If you’re looking for the most convenient and safest ways to get into and out of your home, wall mount garage door openers are the way to go. Wall mount garage door openers, also referred to as side mount garage door openers and jackshaft garage door openers, are the way of the future. They’re gaining popularity in new homes, and many older homes are also deciding to install them.
Wall mount garage door openers allow you to get into and out of your home as quickly as possible. They mount easily to one side of your garage door on the inside of your garage. Since they hang horizontally on the wall, they free up space overhead along the ceiling of your garage and make it look cleaner and more open. Wall mount garage door openers also allow the option of controlling it with your Smartphone.
If you think a jackshaft opener suits you, you’ve come to the right place. This article will examine some of the top options for these garage door openers and how to choose the right one. We’ll even compare wall-mounted openers to the more common overhead garage door openers and help you decide which option is best for you.
Our Favorite Wall Mount Garage Door Openers
Because wall-mount garage door openers are a reasonably new concept, you likely haven’t done much research on the subject. To make your life easier, we’ve used our expertise to review and evaluate some of the best garage door openers on the market. Our list will look at the top three options and weigh the advantages and features of each one.
Chamberlain Smart Garage Door Opener – Wall Mounted – myQ Smartphone Controlled – Ultra Quiet Space Saving Direct Drive
The Chamberlain Smart Garage Door Opener takes the top spot on our list for several reasons. While the other two openers we’re about to look at have many of the same features as the Chamberlain, this option is the most affordable. Sure, it still costs over $400, but it has many features that make it the best choice for its price point, including built-in Wi-Fi.
The smart garage capability allows you to open, close, and lock your garage door from your Smartphone. This makes it one of the most popular smart features you can add to your garage. It includes a light fixture that turns on and off when you open or close the garage door, but you can also use it as a standalone feature. The Chamberlain also has ultra-sensitive safety sensors and remote control if you don’t feel like using your Smartphone.
Another remarkable feature of the Chamberlain is the auto-locking feature, where the garage door automatically locks anytime it’s in the closed position. This means that you don’t have to worry about burglars forcing the door open from the outside, which results in an extra layer of security and protection. You must download the myQ app and connect the opener to your home new to enable the intelligent features.
Finally, the Chamberlain package includes an exterior wireless keypad for easy entry from the outside if you forget your garage door opener or Smartphone. It’s also perfect if your home doubles as an Airbnb because the wireless wall console allows easy entry. Because the system is wall-mounted, it results in very quiet operation, bordering on complete silence.
Pound for pound, with pricing as a consideration, you can’t do better than the Chamberlain Smart Garage Door Opener.
LiftMaster 8500 Wall Mount Garage Door Opener
If you’re looking for a heavy-duty option, you should consider the LiftMaster 8500 Wall Mount Garage Door Opener Package. Before getting to the positives about this garage door opener, let’s state the negatives. It’s only compatible with sectional doors, which slightly limits the application. However, if you have a sectional garage door, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better option than the LiftMaster.
The LiftMaster model is roughly the same price as the Chamberlain listed above and includes many of the same features. It has the same myQ® technology for increased control and protection and an excellent light feature that’s even better than that of the Chamberlain. It also utilizes powerful p3 motors to ensure that the garage door will always be able to go all the way up or down rather than getting caught in the middle.
Thanks to the wall mount, it also runs exceptionally quietly because there aren’t as many ceiling vibrations. As with all wall mount garage door systems, you’ll be able to free up valuable ceiling space for storage, lights, or a cleaner look. The package includes a wall control inside your garage, opener lights, and a three-button opener for increased power and safe door travel.
As long as you have a front mount torsion bar system with torsion springs, this garage door opener is the way to go.
Genie B6172H Wall Mount Smart Garage Door Opener
While the Genie Wall Mount Smart Garage Door Opener system is the most expensive on our list, it’s also the most heavy-duty. It has the most robust motor out of any openers on this list and can lift massive garage doors weighing up to 850 pounds. Furthermore, it can raise not only heavy garage doors but long ones as well, even up to doors that are 14 feet high.
Because of the Genie garage door system’s extra power, it’s great for garages with cathedral ceilings or extra tall ones. While the motor of this garage door opener is big and powerful, it’s extremely quiet, and you may not even know it’s in operation. This system is also one of the safest thanks to the safe-t pulse internal slack cable monitor, which ensures that your garage door always stays on course.
The built-in LED light bulb isn’t the biggest lighting feature on the market, but it’s bright and radiant enough to ensure you’re never in the dark while your door is in motion.
The Genie B6172H also has a battery backup if you happen to be experiencing a power outage. This, along with the Aladdin Connect smart Wi-Fi technology, allows you to control everything from your Smartphone, making the Genie one of the all-around most reliable garage door openers on the planet.
If you’re worried about safety and security, Genie has you covered there. The automatic garage door lock deadbolts when in the closed position, so you don’t have to worry about intruders opening them from the outside.
Throw in the fact that there’s a wireless wall console for easy outside entry, and you’ve got one of the world’s finest wall-mounted garage door openers.
Overhead vs. Wall Mount Garage Door Openers
If you’re on the fence about whether to install an overhead garage door opener or a wall mount one, here’s a short comparison of the two systems. While they both get the job done when opening and closing your garage door, they also have different pros and cons that could help make your decision easy.
Overhead Garage Door Openers
Overhead garage door openers utilize a door track that mounts to the ceiling your garage door travels along. However, this system differs from wall-mounted ones because the opener control also gets mounted to the garage ceiling. Ceiling-mounted garage door systems utilize a chain, belt, or screw-drive mechanism to move the door up and down along the track.
Standard overhead garage doors are usually cheaper and easier to install, which can easily influence your decision. They also require less maintenance than wall mount garage doors, which are slightly more prone to problems but still very minimal. However, overhead garage doors are bulkier and louder than other types of openers, which can be significant cons.
Wall Mount Garage Door Openers
Wall mount design openers share a few similarities to overhead openers, but only a few. The main similarity is that they include tracks on either side of the garage door where the wheels of the door travel through to go up and down. However, the wall mount openers’ method to control the door differs from overhead doors.
The wall-mount design uses a torsion bar and spring system to open and close the garage door. These bars are fairly non-descript and attach to the opener control directly at the top/front of the garage. Because both mechanisms are out of the way, it opens up the garage ceiling for more storage space and room.
Advantages of a Wall Mount Garage Door Opener
Now that you have a better idea of the differences between wall mounts versus overhead garage doors let’s look at why you should choose a wall mount system.
Extra Space
One of the main reasons that people love wall mount garage door openers is because of the extra space that you have around your garage ceiling. You don’t have as much space with overhead openers because of where the opener gets mounted.
Because the opener is mounted to either side of the garage door, you’ll have extra storage space where the overhead opener would typically be. You can use this space for ceiling racks or even attic access, which is extremely handy in garages.
Security
Each system we’ve looked at features included automatic garage door opener locking mechanisms for extra safety and security. While some overhead systems also have this feature, it’s more prevalent in wall mount systems because of how they get installed.
Quiet Operation
Another significant advantage to getting a wall mount garage door opener is the silent operation. In most cases, you can barely hear when a wall mount garage door is operating because of how quiet the motors and the torsion bars are. Overhead garage door openers are usually louder and not as smooth because of the extra vibrations they cause.
Less Maintenance and Wear and Tear
Because of how this type of opener works, wall-mounted systems require less maintenance than overhead systems. The torsion bar and spring system result in less wear and tear, which means less maintenance. In rare cases, when you have to perform maintenance on your wall mount system, they’re closer to the ground and more accessible, which means easier maintenance.
Cleaner Look
In addition to offering more storage space because of the side mount, wall mount openers also provide a cleaner look to garages. Overhead garage door openers are bulky and can be slightly invasive. Wall-mounted systems, however, are much more non-descript and out of the way.
Safer
Wall-mounted garage door openers are safer on two fronts. First off, they are usually wireless systems, so it’s harder to burglarize your home or break in through your garage door with this type of system. Wall-mounted openers also have better controls and guidance systems to stay on course. In both cases, wall-mounted openers offer more peace of mind regarding personal and home safety.
What to Consider When Buying a Wall Mount Garage Door Opener?
If you’re dead set on having a wall-mount garage door opener, here are a few things to remember when making your choice.
Horsepower and Motor Strength
Horsepower and the strength of the built-in motor are considerable things to consider when purchasing your wall mount garage door opener. Wall mount openers have a reputation for not being powerful enough to lift heavy doors because of how they’re installed. Therefore, if you have a large or heavy garage door, you should make sure to choose an opener that’s powerful enough to lift it or opt for an overhead opener.
Additional Features
As you may have noticed from the options we’ve listed above, there are many additional features to look out for with wall mount openers. Here are some things you should look for in your opener system to make it a good investment.
- A remote light feature
- Compatibility with the myQ, Aladdin, or another smart app
- Sensitive motion sensors
- A powerful motor
- A wireless entry key
- A wall mount opener and a remote control opener for your car
Smart Versus Not Smart
A smart garage door opener isn’t necessarily a requirement, but it’s a nice commodity. Built-in Wi-Fi and smart technology allow you to control your opener with your Smartphone or other smart devices. This ability can get you out of a pinch if you forget to close your garage door while away from home or if your remote opener isn’t working.
Power Backup?
Something you should look for with your opener is a backup power source in case of a power outage. If the only way your garage door can get opened or shut is with electricity, you’ll be in a bad spot when the power goes out.
Brand Name
If you don’t know where to start or don’t feel like weighing all the pros and cons of different openers, you should opt for one of the brands listed above. Genie, LiftMaster, and Chamberlain Group LLC are three of the top garage door brands. They’re renowned for producing quality products that come with a wide array of features and in a wide price range.
Budget
As with everything in life, your budget will play a massive role in your final decision. Each of the openers we’ve looked at in this article is high-quality, but they are also in the $400 to $500 price range. If you’re on a tight budget, you may want to consider an overhead garage door opener, as they’re usually cheaper and easier to install on your own.
What Size Garage Door Will a Wall Mount Garage Door Opener Open?
One of the only downsides of wall mount garage door openers is that they often aren’t quite as powerful as their overhead counterparts. However, thanks to technological advancements, certain wall mount openers can handle doors of all shapes and sizes. For example, the Genie Wall Mount Garage Door Opener can open doors as tall as 14 feet and as heavy as 850 pounds.
Therefore, if you have a typical residential garage or even a small shop, a wall mount garage door opener should be able to get the job done.
How Much Does a Wall Mount Garage Door Opener Cost?
In general, wall mount garage door openers are slightly more expensive to purchase and install than overhead openers. They can cost anywhere from $100 to $500, depending on the type of opener you install. The more bells and whistles you have and the bigger the motor in the opener, the more expensive it will be.
Wall mount openers are also more challenging to install on your own, which can further drive up the cost.
Wall Mount vs Overhead Garage Door Opener
There are two main types of garage door openers; wall mount and overhead openers.
Wall mount openers are great for garages with low ceilings and those who want a more streamlined look. They’re generally easier to install since you don’t have to worry about mounting them to the ceiling.
However, wall mount openers can be more expensive and are not always as durable as overhead models.
Overhead garage door openers are the most popular type and less expensive. They’re reliable and easy to use and offer a wide range of features. Most overhead garage door openers are chain or belt drive models and need a higher ceiling for operation.
Wall Mount Garage Door Opener FAQs
What is the Advantage of a Wall Mount Garage Door Opener?
A wall mount garage door opener mounts on the wall beside the garage door. Their main advantages is that they require less maintenance and take up less space than overhead models.
How Much Does a Wall Mounted Garage Door Opener Cost?
A wall mount garage door opener costs between $400 to $600 plus installation. You’ll pay about $800 to $1500 for a wall mount garage door opener with professional installation.
Are Wall Mounted Garage Door Openers Quieter?
Wall mounted garage door openers are not necessarily quieter than overhead models. The noise from a garage door opening largely comes from the garage door hinges, tracks, and rollers.
How Do You Mount a Garage Door Opener to the Wall?
Most wall mount openers come with all of the necessary hardware for installation. Generally, you will need to drill holes in your wall and use screws to secure the opener. The opener mounts next to the top of the door and connects to the torsion bar and spring system.
