# Why Does My Garage Door Only Open a Few Inches?

**By Jennifer Oden** · 2025-09-10

If your garage door has been working normally and suddenly only rises a few inches before stopping, the most likely cause is a **broken spring**. Springs are what counterbalance the heavy weight of your door, and without them, the opener can’t lift it.

### How to Confirm the Problem

1.  Pull the **red emergency release handle** to disconnect the door from your opener.
2.  Try to manually lift the door.
3.  If it feels heavier than 10–15 lbs for a single door (or impossible to lift on a double door), you’ve likely got a broken spring.

### Other Things to Check

While broken springs are the most common issue, here are a few quick checks:

-   Make sure the **slide lock** on the side of the door isn’t engaged.
-   Look for **bent tracks** or objects stuck in the rollers.
-   Confirm nothing has fallen into the track, like a broom or yard tool.

### What to Do Next

If your spring is broken, the best solution is to **replace both springs**. When one fails, the other is usually close behind. You can DIY the replacement with the right tools, or call a repair professional to handle it safely.

👉 Order replacement springs here: [Garage Door Springs](https://www.expressgaragedoors.com/collections/garage-door-springs "Garage Door Springs")

### Final Thoughts

A garage door that only opens a few inches is almost always caused by a broken spring. Once you confirm it, replacing the springs will restore your door to smooth, reliable operation.

Why does my garage door only open a few inches

The most common reason is a **broken spring**. Without a working spring, the opener can’t lift the full weight of the door.

Can something else cause the door to stop

Yes, check for track obstructions, a bent track, or an engaged slide lock. But if the door is too heavy to lift manually, it’s almost always a spring issue.

Do I need to replace both springs

Yes. If one spring is broken, the other has likely weakened and will fail soon. Replacing both ensures balance and longer life.

Where can I buy replacement springs

You can order torsion, extension, and TorqueMaster springs directly here: [Express Garage Doors](https://www.expressgaragedoors.com/collections/garage-door-springs "Garage Door Springs").

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> Source: [Express Garage Doors](www.expressgaragedoors.com/blogs/news/why-does-my-garage-door-only-open-a-few-inches)