A garage door should move evenly from top to bottom. When it tilts, leans, scrapes, or closes unevenly, something in the system is no longer working together. Many homeowners first notice the problem when the bottom seal touches the floor on one side, leaving a gap on the other. Others hear a new grinding sound or see the door dropping faster on one side.
A crooked garage door may seem like a minor inconvenience, but it often signals hidden strain on cables, springs, rollers, or tracks. Understanding why the imbalance happens helps you recognize what is normal and what may need attention from a trained technician.
We’ve explained here the most common causes of a crooked garage door, symptoms to watch for, safe homeowner observations, and when expert help is recommended.
What It Means When a Garage Door Closes Crooked
When a garage door closes crookedly, one side moves at a different pace than the other. The result is a slanted or uneven finish where the door meets the ground. Homeowners often describe it as:
• Garage door closing crooked
• One side of the garage door is higher than the other
• The door looks twisted or uneven while lowering
• Door scrapes or leans during movement
This usually means that the mechanism controlling the door’s balance is loose, damaged, or worn.
How a Garage Door Moves as a Balanced System
A garage door weighs more than it appears. Most residential doors weigh between 120 and 300 pounds. Springs carry most of that weight, so the opener does not struggle. Cables lift and lower the door. Rollers guide the movement along the tracks and keep it straight.
When all of these parts share weight evenly, the door moves smoothly. If one part weakens or shifts, the door tries to work harder on one side, which creates a crooked close or uneven opening.
For a deeper understanding of the safety standards behind garage door operation, you can review the UL safety guidelines.
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Why Your Garage Door Is Closing Unevenly
Below are the most common reasons a garage door becomes crooked or one side sits higher.
- Cable Problems
Cables carry the door’s load. If a cable frays, loosens, slips off the drum, or begins to stretch, one side will drop faster than the other. You may even notice slack in a cable.
- Spring Tension Issues
Torsion and extension springs balance the entire door. If a spring loses tension or only one spring is replaced, the door may pull unevenly.
- Worn or Damaged Rollers
Rollers keep the door centered in the tracks. A cracked, seized, or missing roller can cause the door to tilt and force it to travel unevenly.
- Misaligned or Bent Tracks
Tracks guide the movement. If a track is bumped, bent, or loosened, the door may lean toward that side during closing.
- Obstruction in the Track
Small objects like gravel, kids’ toys, leaves, or tools can shift the door off balance while lowering.
- Door Panel or Frame Damage
If the door gets hit or dented, the weight distribution changes, which can cause an uneven close.
- Hardware Loosening Over Time
Vibration, weather, and age can loosen hinges, brackets, or screws, affecting how the door hangs.
What Homeowners Often Notice First
• Bottom rubber seal touches the floor on only one side
• Door rubs, screeches, or drags during closing
• Gaps appear under the door on one side
• Door hesitates or jerks before fully closing
• Opener strains, slows, or reverses unexpectedly
• Door looks straight when open but crooked when closing
Any of these signs can mean the door is no longer balanced.
Why a Crooked Garage Door Should Not Be Ignored
A crooked garage door may still open and close, but the imbalance behind it usually gets worse with continued use. An uneven door puts extra wear on cables and rollers and increases strain on the opener as it tries to pull more weight on one side.
Over time, this can lead to bent tracks, metal fatigue, or a sudden cable failure. It also creates a safety concern for people, vehicles, and pets who pass under the door. In many cases, a crooked door is the first sign of a larger issue developing in the system.
Simple Observations Homeowners Can Safely Make
You do not need tools for these checks:
• Stand back and watch the door close from a distance
• Look for gaps under the door
• Check whether one cable looks looser than the other
• Look for visible dents, bent tracks, or debris
• Listen for scraping, rubbing, or grinding sounds
• Notice whether the door slows at a certain point
If anything looks out of place, avoid touching springs, cables, or tension components. These parts are under high pressure and require professional handling.
Possible Fixes for a Garage Door Closing Crooked
- Remove objects or debris near the tracks
If something is sitting against the track or wheels, clearing the area may help the door close, usually.
- Test the opener cycle
Sometimes the door needs a reset after a power outage or disruption. Running a full open-and-close cycle can restore normal movement.
- Schedule professional balance or cable service
If the door leans, drops unevenly, or has cable or spring tension issues, trained technicians typically handle the correction safely.
- Have rollers, tracks, or hardware inspected
A professional may recommend replacing rollers, realigning the track, or tightening hardware if components are worn or shifting.
These solutions help prevent deeper mechanical strain.
Why Do Doors Become Uneven Suddenly
A garage door can become crooked without warning. Common triggers include:
• Seasonal humidity swelling wood framing
• Vehicle bumping the track
• Sudden cable slip or break
• Power outage followed by opener reset
• Only one spring is being replaced instead of both
• Long periods without maintenance or lubrication
Even if the change seems minor, it can affect the door’s balance.
How Door Type Influences Uneven Movement
- Single Spring Systems
More likely to become uneven if the spring weakens.
- Dual Spring Systems
Offer better balance, but uneven wear can still appear.
- Wood or Insulated Doors
A heavier weight can exaggerate crooked closing.
- Older Hardware
It may shift or loosen after years of use.
Preventing a Crooked Garage Door in the Future
You can help prevent a crooked or uneven garage door by keeping the floor area near the tracks clear and by making sure heavy items are not stored near moving parts.
It also helps to watch and listen for early changes in how the door moves, since small shifts often appear before bigger issues. Try to avoid bumping the door or tracks with vehicles or equipment, because even a slight impact can affect alignment.
Many homeowners also choose routine safety inspections to keep the system in good shape. These simple habits reduce stress on the components and help the door last longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my garage door closing crooked?
Something in the lifting system is off balance, usually involving cables, springs, rollers, or tracks.
Why is one side of the garage door higher than the other?
The cables or springs may not be sharing the weight evenly, which causes a tilt.
Is a crooked garage door dangerous?
It can be, mainly if the imbalance affects cables or springs. These parts are tension-loaded.
Can I fix a crooked garage door myself?
Most homeowners prefer expert support because springs and cables require trained handling.
Why does my door close unevenly, only sometimes?
Heat, sunlight, small obstructions, or shifting hardware may temporarily affect the movement.
Will using a crooked garage door damage the opener?
Yes, uneven weight increases strain on the opener motor and gears.
Why did my door become crooked after a power outage?
The opener may have lost its travel memory and needs a cycle reset.
Should both springs be replaced together?
Many technicians recommend it so both sides share equal tension and lifespan.
Final Thoughts
A crooked or unevenly closing garage door is usually a sign that something in the lifting system needs attention. Cables, springs, rollers, tracks, and hardware all work together to keep the door balanced. When one part shifts or wears down, the door may tilt, drag, or sit higher on one side.
Most uneven doors continue working at first, which makes it easy to overlook the issue. Paying attention to early symptoms helps prevent larger mechanical problems later. If the imbalance becomes consistent or the door stops responding smoothly, a trained technician can evaluate the system and restore proper movement.