The 10 Best Garage Door Openers

Posted by admin on Mar 13, 2020

Best Garage Door Opener

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For this post, I have put together a collection of the best garage door openers currently available.

MY TOP PICK:
If you are looking for the best overall, I recommend the Chamberlain B970 because it features a belt drive for quiet operation, built-in Wi-Fi to provide the door status from anywhere, and a battery backup so it works even if the power is out.

For those of us that have had to endure the hardship of manually opening and closing a heavy garage door, we welcome the push-button convenience of a powered opener.

Lifting the weight of these large doors is typically aided by the use of large torsion springs mounted to the shaft that then pulls on the door with cables. This setup greatly reduces the required motor size, allowing the units to be relatively compact.

Types of Garage Door Openers

The two main types are drive and jackshaft openers, defined by the method in which they lift the door.

Drive Opener

These are the most common type of residential openers and have a fairly simple method of operation. The unit hangs from a bracket on the garage ceiling along the centerline of the door. Contained within the unit is an electric motor that, depending on the model, powers either a chain, belt, or screw drive that moves the trolley.

The trolley runs along a track above the opening that connects to an arm at the top of the door. When the trolley is driven forward or backward it pulls the door up or down.

All units are also required to include a quick-release that allows the garage door to be manually operated in the event of an emergency or power outage.

Jackshaft Opener

The jackshaft unit attaches to the side of the door and rotates the torsion rod to move the door up and down.

The benefit of this kind of opener is that it does not take up the garage ceiling space with a unit and rail assembly. Also, the vibrations through the ceiling are lower, making it ideal for homes where there are living areas over the garage. However, these units typically require other components including a torsion rod, tension monitor, and door lock.

The following best garage door openers use the latest innovative components to meet your needs.

So here is my list of The 10 Best Garage Door Openers.

Enjoy!

1. Chamberlain B970 Garage Door Opener

Chamberlain Group Chamberlain B970 Smartphone-Controlled Ultra-Quiet & Strong Belt Drive Garage Door Opener with Battery Backup and MAX Lifting Power, Blue Chamberlain

The Chamberlain B970 features the MyQ App which offers the ability to monitor the garage door status, even away from home.

Features a belt drive with steel reinforcing for durability and quiet operation.
Includes built-in Wi-Fi to pair with the home router and allow for remote status updates.
Uses Triband technology to increase range and decrease interference.
Features a battery backup to run the unit in the event of a power outage.
Includes a wall control panel and a wireless keypad.
Built for 7 ft. garage doors, however, extension kits are available for taller 8 ft. and 10 ft. doors.

Check out this brief installation video get an overview of the process:

2. Direct Drive 1042V004 Garage Door Opener

Direct Drive 1042V004 Garage Door Opener, 42 x 10 x 6.5 inches Direct Drive

The Direct Drive 1042V004 features a unique design that uses a motor sprocket that runs along a fixed chain allowing for a quiet movement.

Features a soft start and stop function to reduce stresses on the door.
Includes beam sensors and an obstacle detection system for safety.
Includes a wall station and two remote controls.
Rail length designed for openings up to 8 ft. tall so no additional extension kit required for a standard door.
Made in Germany and comes with a lifetime warranty on the unit with a two-year accessory warranty.

3. LiftMaster 8500 Garage Door Opener

LiftMaster 8500 Elite Series 8500 Jackshaft Operator, Factory Direct Liftmaster

The LiftMaster 8500 features a jackshaft design that mounts on the wall providing a clear ceiling area.

Reduces ceiling vibrations with the wall-mounted design for a quieter operation.
Features a security system that sends a new code with every open signal to reduce the risk of someone else being able to open the door.
Equipped with a battery backup for continuous operation even if the power goes out.
Includes both audio and visual warnings to let people know when the door is going to close.
Includes lights on the unit that are motion-activated, so they turn on when entering the garage.
Features a safety system that stops the door if something interrupts the light beam at the opening.

You can see how the unit operates in this video:

4. Chamberlain B1381 Garage Door Opener

Chamberlain Group Chamberlain B1381 Bright LED Lighting Smartphone-Controlled Ultra-Quiet & Strong Belt Drive Garage Door Opener with Battery Backup & Max Lifting Power, 1.25 hp, Blue Chamberlain

The Chamberlain B1381 is powered by a steel-reinforced belt-drive system for both smooth and quiet operation.

Features built-in Wi-Fi that offers the ability to monitor the door’s activity from anywhere.
Includes a battery backup to keep it operating even in the event of a power outage.
Comes with two remotes that are programmable offer a range up to 1,500 ft.
Includes long-lasting LED lights for illuminating the garage without having to replace bulbs.
Features a wireless exterior keypad with a four-digit access code.
Includes safety sensors to stop the door in the event of an obstruction.
Designed for a 7 ft. opening with extension kits available for larger doors.

5. ATOMS AT-1611 Garage Door Opener

ATOMS AT-1611 By Skylink 1/2HPF Garage Door Opener with Extremely Quiet DC Motor, Chain Drive Skylink

The ATOMS AT-1611 features a soft start and stop that helps to increase the life of the door components.

Includes one remote control with rolling codes to prevent opening from others either accidentally from a neighbor or intentionally from someone who wants access.
Powered by a chain drive system and designed for a 7 ft. door assembly.
Includes a built-in LED light for a long-life and low maintenance.
Backup battery is sold separately but offers the ability to provide operation without power.

6. Genie 7035-TKV Garage Door Opener

Genie Chain Drive 750 3/4 HPc Garage Door Opener w/Battery Backup - Heavy Duty Chain Drive - Operate your garage door when the primary power is out - Wireless Keypad Included, Model 7035-TKV GENIE

The Genie 7035-TKV features Intellicode rolling code technology to provide opening security from unwanted access.

Features a chain drive operation and a pre-programmed three-button remote.
Includes a wall control panel with a separate light button so it can double as a garage light.
Includes a battery backup system to run the door for up to 50 cycles even if the power goes out.
Features infrared sensors to stop the door if the beam of light is crossed.
Includes lock for extra security when away for long periods.
Designed for standard 7 ft. high doors.

7. Chamberlain RJO20 Garage Door Opener

Chamberlain RJO20 Direct Drive Wall Mounted Space Saving Garage Door Opener, One Size, Black Chamberlain

The Chamberlain RJO20 features a jackshaft configuration that mounts to the wall and provides an open overhead area.

Wall-mounted design reduces ceiling vibrations for quieter operation.
Works with the MyQ App for monitoring the door activity on a smartphone from anywhere.
Includes an automatic door lock to secure the door after every closure.
Offers a secure code system to reduce the risk of unwanted access.
Includes a 200-Watt light that is mounted separately to illuminate the garage.

8. Genie 2035-TKV Garage Door Opener

Genie ChainDrive 550 Garage Door Opener - Heavy-Duty Chain Drive System - Includes 2, 3-Button Remotes, Wall Console, Wireless Keypad, Safe T-Beams - Model 2035-TKV Genie

The Genie 2035-TKV features a durable chain drive that offers soft starts and stops to reduce the wear and tear on individual door components.

Includes a wireless keypad allowing for operation using a pin number.
Features a multi-function wall console with a lock to prevent the door opening while away for long periods of time.
Includes INTELLICODE" technology to reduce the risk of unwanted access.
Equipped with infrared sensors to safely stop the door when blocked.
Designed for standard 7 ft. doors but separate extension kits are available for larger openings.
Comes with two pre-programmed three-button remotes.

9. Chamberlain B550 Garage Door Opener

Chamberlain Group B550 Smartphone-Controlled Ultra-Quiet & Strong Belt Drive Garage Door Opener with MED Lifting Power, Blue Chamberlain

The Chamberlain B550 features built-in Wi-Fi for monitoring from anywhere with the MyQ App.

Powered by a reinforced belt drive system for quiet operation.
Uses Triband technology which helps to reduce potential interference and increase operational remote range.
Includes a wireless keypad along with a dual-function wall control panel.
Features lighting from two 100-watt maximum bulbs (not included).
Designed for 7 ft. openings with extension available for 8 ft. and 10 ft. doors.

10. Craftsman CMXEOCG471 Garage Door Opener

Craftsman CMXEOCG471 Garage Door Opener, Red Craftsman

The Craftsman CMXEOCG471 features a wireless keypad that can be programmed with permanent and temporary pins.

Allows for up to 24 permanent and 24 temporary pins that can be set to provide someone with one-time access.
Works with the MyQ app that can monitor the door status from anywhere.
Includes a three-button remote control for operating up to three separate garage doors from up to 1500 ft. away.
Features a secure system that generates a new open signal to prevent unauthorized access.
Works with the HomeLink in-vehicle system to provide an open signal without a remote.
Includes safety sensors to prevent the door from hitting an obstruction.
Designed for a standard 7 ft. garage door but extension kits are available for taller doors.

I hope this list of the best garage door openers was helpful.

If you think I left out one that is important or have a suggestion for a future article, let me know in the comments below.

Brandon Hubbard, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C

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