How to Quote a Garage Door Replacement in Australia
A garage door swap looks like door plus motor plus a couple of hours. Then the opening's out of square and the lintel's sagging. Here's how to quote a garage door replacement so the surprises don't come out of your margin.
On paper a garage door replacement is simple: a door, a motor, a morning's work. In practice it's the old door to strip and cart off, an opening that might be out of square, wiring that might not be compliant, and a motor spec that has to match the door's weight. Quote the door and forget the rest and the job eats your day. This guide covers what a replacement quote should include, what doors, motors and labour cost in 2026, and the site issues that catch tradies out.
What a garage door replacement quote covers
A complete quote covers every part of the swap, not just the shiny new door. List all of these so nothing gets absorbed into a round number:
- The door — type, material and size, from current supplier pricing.
- The motor — matched to the door's weight, with remotes and any keypads.
- Installation labour — tracking, spring tensioning and fitting.
- Removal and disposal — stripping the old door and the skip fee to get rid of it.
- Electrical — a new GPO or wiring work if the motor needs it.
- Site rectification — an allowance for out-of-square openings, lintels or frames.
- Accessories and margin — extra remotes, keypads, finishes and your profit on top.
Add a line item like 'Site preparation and rectification (estimate)' and flag that unforeseen issues may lead to a variation. It sets expectations before you find the surprise, not after.
Door and material costs in 2026
The door type is the biggest single factor in the quote. Roller doors are the cheapest and simplest; sectional doors cost more but offer looks and insulation; custom doors run well beyond both. Confirm current supplier prices every time:
| Door type | Supply cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Roller door (single) | $800–$1,500 | Cheapest and simplest; excludes motor and install |
| Sectional door (double) | $1,800–$4,500 | Colorbond steel, aluminium or timber-look panels |
| Custom / tilt / specialty timber | $6,000+ | Door alone, bespoke sizing and finishes |
| Insulated panel upgrade | +$300–$600 | Adds warmth and quieter operation on a double door |
Source from reputable suppliers — the likes of B&D, Centurion or trade outlets — and quote off today's prices, because door and steel costs move.
Motors, automation and accessories
A motor is part of almost every modern replacement, and the spec has to match the door. Heavier doors and faster operation need a stronger opener, so don't price a chain-drive onto a heavy double.
- Chain-drive openers from brands like Merlin or B&D run $450–$800; quieter belt-drive motors are $600–$1,000.
- Higher-spec motors for heavy or fast doors sit at $900–$1,500.
- Smart features — Wi-Fi app control, battery backup for outages — add $100–$300 on top.
- Include the remotes (usually 2–4 with the motor); extra remotes are $60–$120 each and a wireless keypad is $150–$250.
- Quote the electrical connection if a new GPO is needed — $150–$300, more if a separate electrician is required.
Labour, installation and site challenges
Installation is where tradies undersell themselves. Price it on real time at your standard rate — say $90–$120 per tradie per hour — and remember most jobs need two people. A five-hour double sectional install for a pair is 10 billable hours, or roughly $900–$1,200 in labour before anything else.
- A single roller door swap runs 2–4 hours for a team of two; a double sectional door 4–6 hours with its weight and spring tensioning.
- Custom or oversized doors, or complex automation, can push past 8 hours.
- Add 1–2 hours to strip and dispose of the old door, plus the skip bin cost.
- Never assume the opening is square — sagging lintels can be $800–$2,500 to rectify, and non-compliant wiring $150–$400 for an electrician.
- Limited headroom or side-room means custom track and extra parts; factor them in.
Common mistakes that eat your margin
- Quoting off old supplier prices. Door, steel and motor costs fluctuate. Pull current pricing for the exact door and opener the day you quote.
- Forgetting disposal. The old door has to go somewhere — skip bin hire is $200–$500. Leave it out and it's a cost you wear.
- Skipping the site inspection. Uneven floors, out-of-square openings and damaged lintels only show up on site. Inspect before you price, and allow for rectification.
- Under-speccing the motor. A motor too light for a heavy door fails early and brings you back for a call-back. Match the opener to the door's weight.
- Leaving out your margin. Apply a 15–25% margin to materials and labour. It covers overheads and warranty obligations — don't be shy about it.
Pro tips for a garage door quote that wins
- Always do a thorough site inspection before you quote.
- Get current supplier prices for the door, motor and components every time.
- Include disposal of the old door — skip bin hire — as its own line.
- Itemise door, motor, labour and accessories so the client sees exactly what they're paying for.
- Add a 10–15% contingency for unforeseen site issues.
- Check the existing electrical access and condition for the motor before you commit.
- Offer basic and premium options for the door and automation so the client can choose.
ServiceYak keeps your door, motor, labour and accessory rates in a reusable kit, so you can itemise a garage door quote on site — margin included — and send a professional PDF before you leave the driveway.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a garage door replacement cost in Australia?
The door alone runs $800–$1,500 for a single roller, $1,800–$4,500 for a double sectional, and $6,000+ for custom. Add a motor at $450–$1,500, labour of roughly $900–$1,200 on a double sectional, plus disposal and any rectification.
How long does it take to install a garage door?
A single roller door swap is 2–4 hours for a two-person team; a double sectional door is 4–6 hours with its weight and spring tensioning. Custom or oversized doors can run past 8 hours, plus 1–2 hours to remove the old door.
What hidden costs should I include in the quote?
Disposal of the old door (skip bin $200–$500), electrical work if a new GPO is needed ($150–$300), and site rectification for out-of-square openings or sagging lintels ($800–$2,500). Add a 10–15% contingency and flag possible variations.