What is a Spring Cycle Life?
The number of open/close cycles a garage door spring is rated for before it is expected to fail.
Spring cycle life refers to the rated lifespan of a garage door spring, measured in cycles. One cycle equals one complete open and close of the garage door. Standard garage door springs are rated for approximately 10,000 cycles, which translates to roughly 7–10 years of normal use (assuming 3–4 cycles per day). High-cycle springs are available in ratings of 25,000, 50,000, and even 100,000 cycles. The cycle rating is determined by the wire diameter, spring length, and inside diameter — higher-cycle springs use thicker wire and/or more coils. In Canada, we strongly recommend high-cycle springs (25,000+ cycles) because extreme temperature swings (from -30°C in winter to +35°C in summer) accelerate metal fatigue and shorten spring life. Factors that reduce cycle life include: lack of lubrication, rust and corrosion, extreme temperatures, and improper spring sizing.