How to Select Wire Size for Garage Door Springs
Follow these steps to determine the correct wire size for your garage door springs.
Step 1: Measure 10 Coils
To determine the wire size, start by measuring the length of 10 coils in your garage door spring. Use a measuring tape or caliper to get an accurate measurement from the center of the first coil to the center of the tenth coil.
Make sure the spring is not under tension when measuring to ensure accuracy.
10 Coil Measurement Chart
| 10 Coil Measurement | Wire Size | Color Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1 15/16" (1.92") | .192" | Orange |
| 2" (2.00") | .200" | Light Blue |
| 2 1/16" (2.07") | .207" | Yellow |
| 2 3/16" (2.18") | .218" | White |
| 2 1/4" (2.25") | .225" | Red |
| 2 5/16" (2.34") | .234" | Brown |
| 2 7/16" (2.43") | .243" | Green |
| 2 1/2" (2.50") | .250" | Gold |
| 2 5/8" (2.62") | .262" | Blue |
| 2 3/4" (2.73") | .273" | Orange |
| 2 13/16" (2.83") | .283" | Light Blue |
| 2 15/16" (2.95") | .295" | White |
Adjacent wire sizes differ by about 1/16" over 10 coils, so measure 20 coils whenever the spring is long enough - the gap doubles and the reading is far harder to misread.
Step 2: Measure 20 Coils (Optional)
For even greater precision, you can measure the length of 20 coils and divide the result by 2. This helps minimize any slight variations in the spring's coil spacing.
Again, ensure the spring is not under tension during measurement.
Step 3: Determine Wire Size
Once you have the measurement of 10 coils or 20 coils, refer to the following charts to determine the corresponding wire size:
20 Coil Measurement Chart
| 20 Coil Measurement | Wire Size | Color Code |
|---|---|---|
| 3 13/16" (3.84") | .192" | Orange |
| 4" (4.00") | .200" | Light Blue |
| 4 1/8" (4.14") | .207" | Yellow |
| 4 3/8" (4.36") | .218" | White |
| 4 1/2" (4.50") | .225" | Red |
| 4 11/16" (4.68") | .234" | Brown |
| 4 7/8" (4.86") | .243" | Green |
| 5" (5.00") | .250" | Gold |
| 5 1/4" (5.24") | .262" | Blue |
| 5 7/16" (5.46") | .273" | Orange |
| 5 11/16" (5.66") | .283" | Light Blue |
| 5 7/8" (5.90") | .295" | White |
Step 4: Verify and Proceed
Double-check your measurements and the determined wire size to ensure accuracy. Once confirmed, you can proceed with selecting the appropriate garage door spring using the wire size in our spring calculator.