Garage door motor hums but nothing moves
This is almost always a failed capacitor, or a seized motor. Repair costs $120 to $300 and takes 45 to 75 minutes. Safe to operate: Lift by hand to test.
Check this first — it may cost you nothing
Pull the release and lift the door by hand. If it moves freely, the door is fine and the fault is entirely in the opener.
Why this happens
A hum without movement means the motor is getting power but cannot start turning. On a residential opener that is almost always the starting capacitor, which is a cheap part.
A hum with no movement is usually this can: the start capacitor, which gives the motor its kick. It is one of the cheapest real repairs on the door.
Less likely, but possible
- A seized gearbox, which sounds similar but will not free up
- A stripped drive gear jamming the output
- Heat damage to the capacitor, common in hot climates
What happens if I ignore it?
Running a humming motor repeatedly overheats the windings. A capacitor is a modest repair; a burnt-out motor usually means replacing the opener.
The repair: opener repair
Garage door opener repair costs $150 to $400 depending on the fault, and takes 45 to 90 minutes. A stripped drive gear or a failed logic board is a repair; an opener over 15 years old is usually worth replacing instead.
Read the full opener repair guide →Get a tech dispatched
Tell us what the door is doing and where you are. We'll connect you with a licensed contractor in your area — usually within the hour.
We pass your details to one licensed contractor serving your ZIP. We don't sell your information to multiple companies. Privacy