Having a garage door opener is very important for several reasons, especially when you get home late in the evening, exhausted and maybe in an environment where coming out of your car to open the door is not all that safe at night.
Having a garage door opener will help ensure the door opens up by itself without any physical intervention on your part.
It’s a remote-operated piece of equipment that can be installed in your garage to help open it automatically when you’re going out and when you get home.
Most modern garage door openers even have smartphone apps you can connect to your home network using Wi-Fi, allowing you to operate the door even when you’re not home.
Imagine being able to open your garage door from anywhere just by swiping through an app on your smartphone.
This comes in very handy when you need to receive packages when you’re not at home, allowing delivery companies like Amazon, DHL, Fedex, UPS and so on to deliver packages right into your garage without you being there.
Choosing your first garage door opener can be quite intimidating, because there are so many options to choose from, and there’re so many factors you need to consider as well. Factors such as the size and weight of your garage door, the type of controls you want for it, noise considerations and a host of other factors. These are very important.
That is why we’ve done the tests and research on your behalf, creating this list of the 6 best garage door openers available right now.
Out of the 6 in the list, here are our top picks.
Our Top Picks
- BEST OVERALL – WALL MOUNTED – Liftmaster 98022
- BEST CEILING MOUNTED UNT – Craftsman CMXEOCG982
- RUNNER UP – Chamberlain B6753T
The Best Garage Door Openers
The following are the best garage door openers we chose after weeks of serious research and testing. We considered several factors to choose them, such as their lifting capacity, the type of drive system they use, their mount location (whether ceiling mounted or wall mounted), ease of setup, and how they’re controlled.
The following units are the ones that performed the most with these factors considered.
Liftmaster 98022
Why we chose it
The Liftmaster 98022 replaces the older Liftmaster 8500, and there are a few reasons why we chose this newer model.
First, it’s a lot quieter than the old model. Instead of a AC motor, this one features a DC motor which is as powerful, but a lot quieter than the AC motor in the previous models.
Also unlike the older model with the problematic cable tension monitor that requires a lot of expertise and a well-aligned door to set up, this new Liftmaster 98022 does not use a cable tension monitor. So, it’s a lot easier to set up, and you can be rest assured that your door will open and close as needed.
This unit also has built-in Wi-Fi which allows you to operate and control the opener and open your garage door from anywhere through the my Q app.
Also included is an automatic garage door deadbolt that bolts and locks the door automatically once it’s closed.
You also get a very bright ceiling light to illuminate your garage when you get in. This new ceiling light looks a lot better and it’s even brighter than the previous version.
Overall, I really like this new Liftmaster 98022. It’s easier to install, operates quietly, and it doesn’t occupy your ceiling space, since it’s wall-mounted.
Why you may dislike it
It’s a bit pricey. There a many other less expensive models you can go for. But they may be not as good as this though.
Craftsman CMXEOCG982 Garage Door Opener
Why we chose it
One of the main reasons we chose this Craftsman garage door opener is because of its high load lifting capacity.
This opener is designed to lift really heavy doors. So, if you have a garage door that is large and heavy, this one should lift it pretty easily.
It uses a DC motor that has as much powers as a 1-1/4 HP AC motor. So this unit has got all the power you need to lift those heavy doors.
This unit is also very quiet during operation. That’s because it uses a belt drive instead of a chain drive. Plus DC motors are much quieter than AC motors.
It also has built-in Wi-Fi which you can use to control and monitor the door through the my Q app.
Why you may dislike it
Like many other chain and belt drive garage door openers, this unit is ceiling mounted. You have to mount it to your ceiling, which kind of takes up that ceiling space.
Setup is a bit technical and takes a bit of time, but I believe that’s all there is in terms of drawbacks when it comes to this particular unit.
Chamberlain B6753T Smart Garage Door Opener
If you need a quiet working garage door opener that will open and close a heavy door without the whole neighborhood knowing that you’re back, the Chamberlain B1381T is one of the best options I’d recommend.
Everything about the Chamberlain B6753T is designed to ensure you experience maximum comfort as you open and close your garage door.
It comes equipped with a built in camera that enables you to see what’s happening in your garage even if you’re not at home, simply using the MYQ app.
Also included is a motion activated corner to corner LED lighting that lights up if there’s any movement in the garage.
The Chamberlain B6753T is belt driven and it’s operated by an ultra-quiet DC motor. Everything is designed so it can be operated even when your garage door is very close to a living space like a bedroom without being a noise nuisance.
There’s also a battery backup to keep it working so you can always access your garage even if there’s no power.
These and other features makes the Chamberlain B6753T one of the best garage door opener designed specifically for homes in residential areas.
Why we chose it
- It’s super quiet. Very good for homes.
- The MYQ app makes it super easy to monitor the door.
- Very easy to operate.
- Belt and every other component feels well-built.
Why you may dislike it
- It’s a bit pricey compared to other models.
LiftMaster 8165W ½ HP Chain Drive Garage Door Opener
The chain driven Liftmaster 8165W is one of the most reliable garage door openers out there in the market.
One of the most important selling point of this model is the ease at which it can be installed and ready for use. If you have the right tools and follow the installation instructions, setting it up is a breeze.
As you can tell from the little description above, it’s chain driven and it’s also powered with a ½ HP AC motor. Therefore, it’s very suitable for opening and closing heavy duty aluminum doors.
The chain drive system also guarantees long term durability and reliability compared to a belt drive.
Equipped with safety sensors, the Liftmaster 8165W will not close on any obstruction such as when people or a vehicle is under the door, ensuring secure entrance and exit out of the garage.
Granting access in and out of the garage is possible using the myQ app. This can come in very handy when receiving packages from delivery companies like Amazon.
BeamUp Centurion BU800
BeamUp produces 3 models of garage door openers. The Workhorse BU 100, the Sentry BU400 and the Centurion BU800.
The BU800 Centurion is top of the line and has the highest lift power of 1-1/4 HPE which is capable of lifting heavy carriage house doors whether it’s 8×7 feet or even a 16×7 feet double door.
Instead of a chain, the BU800 features an ultra-quiet steel reinforced belt drive which provides quiet operation ideal for garages close to living spaces.
For ease of use, safety and added security, the Beamup BU800 Centurion comes equipped with a motion activated 3000 lumen LED lighting which helps illuminate the whole garage. Fully equipped with motion sensors, any movement in the garage triggers the LED lighting for visibility and security.
The Centurion comes with a smart controller which allows the homeowner to check open and close the door, check the status of the door whether it’s open or closed, share access with others and receive real-time notifications if the door is left open.
It also works seamlessly with Alexa, which means you can even use voice commands to get your garage door open. Setup is easy and straightforward.
Once it’s delivered to your doorstep, you can use the manual and the video guide right on the Beamup website to install it yourself if you have the right tools and skills.
Related: 10 Best Storage Racks for Organizing Items in Your Garage
Genie 7155-TKV Garage Door Opener
The Genie Model 7155-TKV is one of the best smart garage door openers out there you can use to seamlessly and quietly access your garage, even when you’re not around.
It works with Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery which allows you to have packages delivered right inside your garage when you’re not at home.
Powering it is a 1-1/4 HPc DC Motor capable of lifting up to 500lbs in weight and 7ft in height. If your door is up to 8 ft, you can also order an extension kit for it.
The opener comes integrated with the Aladdin connect app designed so you can monitor and operate the door using your smartphone from just about anywhere. The app even allows you to operate the door using voice control.
It’s belt driven, and works really quietly. So you don’t have to worry about noise.
In case there’s a power outage, the included backup battery ensures you can still access your garage using the opener.
Why we chose it
- Only emits a smooth whining sound during operation. It’s very quiet.
- You can operate it remotely using the integrated Aladdin app.
- It’s ideal for heavy doors up to 500lbs.
- Easy and straightforward installation.
Why you may dislike it
- The lights are not motion activated.
How To Choose A Garage Door Opener
Choosing the right one is not that complicated if you know what to look for. Here are the main factors that should determine your choice.
The Type of Drive System
There’re two main types of drive systems that comes with garage door openers which include the chain drive system and a belt drive system.
The drive system usually consists of a motor, a trolley, a rail track and a belt or chain that goes through the track. The motor drives a trolley by means of a belt or a chain through the rail track which either pulls the door open or closes it.
This belt or chain driving the trolley kit is what differentiate the two drive systems from each other. The belt is not just an ordinary rubber belt, but it’s made up of a steel-reinforced rubber. It has one main advantage over the chain drive system. It works smoothly and quietly, which makes it ideal for garages in residential buildings, or those that are close to bedrooms.
Although it’s not as durable as the chain drive, the steel reinforcement also makes it very durable and suitable for use, especially if you’re looking for something that will not wake up the neighbors whenever you get home.
On the other hand, instead of steel-reinforced rubber, the chain drive system makes use of a heavy-duty bicycle-like chain to drive the trolley.
Its main advantage over the belt drive system is that it’s more durable. The chain is also less expensive than a belt drive. This makes it the ideal choice for those not looking to spend much on the equipment itself and later maintenance.
It’s very suitable for standard aluminum garage doors, especially those used in workshops.
Lifting Power
No matter the type of drive system your garage door opener has, whether it’s belt driven or chain driven, without a motor powerful enough to raise and lower the door, it will not work properly.
That is why one of the first things you should check before buying an opener for your garage door is the size and weight of the door itself, so that you can know the amount of lifting power needed to open and close it properly.
All openers are operated with either D.C. or A.C. motors. The amount of force supplied by the motor to raise and lower the door is known as its lifting power or Horse Power Equivalent HPe. This will determine how powerful the opener should be.
If you have a garage with a heavy one-piece door in an area that experiences extreme weather conditions, then you need an opener with a maximum lifting power which is equivalent to 1-1/4 HPe.
For heavily used garages in moderate weather conditions, an opener with a plus lifting power equivalent to ¾ HPe will suffix.
While for lightweight sectional aluminum doors, one with a medium lifting power of ½ HPe will work just fine.
