Automatic overhead door openers got popular in the 1970s and have evolved into a substantial market with a huge selection of different sorts of automated garage door openers for industrial and residential garages. Automated garage door openers took the inconvenience out of having to get out of the car to physically open the overhead door.

There are four types of overhead door openers: chain driven, belt drive, screw drive, and jack-shaft. Every type operates in different ways and your particular needs will lead you to the most ideal opener for your garage door.

Points to think about when shopping for an opener:

Do you need extra safety features for your opener? This is very significant if you have children.
Are you searching for a very quiet opener?
Do you live in an environment with harsh temperatures (in which a screw drive opener may be the most ideal option)?
Do you need remote control access?
Does your garage facilitate ceiling mounting of the opener, or do you have high ceilings (which would make a jack-shaft the best option)?
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 styles, they are incredibly durable and are a solid overhead door opener choice.

Belt Drive
Because they use rubber belts, belt-drive openers are more quiet than chain drives. They cost a little bit more than chain-drive openers and are best for people with living areas here at the top of or next to the garage. There are also limited vibrations related to this opener get more info type.

Screw Drives
This garage door opener style is commonly used here in climates with harsh temperatures since they are built to hold up against temperature changes. Screw-drive openers won't struggle with frosted 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 eliminating 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 ideal for garages with high ceilings. Another benefit is that they are super silent.

If you are not sure about which garage door opener is ideal for your garage, then find a local garage door expert who can help you make a decision.


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.