picks 2020

Investing in a Quiet Garage Door Opener is well worth the extra money if you truly dislike noise and value a working garage door opener that you can barely hear. Yes, it will cost a little more money to get a quiet garage door opener but it’s not much more and you’ll be better off in the long run, not to mention that you’ll sleep better at night.

Thankfully, there are many garage door openers that are designed to overcome noise problems. You can get the reasonably quiet garage door openers, though these aren’t exactly quiet. In fact, there is no such thing as a completely quiet garage door opener, but there are some that come as close to quiet as is possible with today’s technology.

However, finding the quietest garage door opener can be a difficult task since the garage door opener’s manufacturers don’t include the noise level of their items in the specifications. So it’s easy to understand if you’re asking a lot of questions. How can I know whether a garage door opener is quiet if I don’t know its decibel rating (a unit of measurement used for sound levels)? What type of garage door openers should I choose? What to look for in the quiet garage door openers?

In this guide, we try to answer all these questions and more so that you can fully understand what you require in the quiet garage door openers. To make it easier for you, we will also review the best available options and give you an objective opinion. If you’re not sure about what the best quiet garage door openers are, you will by the time you’ve finished reading this article.

Quiet Garage Door Opener Comparison Table

Reviews of the Best Quiet Garage Door Opener

While the prices can vary between the five options, we urge you to read the review of each model carefully before deciding which one to go with. After finishing this article, you may find that paying a bit more for the garage door opener when you buy it could end up saving hundreds of dollars over the life of the garage door opener.

1.Chamberlain WD962KEV Garage Door Opener

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The Chamberlain B730/WD962 Garage Door Opener is the best residential garage door opener for an attached garage where you need to be conscious of the noise your system makes. It is best suited to almost every need (except a very heavy, oversized door).

Pros

• Quiet operation
• Reliable and safe
• Efficient
• Internet connectivity
• Battery Backup System
• Easy to install

Cons

• It is suitable for residential use only

Our Review

Quiet operation

Although this is an expensive model in Chamberlain’s do-it-yourself line, it is ideal for garages that are next to or underneath living rooms or other areas where a low noise level is desired. As you may know, the noise generated by a garage door opener can be caused by a chain rubbing against the rail system of the garage door opener track. Since this unit uses a belt drive system instead of the more conventional chain drive, you won’t really hear much of anything when it works. It also comes with a Motor Vibration Isolation System to further reduce noise each time you open the garage door.

Power

This Chamberlain model runs on 110 volts AC power and features a 12 volt DC battery backup system. It uses a minimal amount of wattage because it only draws significant power while it is in use. It only draws 1 watt of standby power when not in use. The lighting system provides up to 200 watts of light. While this is one of the most powerful residential garage door openers on the market, it remains a low source of power consumption in your house.

Safety and Security Features

The Chamberlain B730/WD962 Garage Door Opener is load with plenty of safety features that will bring you ease of use and the protection you need.

With the time-to-close function, you don’t need to worry about forgetting to close the garage door. Which means you can set the door to close automatically after a set amount of time. This feature can be programmed to automatically close the door after 1, 5 or 10 minutes.

There’s a battery backup feature that allows you to enjoy up to 20 opening and closing cycles 24 hours after you experience a power outage. That means that even in the event of an extended power outage, you will still be able to easily return to your home in your vehicle without struggling with getting in and out and manually opening a heavy door in bad weather.

The in-garage multifunction control panel features a motion detecting control panel that will switch the light on if it detects movement in your garage. Chamberlain’s Protector System® safety sensors with Rapid-Snap® brackets sends an invisible beam of light to the garage door opening and automatically reverses the door if anything crosses the beam. When this happens, the detection technology will automatically turn the opener lights on the moment something comes in contact with the infrared beam. It also included two 3-button remote controls, one wireless, keyless entry system and one control panel – all in all, you can comfortably control everything and can take care of the control panel automatically as well. This saves you from a lot of stress and waste of time.

This Chamberlain garage door opener has Code-rolling technology that sends a new numeric code each time you are operating the garage door with a remote or a smartphone. In this system, the security code can be changed for more than million times and nobody else will be able to decipher that code. PosiLock® theft protection makes sure that the door stays locked once the garage door is closed. So you can rest assured that your garage door is safe from potential thieves trying to “hack” your garage code open.

MyQ Technology

The Chamberlain garage door opener is manufactured in Mexico but it is a vital part of many homes worldwide. One of its most prominent features is that it is MyQ enabled, so you can connect your garage door opener to your smartphone so that you can monitor and control the door from anyplace you wish. This feature allows you to open and close your garage door from your phone, tablet or computer and receive notifications when the door to your garage opens or closes. You will never come home to a darkened house as you can control the lights before you enter the home.

Regardless of your location, you are able to check whether you have closed your garage door if you just have your phone by your side. If you’ve forgotten to close your garage door, just one tap on the screen will do the trick. Also, if you have no time to re-check, you can set up a timer-to-close feature to automatically closes the door.

The Chamberlain B730/WD962 Garage Door Opener can be paired with MyQ app which is available for both Apple and Android devices. You need to buy the MyQ gateway and install it close to the garage door opener and it should be easy to do. MyQ is also compatible with Nest and Xfinity Home. It’s also compatible with Homelink V3 plus.

Drawbacks

This door opener is not suitable for use with commercial overhead doors since these doors often require faster opening speeds and very heavy duty electric motors for frequent or continual use.

The Chamberlain B730/WD962 Garage Door Opener is a residential garage door opener that is capable of lifting any standard one-car or two-car overhead garage doors. It is intended to be used up to several times per day without the fear of overheating the electric motor.

Chamberlain also sells an extension kit that allows you to use this unit on doors over 7 feet in height and with the 3/4 horsepower means you can easily lift a large door.

See Price of the Chamberlain WD962KEV Garage Door Opener

2. LiftMaster 8500 Elite Series

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The LiftMaster 8500 Elite is ultra quiet, ultra-connected, and ultra cool. Sure, there’s a large outlay, but once the installation is done you will have a system that could last a lifetime. So if you’re the type of person who always tries to buy the best product on the market no matter what the cost is, then this garage door opener may be the great option for you.

Pros

• Ultra-quiet operation
• Reliable and safe
• Capable of providing above average performances
• Internet connectivity
• Wall-mount especially without annoying rails

Cons

• The auto-lighting feature won’t work when the door is slightly open
• It requires different wiring

Our Review

You may not know this, but the popular Chamberlain and LiftMaster are manufactured by the Duchossois group. While Chamberlain products are intended for self-installing, LiftMaster models are designed to be installed by a professional. It’s especially important when it comes to jackshaft openers.

Jackshaft garage door openers are developed for garage doors that have a front mounted torsion spring. The tension of the door must be perfectly tuned or the opener will not function at all. But doing so could cause serious injury. Additionally, the cables connecting the rod at the top to the rollers at the bottom of the door are under tension and could hurt someone if they came loose. So it is essential to install it properly in order to make sure the safety and protection of your family.

It’s also worth noting that the unit must be installed properly and adjusted according to exact specifications in order to operate. If there is even the smallest mistake, it won’t work properly. So we advise you to seek the assistance of a professional installer. If you are thinking to install it on your own, first read the manual carefully and then follow the detailed instructions to install it properly.

So, without further ado, let’s see what’s included in this 8500 garage door opener.

Ultra-quiet operation

One of the most important aspects of LiftMaster 8500 Elite capabilities is the quietness of its operation.  Opening and closing the garage door is extremely quiet and among the quietest available. This is ideal for houses with a room just above the garage.

P3 electric motor

This is the latest electric motor which comes with premium LiftMaster models. It is very reliable and quiet as well. It is also capable of providing above average performances.

Auto-adjustment system 

This unit has an auto-force adjustment that adjusts the force needed to close the door at any given moment, which means that regardless of the outdoor temperature or any conditions, it will ensure proper closing at all time.

Auto-light

The lights will be automatically turned on every time you use the garage door opener. The LiftMaster 8500 Elite supports lighting up to 200W, which is almost 100% better than some models have to offer. Additionally, this makes this LiftMaster model suitable for much bigger garages which require more lighting.

Safety and Security Features

Since the security is an essential part of the house, you want to get a garage door opener that won’t just serve as a garage door opener for the overhead garage door but will also protect and secure your home.

The LiftMaster 8500 Elite includes security+ 2.0 rolling code technology with a unique design that eliminates interference and detects intruders at any time. This is a convenient way for the homeowner to change codes easily and quickly after every use. However, Security + 2.0 is incompatible with older Homelink systems built into cars. So you will need to buy a Homelink repeater to fix this issue.

The protector system of the door has a safety system beam that stops and automatically reverses the garage door if anything interrupts the invisible beam while the door is going down. The opener lights are automatically turned on if the beam has stopped functioning. The Alert-2-close warning system of the garage door sends alert notifications each time the garage door is left open or if it is about to close on its own.

Unlike Chamberlain models, this one does not come with a built-in backup battery, it’s an additional outlay. You will want to get a backup battery in case the power goes out.

Installation and programming

As we mentioned, all Liftmaster-branded products are explicitly meant for professional installation. It requires different wiring and the procedure itself is more complicated than with other models. It will only work with doors that have the right type of torsion bar and drum. The doors also need to be adjusted properly in order for the openers to actually operate. Often, half of the time spent on the installation involved adjusting the doors to correct pre-existing problems. So unless you are proficient with this type of garage door opener, you will want to hire a professional technician to complete the installation. Anyway, the LiftMaster 8500 manual and the videos are more than just welcomed, so if the time isn’t an issue, you may be able to install it.

On the other hand, programming is very easy. It allows you to program the unit via MyQ control panel. If you follow the step-by-step instructions, you will need less than 10 mins to complete this task.

Drawbacks

Despite the fact that, the LiftMaster 8500 Elite is a great product with piles of features and benefits for users, however, there are a few issues with it.

The first issue is the fact the auto-lighting feature works when the door is totally open and someone enters the garage. Obviously, this cannot be classified as a drawback but if you leave your door slightly open, this feature won’t work. The cause for this is in the sensor beams which are activated each time someone enters the garage when the door is open.

And the second one is related to installation. It needs more complicated and more demanding wiring as it is positioned at the front of the door, rather than on the roof like most other garage door openers.

See Price of the LiftMaster 8500 Elite Series

3. SOMMER Direct Drive 1042V001 3/4 HP Garage Door Opener

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If you’re looking for a powerful garage door opener that can handle heavier-than-average doors while creating minimal noise, the SOMMER Direct Drive 1042V001 Garage Door Opener is a great choice. The best thing about this kind of opener is that it makes a great choice regardless of what door type you have but it’s missing some basic features that come with other models such as internet connectivity or operation through Smartphone.

Pros

• Extremely quiet
• Durable
• Great for heavy garage door
• Reasonable price

Cons

• No internet connectivity
• Lacks keyless entry pad

Our Review

Quiet Mechanism

This unit comes with industrial strength motor technology which makes it a quiet machine with virtually no vibrations. It has industry strength traveling that keeps your environment from noise disturbances not matter what time you get home so that you can access the garage without having to wake up everyone.

Although Sommer Direct Drive 1042V001 Garage Door Opener uses a chain drive, which is traditionally noisier than most belt drives, the single moving part makes sure the Direct Drive an extremely low noise profile. This is ideal for those who value silence above all else in a garage door opener.

Power

While this is an unconventional design, the SOMMER Direct Drive 1042V001 Garage Door Opener is powered by a 3/4-horsepower motor which is strong enough to lift doors up to 550 pounds. The motor is located by the connection to the garage door, rather than at the back of the door opener, and moves along the rail with only one moving part. The 3/4 horsepower is good for almost all types of garage doors. This includes double-wide wooden doors and standard sectionals. This included rail is tall enough for a seven- or eight-foot door. If you have a 10-foot tall door, you might need to purchase a separate extension.

Warranty and support

Sommer provides a lifetime warranty on not only the motor but the entire product. This is especially important because it’s a rare thing these days to find a garage door opener that has lifetime warranties on all components. So things are looking up in terms of long-term durability and it is reassuring to know that you will be taken care of if you encounter any problems with this unit.

The Sommer home office is based in Europe but they also have U.S.-based customer support. This means you can reach support representatives during U.S business hours if you have questions or concerns.

Safety and Security Features

The standard safety features you’d expect are present here. The Protection System is included, adding a powerful layer of security with its internal obstacle detection system. This feature is used for monitoring internal obstacles which automatically stops and lifts the door if it encounters any person or object while closing.

An extra detection system is the light beam sensor. This feature uses sensors which emit beams to detect any obstacles. If the light beam is crossed at any time, the door reverses back automatically preventing closure until the way has been cleared. So with this feature, you don’t have to worry about items in the way of the door being crushed so that reduced damages to your property.

The secure rolling code system clocked at 310 MHz is also a great additional feature here since it makes it very hard for criminals to hijack the code and gain access to your home when you’re gone. This feature changes the radio code every time you click the button that will save you from worries even when you suspect that someone has the current code since it will not be valid later.

With these great safety functions, you can rest assured that the unit can keep you and your loved ones safe. Unfortunately, this model is lacking a keyless entry pad to place outside the garage. It also missing motion detector lights that turn on the garage door opener lights automatically so you can see your way to the car without fumbling for the light switch if your hands are full.

So if you are not looking for these features and your only focus is power and quiet, this garage is a great choice.

Overall, If you want to buy the best-rated garage door opener for lifting heavy doors but does not have too many features, you should get this one. Having the affordable price with a lifetime warranty, this excellent appliance provides a higher value than garage door opener of this level.

See Price Of the SOMMER Direct Drive 1042V001 3/4 HP Garage Door Opener

4. 8500 LiftMaster 2-Pack Garage Door Opener

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The 8500 LiftMaster 2-Pack Garage Door Opener definitely something worth considering as it comes with all the bells and whistles that you need in a garage door opener. It is one of the quietest garage door openers out there and it is superb when it comes to reliability. It can operate for many years without the need for frequent maintenance.

Pros

• Quiet operation
• Smooth and quite fast
• Sensors that mechanically adjust
• Wireless innovative remote control

Cons

• The auto-lighting feature won’t work when the door is slightly open
• It requires different wiring

Our Review

LiftMaster is a well-known brand that their products are made to be reliable, efficient, heavy duty, and innovative. All the features that you are looking for from a residential garage door openers are in one or all of the products of the LiftMaster. Most of the LiftMaster models are using the direct current electricity or DC Motors, including this LiftMaster 2-Pack Garage Door Opener, which offers a lot of the positive aspects when it comes to performance.

Quiet operation

Jackshaft garage door openers are generally some of the quietest ones and this unit is no different. LiftMaster 2-Pack Garage Door Opener works on an excellent mechanism with quiet technology and a motor that makes sure opening and closing the door is very quiet and smooth.

Safety and Security Features

As you would expect, the LiftMaster 2-Pack Garage Door Opener comes with a variety of safety features. The automatic lubrication system is also implemented which ensures the opener will run perfectly at all time.

Programming codes from the MyQ control panel is possible and easy to use. In a case the Protector System is damaged, the opener lights will be illuminated.

Like other LiftMaster branded models, safety sensor beam is available. This feature prevents door opening or closing when the invisible beam is interrupted by a person or an object. This system commonly comes with garage door openers today.

Security rolling Code Technology is implemented as well. In this system, the security code will be changed each time you open the door that makes it immune to the burglars who will want to crack the code without you knowing it.

The LiftMaster 2-Pack Garage Door Opener has a Posilock system that makes sure the garage door is properly locked. It also comes with power locks that lock the garage door automatically once it is shut so that you don’t have to get out of the car to lock the garage door.

So here we should add that the LiftMaster battery backup is available, but it is not a built-in feature. If you live in an area where power outlets are common, you want to get this addition. A backup battery helps to keep the door opener going through pretty much any sort of blackout conditions.

The bottom line is that the LiftMaster 2-Pack Garage Door Opener is reliable and safe. It is commonly rated as one of the safest garage door openers in this price range and highly recommended by experts.

MyQ compatible

The LiftMaster is fully compatible with the system which allows you to control it via an app. This is a standard feature today and it is one of the features that we liked the most. The MyQ technology provides the safest way of connecting to the system through any smartphone, computers or devices.

At this point, you can access your system through a web gateway on www.myliftmaster.com, or you can download the Android or iOS app.

LiftMaster 8500 Accessories

Homelink Repeater/translator

The new 8500 garage door openers use the new 900mhz frequency for the remotes, so if you want to program an in-car Home Link system with a vehicle which is old, you’ll probably need a Homelink repeater which the installer should have.

LiftMaster Battery Backup

With all this technology opening your garage doors, the last thing you will want is to be locked out of your garage when the power goes down. The Garage Door Openers 485LM Battery Backup can help a lot when there is no electricity.

Wireless keypad

The 8500 LiftMaster 2-Pack Garage Door Opener is a great, feature-loaded unit which is suitable for homeowners who want the most. One of the most interesting features of it is the wireless keypad with the ability to open and close multiple doors. The keyless entry keypad can store codes for up to eight doors. So one keypad will open multiple doors, but all of them can be closed simultaneously by a press of just one button. There is no need to enter 8 codes, making this a real time-saver door opener.

825LM Remote Light Control

The 825LM Remote Light Control allows you to turn on a lamp plugged into a wall outlet when you drive up by pressing a button on the remote after you open your door!

823LM Remote Light Switch

The 823LM Remote Light Switch allows you to do the same thing, but with an actual light switch in the wall. Simply replace your existing switch with the 823LM Remote Light Switch and bingo, turn on some lights with the push of the remote button.

829LM Door Monitor

The 829LM Door Monitor can be positioned anyplace inside the house and will notify you when a door is opened and allowing the door to be remotely shut. The door monitor can be useful because of the silent operation of the door. Without it, it would be impossible to detect the opening of a door inside the house.

When the door monitor issues a command to close the door, the 8500 garage door opener responds by issuing an alarm inside the garage to notify people near the door that it is being shut. This is the same alarm that sound when the door is closing automatically on a timer.

See Price of The 8500 LiftMaster 2-Pack Garage Door Opener

5. Chamberlain WD832KEV Garage Door Opener

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The Chamberlain WD832KEV Ultra Quiet is an innovative, quiet and reliable garage door opener. When you’re looking for upgraded technology and value for money, this one may be for you as it contains the most useful features a garage door opener needs.

Pros

• Quiet
• Smooth and quite fast
• Internet connectivity
• Easy to install

Cons

• Not for commercial overhead doors
• You need to buy MyQ Internet Gateway CIGBU to use MyQ function.

Our Review

Ultra Quiet

Like most of the belt drive openers, one of the main selling points of this machine is that it is extremely quiet. The machine also comes with the Motor Vibration Isolation System that keeps the movement of the doors quiet and eliminates any noise by making use of powerhead vibration for noise reduction. This is one of the features that have made the garage opener popular among buyers because it makes an ideal setup even for garages with a room on top.

MyQ technology

MyQ technology is a popular feature that you can see in most of the Chamberlain products. However, you need to buy the MyQ Internet Gateway CIGBU which sold separately in order to use this function. If you pair the garage door opener with one of these gateways, you can control various things. This software allows you to control the lights outside and house lamps so that you won’t have to come home to a dark and garage and fumble around with your keys. It also enables you to use your smartphone as a controller for monitoring the machine and allowing you to open and close the garage door from any place where there is internet access. You will also be notified if the garage door is not properly shut or there is any light left on.

Time to close

This feature allows you to set their garage doors to close after 1,5 or 10 minutes. So even if you forget to close the garage door, you can easily set the timer and it will shut the gate on its own. This feature offers some security as well as saves you time and effort.

Safety and security features

Because protection is something very prized by anyone looking to purchase this kind of garage door opener. The Chamberlain WD832KEV Ultra Quiet includes the following safety and security features:

Chamberlain has equipped this machine with the Protector System. It uses a safety sensor system with Rapid-Snap brackets capable of projecting a translucent beam of light towards the garage door opening. In case there’s any interruption while it is closing down, it reverses the doors automatically to prevent the door from closing on a person or any objects in the path of the light beam. When the light beam is broken, the sensors signal the garage door to stop from closing and the opener lights turn on automatically.

For even more security, the Chamberlain WD832KEV garage door opener also comes with the Security + anti-burglary cutting edge technology. As you know, this technology will send a new code each time you use the remote control. The PosiLock® theft protection ensures that the door remains locked once it shuts. With this feature, you do not have to worry, trying to check if it has been opened, so you can feel so much more safe and secure.

Drawbacks

Obviously, with a 1/2 Horsepower DC motor, this Chamberlain model is not be used for any commercial overhead doors because commercial overhead doors, in most cases, need to be opened very quickly and very often. For example, in some cases, commercial overhead doors are opened over 100 times per day.

See Price of the Chamberlain WD832KEV Garage Door Opener

So Which one is the best option for you?

Generally, you can’t go wrong with these listed units since they are some of the popular models that you can find on the market. However, your final selection should actually depend on your needs. The budget might play a role but not as important than your needs because you want to buy a product that you can actually use, maybe save you money in the long run, not a product that you don’t really need just because it saves you money. That said, go for what makes you happy!

Well, If you still don’t know which one suits your needs the most, then you might want to know some more information before deciding. Keep reading on!

How To Choose a Quiet Garage Door Opener

Types of Garage Door Opener

Choosing the right type of garage door opener is one of the most important factors in helping you get a quiet garage door opener. The main difference to consider between different types of garage door opener is the amount of noise they make during operation. But what types of garage door opener can you find on the market? and how they influence noise levels?

Well, in general, you can find 5 main types of garage door opener on the market. Each one has some pros and cons that could influence your final selection.

Chain Drive Garage Door Opener

Chain drives use a metal chain to drive the trolley and raise or lower the door. They are some of the most popular and durable garage door openers on the market. They are typically the least expensive…but they are also the noisiest.

Installing a chain drive opener can be a challenge. There is an extension kit which is specified for 8-10 foot doors. It can take four to six hours if you do it yourself, so professional installation is recommended.

The door tends to bounce as it moves up the rail since it’s basically impossible to perfectly tension the chain. Chain drives will also lift your door a bit slower than belt drive openers might, though the difference of a few seconds overall is not much of an issue to most users. Chain drives require a bit of maintenance every now and then when the chain becomes too slack, but in general, they are hands-off.

If you are on a strict budget or you have a detached garage far from the home (where the noise doesn’t matter), then a chain drive garage door opener may be a good choice for you. But if you’d rather no noise, say because your garage is close to a bedroom or other place that needs quiet, then the chain-drive might not be for you. So we will not review any models of this type as the quiet garage door opener in the following review section. However, if you’re in the first case that said above, we’d highly recommend the Chamberlain PD512 Garage Door Opener as the quiet chain – drive garage door opener. This garage door opener might not be the cheapest option, but it is one of the quietest chain drives.

Belt Drive Garage Door Opener

When it comes to choosing a quiet garage door opener, you can’t really go wrong with this type of garage door opener since it is by far the quietest door opener on the market. These openers are definitely much quieter than chain drive openers and screw drive openers. So if you have living space above or next to a garage and you hate the noise involved with garage doors, this is definitely a good option.

Belt Drive Garage Door Openers function similarly to the chain drive openers, but instead of using a metal chain, they use a rubber belt to accomplish the same goal. Since the openers don’t have the loud, banging metal parts, they provide a quieter and smoother operation. The smoother operation means there’s no jumping off the door and fewer vibrations. Additionally, belt-drive systems have fewer moving parts, resulting in lower maintenance needs.

Another thing that many people like in this type is it’s easy to install. Any drive mechanism whether belt or chain, is going to eventually need replacing. When the time comes, replacing a broken belt is always easier than replacing a broken chain drive.

One disadvantage of belt drive garage door openers is that they often (but not always) cost more than chain drives. However, with the benefits of a quieter, smoother and durable operation, it may be worth the extra expense. These days you can find some quiet belt drive garage door openers that have an affordable price. For example, the Chamberlain WD962KEV Garage Door Opener is a great choice if you want a quiet however still affordable belt drive garage door opener.

Screw Drive Garage Door Opener

A screw drive garage door opener works a little bit differently than a chain drive or belt drive garage door opener. It uses a long metal rod threaded like a screw to move the lifting mechanism. As the rod rotates, it drives the trolley along the track to lower or raise the garage door. Basically, there are fewer moving parts in the screw drives than in the other openers, they tend to be quite reliable and less maintenance.

In terms of noise, a screw drive garage door opener lies somewhere between a chain drive and belt-drive system. They, however, strong and often much faster than either belt or chain drives. So if you have one-piece doors that are up to 8ft high or a large garage door measuring 14 ft. high, then you may want to use these door openers.

Generally, screw drives work well in a constant climate, so they may be a great choice if you live in an area that the temperature is fairly constant throughout the year. But if you live in an area that has hot summers and cold winters, a screw drive will not stand up to drastic temperature change.

If you’re considering to get a screw drive garage door opener, then the Genie PowerLift Garage Door Opener may be a good choice since it is easy to install, very quiet and smooth operation.

Jackshaft Drive Garage Door Opener

Jackshaft openers are installed on the side of the door. They work by turning a torsion spring rod instead of using a rail like a belt drive or a chain drive does. There’s no a rail connecting a garage door opener to the garage door, so the ceiling stays clear. These models use a 24V DC motor that drives cables and pulleys that turn the torsion bar and raise the door. Many models of this computerized system even include an automatic deadbolt that locks when the door closes so they are very secure.

Jackshaft garage door openers are very durable and can be used for a door measuring up to 14 feet in height, or a door with a maximum size of 180 square feet, but they only work on sectional garage doors. They are well-suited to garages with high or low ceilings or with obstructed ceilings such as those that are used for storing bikes, canoes, garden equipment.

This type of opener is often a bit louder than screw and belt drive system. However, due to the compact nature, durability, computerization, and security, Jackshaft openers are more expensive than most other types of openers. In the past, they are only found in commercial or industrial buildings but these days have been adapted for residential use. Many homeowners use these models for their garage doors because of the benefits they offer. If you want to know an example of the Jackshaft opener, the LiftMaster 8500 Elite Series is worth a checkout.

Direct Garage Door Opener

Though less common than the other models, Direct openers offer additional options for quiet door openers. This garage door opener from Sommer operates a bit differently than other popular chain- or belt-driven models. Instead of having a stationary motor that pulls a chain or belt attached to your door, its approach has the motor moving up and down the rail, by pulling itself along a chain with the door in tow. Direct drive openers still have an overhead rail with a chain, but the actual motor travels along a stationary chain that is embedded in an overhead rail. Since the motor moves instead of the chain, these models are quiet. Many direct-drive models are just as quiet as belt drives.

These models are quiet, durable and don’t really need maintenance after many years of use. They cost about the same as belt drive openers and often come with lifetime warranties since the only real moving part is the motor. If you’re wondering what the best quiet direct garage door opener is, then the SOMMER Direct Drive 1042V001 is a great option.

Determine the Weight and Size of Your Garage Door

Before choosing the perfect garage door opener for you, you’ll first need to determine the weight and size of your garage door. That will help you to determine how much horsepower (HP) does your garage door opener need. Horsepower (HP) is the driving force behind the up and down movements of a garage door. For garage openers, HP ratings typically range from 1/3 on smaller cheaper models to 1 1/2 on high-end systems.

For large and heavy garage doors (max height above 8 ft.), a more powerful garage door opener will be needed. The Correction between door sizes and HP ratings generally work as follows:

• 1/4 HP garage door openers are not recommended since they are so slow, even when lifting a plain aluminum door.
• 1/3 HP garage door openers can be a good option for single-car garage doors (10 feet wide and 8 feet tall)
• 1/2 HP power is a common choice for the majority of household garage door types, though they might struggle with solid wood.
• 3/4 HP is the power choice for large garage doors that are more than 16 feet or doors are used more frequently than average.
• 1 HP plus garage door openers are most often found in commercial situations.

Garage Door Opener Motor Types

There’s two types of motors for garage door openers, alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). For some good reasons, DC powered garage door openers have become the standard in the garage door industry.

When choosing the garage door opener, it is important to consider the number of times the garage door opener is going to be used. The AC powered garage door openers are for people whose garage doors open many times in a day and who do not mind the noise. On the other hand, the DC powered garage door openers are for those who want no noise at all while opening and closing the door.

DC motors are quieter, faster, smaller, smoothing operating as well as more efficient than AC motors. Moreover, DC-powered garage door openers can turn AC into DC power. DC motors also allow more features on the opener like soft-start and soft-stop technology that reduces wear and tear on the motor and door. Many DC motors even offer a battery backup system to power your opener when the electric goes out. Battery backup will also ensure the continued operation of other functions, including security and safety alerts, and garage lighting.