How Much Is a Glass Garage Door?

by Team HomeServe
Glass garage door inside of a barn

There’s no glass ceiling on style — but there may be a glass door. Something about the sight of a glass-panel garage door on a home is just instantly appealing, adding a unique, contemporary look.

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If you're looking into a glass garage door for your house, you may want to clear up questions on cost. We’ve got you covered.

Why Install a Glass Garage Door?

Homeowners have their choice of many types of materials for garage doors, but aluminum and glass doors are excellent choices for modern house designs. Installing a glass garage door is one of the easiest ways to add a unique visual flair to your home.

Glass doors let in lots of natural light, making the space lighter, warmer and more welcoming. They're also very sturdy, as they're typically made of tempered glass that's as strong as aluminum and wood. Glass garage doors generally don't need painting, since you only need to clean the glass using a soft, clean cloth or glass cleaner.

Glass garage doors come in different types and styles, with these variations affecting the total cost. The cost of installing the garage door also varies depending on whether it's a residential or commercial glass garage door. Residential glass garage doors are generally more affordable and come in a range of colors, styles and glass types.

Glass Garage Door Cost

Typically, the cost depends on the type of glass garage door and the size. According to Bob Vila, you can expect to pay an average of $2,500 to $8,000 (CAD 3,343 to CAD 10,698) for a new glass garage door. The thickness of the glass panels is one of the most important factors impacting cost. Thick glass panels are stronger and harder to break.

Glass garage doors are generally low-maintenance and made of safe, tempered glass. On the downside, they can be heavier, which makes installation challenging. They’re also more expensive than other common garage door materials like fiberglass, wood and steel.

Insulated Glass Garage Door Cost

Insulated glass garage doors significantly increase a home's energy efficiency, although they're comparable to insulated wood or steel garage doors. You can expect to pay significantly more if you choose to install an insulated glass garage door rather than a tempered glass garage door. Most insulated glass garage doors cost $5,000 (CAD 6,686) on average, excluding installation.

Frosted Glass Garage Door Cost

Frosted glass garage doors cost around $4,350 (CAD 5,817) on average, roughly $350 (CAD 468) more than a standard tempered glass door. The labor costs for installing either type are about the same.

Glass Rollup Doors

These glass garage doors have been gaining popularity in recent years as a replacement for main walls or windows that merge outdoor and indoor spaces. They can be insulated for better climate control and greater energy savings and are most common in restaurants, wineries and breweries. When you open a rollup door, the outdoor and indoor spaces merge with one another, inviting foot traffic. Once the door is closed, the indoor space is insulated and shielded from weather while still offering a view of the outside milieu.

Average Cost of a Glass Garage Door by Style

Glass garage doors come in a range of eye-catching styles. When purchasing a glass door, it's important to consider the features and benefits each type offers. But the bottom line is to choose one that reflects your taste preferences. Here are some of the common garage door styles and their respective average costs, according to This Old House. Bear in mind you'll likely pay more than average for a glass model.

  • French garage doors: $3,750 (CAD 5,015)
  • Carriage garage doors: $5,500 (CAD 7,355)
  • Paneled garage doors: $550 (CAD 375)

Garage Door Price by Configuration

The size of the garage door affects the overall cost of your installation. For instance, if your garage holds more than one vehicle, you can configure it to have two or more separate doors. Alternatively, you can install one wide double door to cover the entire gap.

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Other Considerations

Before purchasing the glass garage door, you should also consider other necessary accessories, such as garage-door openers. Most garage-door openers cost $150 to $500 (CAD 201 to CAD 669), according to data from HomeGuide, and you can expect to pay between $150 and $400 (CAD 201 to CAD 535) for installation. Some of the more advanced models include Wi-Fi capability, LED lighting, built-in safety features and battery backup to ensure they're fully functional even during power outages.

Labor Costs to Install a Glass Garage Door

When purchasing a glass garage door, you should also consider the cost of labor. Fortunately, most installers charge a flat rate for the service. Glass garage door installation labor starts from around $200 (CAD 267) to install a single door and can reach as high as $1,100 (CAD 1,471) or more for a double garage door. If the door is custom-built, you can expect the installation cost to be higher.

Glass Garage Door Repair Cost

You may not need to replace the entire garage door to install glass panels. Typically, the cost of repairing a glass garage door is lower than installing an entirely new one.

Most problems associated with garage doors arise from their torsion, springs and openers — in which case, you can expect to pay between $40 and $350 (CAD 53 and CAD 468) for the repairs. But if the door has cracks or broken sections, you may need to replace it. Only repair the door if it's in perfect structural condition but not operational.

Enhancements and Upgrades

You can also opt for a few enhancements to your glass garage door. For example, Fixr says you can choose to resize the door or combine two separate garage doors into a double glass garage door. The cost of this ranges from $500 to $2,000 (CAD 669 to CAD 2,675), depending on the project's scope. You can also add extra windows to the door for aesthetic appeal or to let in more natural light.

All CAD conversions are based on the exchange rate on the date of publication.