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Snapped or loose garage door cables
If your door is hanging lower on one side, has jammed partway, or you can see a slack or frayed wire, a lifting cable has probably snapped or come off its drum.
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Which doors use cables?
Sectional doors and up-and-over doors with retractable gear lift on steel cables wound round drums and tensioned by springs. Canopy-style up-and-over doors and roller doors work differently, so a specialist will confirm what you have.
Common causes
- Wear and fraying with age, especially near the bottom bracket
- A broken spring putting a sudden load on the cable
- The door catching on something and the cable jumping off the drum
- Rust in damp garages
Why not to fix it yourself
Cables are held under tension by the springs. Re-fitting a cable usually means dealing with spring tension, which is the same risk Checkatrade warns about for springs. Don't open or close the door with a slack or broken cable: it can twist the panels or come down unevenly. Stop using it, keep the area clear and get a specialist out.
Cost
We haven't found a reliable published UK price specifically for cable replacement. As a guide, Checkatrade puts a general garage door repair at £40–£120 (average £80), and call-out fees are typically £40–£80 (No1 Garage Doors). If a spring has also failed, expect spring costs on top. Your specialist will quote you once they've seen the door.
Sources: Checkatrade, garage door repair cost (updated May 2026); No1 Garage Doors, spring replacement cost UK (2026). Typical ranges only, checked 24 October 2026. Your quote will depend on your door and garage.
Common questions
Can I put a garage door cable back on myself?
We don't recommend it. Cables are under spring tension, and putting one back on usually means handling that tension. Get a specialist to do it.
Why has my garage door cable snapped?
Usually it's age and wear, rust, or a spring failing and overloading the cable. A specialist should check the springs and drums at the same time.
Is a snapped cable urgent?
If the door is jammed open or hanging unevenly, treat it as urgent and stop using the door. Choose 'Urgent' in the form.
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