Home may be where the heart is, but who wants to be at home when you cannot relax because of all of the noise being made? While most homes generate some level of ambient noise, there are often a couple of different appliances and equipment that make up the lion’s share of noise made.
Garage door openers have long been a bane to those who just want the opportunity to relax at home without having to worry about the load, grating noise disturbing their peace of mind. Whether you want to sleep, generally relax, or even do some chores unperturbed, a quiet garage door opener can help.
That is why we put together a list of the 5 best quiet garage door opener reviews, highlighting what each one does best. We also provide a helpful buyer’s guide as well as answer some of the most pressing questions regarding garage door openers, so you can finally relax in peace.
Best Quiet Garage Door Opener Reviews
Best Seller: Chamberlain Group B550 Smartphone-Controlled Ultra-Quiet and Strong Belt Drive Garage Door Opener with MED Lifting Power, Blue
- Smart garage door opener comes with built-in myQ technology to keep you connected and protected: Open, close, and know the status of your...
- Ultra-Quiet & Strong Belt Drive: Steel-reinforced belt drive and constructed with high-grade materials for years of reliability and quiet,...
- Powered by Chamberlain’s MED Lift Power System, the B550 delivers the highest lifting force equivalent capacity compared to the 1/2 power...
Chamberlain is not only the oldest and most experienced company on our list, but it has been around for over a century, founded in 1906. On top of that, Chamberlain specializes exclusively in garage door openers as well as their accessories– and so do all of the other companies in the Chamberlain Group.
The Chamberlain B550 garage door opener is the company’s entry-level model that still offers some of their more advanced features. While this may seem like it would lead to an inexpensive product, this garage door opener is more reliable than many other entry-level products and is still somewhat expensive.
Thankfully, the Chamberlain B550 garage door opener is an extremely quiet model, thanks in a large part to the use of a belt-drive system as opposed to a chain-drive. On top of that, this garage door opener also reinforces its belt-drive with steel cables to offer additional durability as well as a smoother operation.
Keeping in line with the quiet approach, the Chamberlain B550 garage door opener comes with a ½ hp electric motor which is more than enough to work without generating any undue noise. It also does not hurt that this garage door opener employs soft start and stop functions to keep things quiet throughout its use.
One of the more impressive qualities of the Chamberlain B550 garage door opener is its security features which also include a Posi-lock system that prevents the garage door from being opened manually without permission. As if that were not enough, this garage door opener also comes with Security 2.0+ to ensure you will not be hacked.
The Chamberlain B550 garage door opener is also a great option if you live out on a large, rural property as you can open your garage door from up to 1500’ away. Of course, the convenience does not end there as this garage door opener comes equipped with a reliable WiFi system for even more control.
For starters, you can use the myQ app to control your garage door opener as well as keep track of its status, when it was last used, or turn off the light. Even better, this garage door opener comes with Smart Home integration features that work with a wider variety of systems than most, including IFTTT.
Unfortunately, these more advanced features do not come free and require a subscription service to access which further drives up the Chamberlain B550 garage door opener’s high price. Of course, you do not need to use those features for this product to function as it comes with two remotes, a dual-function wall control, and a wireless keypad.
Features
- Uses a powerful ½ hp DC motor
- The steel-reinforced belt-drive action is whisper quiet
- Is protected from hacking with Security 2.0+
- Perfect for SmartHome and SmartCar integration
- Can be opened from up to 1500’ away
Verdict
The Chamberlain B550 garage door opener has solid specs across the board and does not suffer from any of the durability or compatibility issues we see from some of its competitors. That said, the quality comes with a heavy price tag that further inflates if you want to take advantage of its advanced features.
Pros
- Has a ½ hp motor
- Has a 1500’ range
- Has a steel-reinforced belt-drive
- Has Smart integration
Cons
- Is more expensive
- Has a subscription fee
Top Pick: Chamberlain Group Chamberlain B1381 Bright LED Lighting Smartphone-Controlled Ultra-Quiet and Strong Belt Drive Garage Door Opener with Battery Backup and Max Lifting Power, 1.25 hp, Blue
- See your garage in a new light: Corner to corner lighting, smart garage opener features 3, 100-lumens of LED lighting to fill your entire...
- Smart garage control: Open and close your garage door from anywhere with your smartphone through the myQ App.
- Max lift power system-1. 25 HPS: Delivers the highest lifting force in the industry for effortless lifting and reliable performance.
Chamberlain makes another appearance on our list and where the first model was the entry-level option, the Chamberlain B1381 garage door opener focuses more on the higher-end. In fact, this garage door opener is one of Chamberlain’s two flagship models and focuses more on additional functionality.
Of course, the Chamberlain B1381 garage door opener also comes with the expected quietness that you expect from a flagship model in part thanks to the inclusion of a belt-drive system. Like other Chamberlain garage door openers, this entry also offers a soft start and stop function to ensure quiet throughout the process.
To take the belt-drives volume down another notch, the Chamberlain B1381 garage door opener reinforces its drive belt with steel, extending its durability as well as its smooth operation. One of the more surprising aspects of this garage door opener is its motor which puts out 1 ¼ hp, easily the most powerful model we reviewed.
However, the truly surprising part about this arrangement is that it does not increase the Chamberlain B1381 garage door opener’s volume by a noticeable degree. This is especially good for people who have larger than normal garage doors or garage doors made out of heavier material, especially for protective purposes.
Of course, if you have a standard garage door, the additional power will not go to waste as it improves the Chamberlain B1381 garage door opener’s durability under a normal load. This garage door opener is also great for someone who lives in a remote, rural home thanks to its remote range of 1500’, tied for the longest on our list.
However, the Chamberlain B1381 garage door opener goes even further and also comes equipped with an LED light that puts out 3100 lumens, more than enough for a garage workshop. As if that were not enough, this garage door opener also comes with a more advanced wall control that allows you to control the remotes and notifies you of warnings.
To keep the advanced features going, the Chamberlain B1381 garage door opener also allows for an additional backup battery to ensure it works even if your power gets knocked out. Like other high-end Chamberlain garage door openers, this model comes with a reliable WiFi receiver.
Not only does this let you control the Chamberlain B1381 garage door opener with your smart devices, but you can integrate it with your Smart Home as well. Of course, this is an expensive garage door opener and only made all the more expensive if you use the smart features that require a subscription service to access.
Features
- Uses a powerful 1 ¼ hp DC motor
- The steel-reinforced belt-drive action is whisper quiet
- Is protected from hacking with Security 2.0+
- Lights up with a 3100 lumen LED light
- Can be opened from up to 1500’ away
Verdict
The Chamberlain B1381 garage door opener can handle far more than any of the other models on our list with a powerful 1 ¾ hp motor that still stays quieter than most. That said, you pay for the quality with a high price that is only increased further with a subscription service for high-end features.
Pros
- Has a 1 ¼ hp motor
- Has a 1500’ range
- Has a steel-reinforced belt-drive
- Has Smart integration
Cons
- Is more expensive
- Has a subscription fee
Best Value: Genie QuietLift Connect – WiFi Smart Garage Door Opener with Added Wireless Keypad, ¾ HPC Smart Belt Drive – Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, Model 3053-TKV
- ULTRA-QUIET OPERATION: The Genie QuietLift Connect is an ultra-quiet garage door opener that is ideal for garages attached to living spaces.
- SMART GARAGE SYSTEM COMPATIBLE WITH ALEXA & GOOGLE ASSISTANT: The Integrated Aladdin Connect technology allows you to monitor, open and...
- EASY TO INSTALL: This smart garage features a strong 5-piece rail system snaps together for easy installation. It’s lightweight with no...
Genie has a solid history and experience, though it only got started making garage door openers and their accessories around 6 decades ago. Of course, that is plenty of time to refine a great line of products, and Genie is another company that specializes exclusively in garage door openers and their accessories.
The Genie QuietLift 3053-TKV garage door opener is one of the company’s mid-tier models that outclasses some more expensive competitors in a couple of ways. That said, this is a fairly quiet garage door opener thanks to the use of a drive-belt system, but is not the quietest model than we encountered.
Thankfully, it is still plenty quiet in part due to the reinforcing of the drive belt with steel cables that not only provide a smoother action but also increase its durability. To further keep the noise down, the Genie QuietLift 3053-TKV garage door opener comes with soft start and stop features.
This garage door opener may not be able to compete with some models in terms of range, but at 200’, the range of the remotes is still pretty good. It also does not hurt that the Genie QuietLift 3053-TKV garage door opener comes with a powerful motor at ¾ hp, capable of lifting up to 500 pounds.
It is worth noting that this garage door opener is not noted for being quite as durable as some of its premium competition, though the issue tends to be with the Smart House features more than others. However, you should also look for electrical issues in the remotes or wall pad, though the mechanics fare well.
Of course, you might be able to forgive some of those minor inconveniences given that the Genie QuietLift 3053-TKV garage door opener is an inexpensive option. It also provides solid security to protect you from hackers with its Intellicode system that uses rolling code protection.
Features
- Uses a powerful ¾ hp DC motor
- The steel-reinforced belt-drive action is whisper quiet
- Can be opened from up to 200’ away
- Perfect for SmartHome and SmartCar integration
- Has numerous methods of controlling its action
Verdict
The Genie QuietLift 3053-TKV garage door opener is surprisingly powerful considering its low cost while also making sure that its action is quiet. On the other hand, it is not nearly as reliable as some of the other entries on our list and can be extremely frustrating to integrate with its more advanced features.
Pros
- Has a ¾ hp motor
- Has a 200’ range
- Has a steel-reinforced belt-drive
- Is less expensive
Cons
- Not the most compatible
- Not the most durable
Runner Up: Genie SilentMax 1200 Model 4042-TKH Garage Door Opener with Motion Detection Lighting, Ultra-Quiet Steel-Reinforced Belt Drive, 140V DC Motor, 3/4 + HPc 140V Belt Drive, Gray
- ULTRA-QUIET OPERATION: The SilentMax 1200 is an ideal garage door opener for garages attached to living spaces.
- POWERFUL AND SMOOTH OPERATION: The powerful 140V DC motor features a soft start and stop control for smooth door travel.
- FAST AND EASY INSTALLATION: With no additional hardware required for assembly, the c-channel rail makes for faster, easier installation.
Genie makes another appearance on our list, and much like the last entry that followed a product from the same company, this entry offers higher-end features. In fact, the Genie SilentMax 1200 Model 4042-TKH garage door opened provides a particular function that can help with convenience and security.
Still, this garage door opener checks all of the boxes you expect when looking for a quiet model starting with a drive-belt operation that also combines reinforced steel cabling to ensure a smooth performance. On top of that, the Genie SilentMax 1200 Model 4042-TKH garage door opened also offers soft start and stop actions.
Much like its predecessor, this garage door opener is plenty powerful thanks to a ¾ hp motor that ties for second on our list and can lift up to 500 pounds. That said, the Genie SilentMax 1200 Model 4042-TKH garage door opener really stands out with its motion detector that turns on its dual 200-watt lights when anyone enters the garage.
Like most of the other garage door openers we reviewed, this model comes with a built-in WiFi receiver but offers some functions others do not. Aside from the standard ability to control the garage door opener with smart devices or a smart home system, the Genie SilentMax 1200 Model 4042-TKH garage door opened can also connect to smart car systems.
Unfortunately, this garage door opener is one of the company’s newer models and still has plenty of bugs and kinks to work out of the system before its high-end features work as expected. It is also worth noting that while the Genie SilentMax 1200 Model 4042-TKH garage door opened is neither expensive nor inexpensive, its belts tend to break at a quicker pace than others.
Still, this garage door opener is a solid option for anyone who wants a bit of distance before they get to the garage with a range of 200’. The Genie SilentMax 1200 Model 4042-TKH garage door opened is also reasonably easy to install and comes with the company’s solid Intellicode rolling code security system.
Features
- Uses a powerful ¾ hp DC motor
- The steel-reinforced belt-drive action is whisper quiet
- Can be opened from up to 200’ away
- Perfect for SmartHome and SmartCar integration
- Is protected from hacking with Intellicode Security
Verdict
The Genie SilentMax 1200 Model 4042-TKH garage door opened is one of the more powerful models that we reviewed that still manages to stay quieter than most. Unfortunately, it is also a new product, and the company is still trying to work out the software kinks while refining the hardware’s capabilities.
Pros
- Has a ¾ hp motor
- Has a 200’ range
- Has a steel-reinforced belt-drive
- Has Smart integration
Cons
- Not the most durable
- Has numerous bugs
Also Consider: Atoms ATR-1622BKW by Skylink 1/2HPF Garage Door Opener with Alexa. Extremely Quiet DC Motor, Belt Drive and WiFi Compatible
- Powerful DC motor provides extremely quiet operations compared to traditional openers with AC motors.
- Integrable with Orbit Smarthome control. Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT compatible.
- Built-in 12W LED for long-lasting illumination.
Out of all the companies on our list, Skylink is easily the least experienced, though it has been around for 30 years. That said, this is the only company we reviewed which does not specialize exclusively in garage door openers and focuses instead on various home automation products.
In terms of quietness, the Atoms ATR-1622BKW garage door opener is every bit as competitive as the other entries we reviewed with a belt-drive system. It also reinforces the drive’s belts with steel cables for a smoother operation and added durability that does not break down under pressure.
On top of that, the Atoms ATR-1622BKW garage door opener offers a decent alternative to some of the more reputable competition and is extremely inexpensive. Of course, that trade-off comes with some costs, but those do not seem to be related to the outright durability or reliability of the product.
While it is not the brightest we encountered, the Atoms ATR-1622BKW garage door opener also provides plenty of light thanks to a 12W LED bulb, though this is by no means enough for a workshop in general. Granted, this is not the most powerful garage door opener we encountered, but it is plenty strong to work on a standard garage door with a ½ hp motor.
One thing that surprises a bit is that the Atoms ATR-1622BKW garage door opener comes with a built-in WiFi receiver more than capable of connecting to a smart device or Smart Home system. While the Smart Home compatibility is limited a bit with the high-end services, this garage door opener also works with IFTTT.
However, the Atoms ATR-1622BKW garage door opener’s low cost comes back in the amount of time, energy, and frustration you have to pay to install it both for the hardware and software. As if that were not enough, the customer service is difficult to work with, often making passive-aggressive comments and half-hearted apologies instead of offering solutions.
Features
- Uses a powerful ½ hp DC motor
- The steel-reinforced belt-drive action is whisper quiet
- Is protected from hacking with rolling code
- Perfect for SmartHome and SmartCar integration
- Has numerous methods of controlling its action
Verdict
The Skylink Atoms ATR-1622BKW garage door opener is a quiet option that comes at a surprisingly low cost for the performance. However, installing both the hardware and software for full-feature use can be frustrating while the customer service leaves a lot to be desired– not to mention hidden fees.
Pros
- Has a ½ hp motor
- Has a steel-reinforced belt-drive
- Has Smart integration
- Is less expensive
Cons
- Not the easiest installation
- Poor customer service
Buyer’s Guide
Volume
Given the focus of our list, this is by far the most important factor with all of the entries on our list offering a quieter function than your standard chain-driven garage door opener. However, there are still plenty of factors like the type of motor used that weigh on this with DC motors faring better than AC motors.
On top of that, we made sure to only include garage door openers that function on a belt-drive system as opposed to the traditional chain-drive system. You also should not have to worry about the noise made from your garage door jolting open from the motor with soft start and stop features.
Power
While most mechanical devices function better with more power, most garage door openers do not need to be that powerful to perform their function. Granted, if your garage door is larger than average or made out of uncharacteristically heavy materials, you may want to get a model with a stronger motor.
In terms of rating a garage door opener’s power, the standard spec is horsepower, though some manufacturers also provide voltage– though this refers more to the battery than the actual torque generated. One thing that a powerful motor does tend to offer is durability since the components are larger and heartier than with smaller, weaker motors.
Installation
Unless your garage door already has an opener you are simply replacing, installing a brand new garage door opener can be a complicated and tricky process. For starters, many of the components of a garage door opener need to be affixed to the garage’s roof which can be difficult, if not impossible, for a single person to accomplish.
On top of that, you need to be particularly careful of how you align the garage door opener, both concerning the vertical alignment of the door components and the mirror alignment of the drive. Most garage door openers install similarly, but that does not mean the instructions for how to install one brand is as good as the instructions provided by another brand.
Range
The range of a garage door opener refers to the strength of a signal from the opener’s receiver with its remotes which generally use radio frequencies to communicate. Depending on your situation, this may not matter at all, especially if you only ever use the garage door opener right before you pull into the garage.
However, there are plenty of people who live on larger tracts of land and haul goods which need to be unloaded quickly that benefit from an extended range. In this instance, you should look for a garage door opener with at least a couple hundred feet of range, though some can extend almost a quarter of a mile.
Keep in mind, the amount of electrical interference can decrease the effective range of a garage door opener’s RF signal. Thankfully, most of the people who would use a garage door opener from a distance tend to live far enough away from dense population centers that it should not be much of an issue.
Security
A big part of having a garage in the first place comes down to wanting to protect your vehicles from both the elements and unwanted intrusions. Of course, none of that matters if a garage door opener instead leaves your entire house more vulnerable to the same type of risks you want to protect your vehicle from.
As such, many garage door openers come with at least one form of security to make sure that no one can hack your system to open the garage door without your home. Unfortunately, you may still want to make sure the garage door has a traditional locking method in place as less and less garage door openers include that as part of their package.
Smart Features
As technology continues to progress, more and more aspects of the home become integrated with the internet to allow for quick and convenient use. The same thing applies to garage door openers which now often support multiple forms of internet interaction to provide you additional ways to control your garage door opener.
One of the more refined and effective smart features a garage door opener may employ is connecting to a smart device so you do not need to worry about RF remotes. Even better, many of the more contemporary models also allow you to use various Smart Home systems, though all Smart features require the garage door opener to have a WiFi receiver.
Control
- Pad – This is the original form of garage door opener control and involves a control pad affixed to the wall inside or directly outside of the garage. While some pad controls are hardwired directly to the garage door opener’s chassis, most of them these days use radio frequencies. More often than not, a control pad will only include the minimum amount of controls necessary to function including an open/close button, a light button (if applicable), and a locking button.
- Remote – This is likely the first kind of control that comes to mind when people think of a garage door opener’s control as it has been used for decades. Remotes almost always function on radio frequencies which makes them more reliable than all other forms of control outside of hardwired controls. While not the original control, remotes remain one of the more indispensable controls as it does not require outside devices to function. On top of that, remotes are a great form of control to just leave in your vehicle, ready to use when you need them.
- Smart Device – The second-most recent form of control, smart devices have been used to manage garage door openers for around a decade now. Thankfully, this provides manufacturers plenty of time to get all of the kinks out of the system, and smart device control is close to as reliable as remotes. Even better, smart devices can often track a variety of different stats like how often the garage door opener is used, by whom, and when. This is especially useful if you have a garage door opener with multiple codes used by different individuals.
- Smart Home – Smart Home controls are easily the newest form of garage door opener control and also the least reliable. A big part of this spotty reliability comes from the fact that, being so new, manufacturers often still have plenty of bugs to work out of the firmware. It also does not help that both the garage door opener and the Smart Home device need to be connected to a shared WiFi system. That said, a working Smart Home control is one of the most convenient forms available, activated by voice.
Lights
This is a fairly common feature included with garage door openers, though it may not always provide the same functionality from model to model. Most of the time, the lights attached to a garage door opener offer enough light to see where you are driving but not enough for much beyond that.
While this is not generally a problem, it means you should not get a garage door opener with a light and expect that to provide enough illumination for a workshop too. Thankfully, there are a couple of higher-end models on the market that come equipped with lights powerful enough to do just that.
Price
While the price of any product is important, it is worth noting that some of the newer garage door opener features come with additional price tags as well. Not only does this mean you need to weigh whether or not to look for a model with advanced features, but it also impacts how much of an all-around value a given model provides.
The most common form of additional cost incurred with a garage door opener comes from the necessity of subscription plans to use Smart features or WiFi receivers. Another common additional cost, though not quite as common, are garage door openers that allow for backup batteries which generally do not come with the base product.
FAQ’s
What Makes a Garage Door Opener Quiet?
The volume of a garage door opener comes from a couple of different sources with similar products producing differing amounts of noise due to specific distinctions in their design. Unfortunately, most of the specific design features and specs that go into making a garage door quiet are not disclosed by manufacturers, even those that might benefit from doing so.
That said, one of the best qualities to look for when choosing a quiet garage door opener is a belt-drive system, especially if it is reinforced with steel. Not only does the steel increase the belt-drive’s durability, but it also affords a smoother operation than you would otherwise find with a traditional chain-drive system due to a lack of metal links.
Another feature that can help keep down a garage door opener’s noise level is a soft start and stop mechanism as this decreases the force placed on the garage door itself and prevents jolting noise. Finally, the inclusion of a DC motor also reduces the noise generated since it does not require as large of a motor to generate the same power.
What is Good Garage Door Opener Security?
Garage door openers may make your life easier, but that does not help too much if it also makes it easier for trespassers and other criminals. When it comes to garage door security, there are a couple of different forms you should look for as each plays an important role in different fields of entry.
The standard form of security traditionally afforded to garage door openers was mechanical where the garage door opener would lock in place unless activated. Unfortunately, this kind of security measure is less common in contemporary garage door openers, especially those with high-end features.
The second type of garage door opener security focuses more on those models with higher-end features that allow you to control the garage door through Smart functions. The main form of security used for this purpose is rolling code which changes the code each time it is used, but other forms of randomly generated encryption security are better.
Why Get a Garage Door Opener with WiFi?
While traditional garage door openers used radio frequencies to control their action, advanced technology allows you additional methods of control. One of the most popular methods now includes using WiFi to connect your garage door opener with various Smart devices, making it more convenient.
Keep in mind that the built-in WiFi receiver of a garage door opener is necessary whether you want to use a handheld smart device or a Smart Home system. The Smart Home system is arguably the most convenient method as it can be controlled through voice activation and does not require opening an app.
That said, not every garage door opener comes with as good of a built-in WiFi receiver as others, so consider where your router is placed before opting for this feature. Of course, even if the router sits too far away from the garage door opener, you can always get a WiFi signal extender to boost the signal.
What to Look For?
Considering that garage door openers often still require some tinkering and tech-savvy to use their highest-end features, having a model with solid RF openers is key. This feature includes both the traditional remotes as well as wall-mounted units with their various functions providing more or less control.
Outside of the previous features answered in this FAQ, one of the more convenient features is a garage door opener with a long-range. Granted, this may not matter as much for people who live in dense neighborhoods with little space from the road to the garage, but it can be useful for people who live in rural areas.
Lights are a solid feature to look for as well, giving you a chance to see inside the garage as you park or even to offer some moderate illumination when doing a quick chore. That said, some garage door openers go the extra mile and provide bright lights that can completely replace the need for any other form of light in the garage.
Conclusion
As we can see, there are plenty of quiet garage door openers to choose from with a wide variety of different features and benefits but at a minimum amount of noise. If you want an all-around winner that you do not have to worry about, the Chamberlain B550 comes with plenty of extra features.
Of course, if you have an especially large or heavy garage door, you may want to look for one that offers a little bit more power while still being quiet which is where the Chamberlain B1381 comes into play. If you need a quiet garage door opener but would prefer to save a bit of money, the Genie QuietLift 3053-TKV is inexpensive if a bit less reliable.
At the same time, the Genie SilentMax 1200 Model 4042-TKH offers higher-end features at a lower price but is still working out some of the bugs. Finally, the Skylink Atoms ATR-1622BKW is reasonably quiet and effective while extremely inexpensive but can be a pain to install or if you need to contact customer service.