Garage Door Hail Damage: What to Do After the Storm
Hail rarely stops a garage door from working, but it can leave a field of dents across steel and aluminum panels and crack the paint. The first job is documenting the damage; the second is checking the door still opens, closes and reverses safely.
HomeGuide puts minor dent repair at $100 to $300 and single panel replacement at $300 to $900, so a written, itemized quote is what an insurance claim will need.
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What to do in the first 5 minutes
- Wait until the storm has passed. The National Weather Service's hail safety rules say to avoid windows, so stay inside and away from glass until it's over.
- Photograph the whole door and close-ups of the dents with a coin or ruler for scale, plus the date. Photograph the roof, gutters and cars too.
- Run the door through one full cycle and watch for binding, scraping or a door that won't reverse. If anything is off, stop using it.
- Look for cracked panels or broken window inserts and keep people away from broken glass.
- Get an itemized written quote that separates dent repair, panel replacement and any full replacement, and send it with your photos to your insurer.
Do not do this
- Don't run a door with a cracked or buckled panel; it can bind in the track and strain the springs and cables.
- Don't try heat-and-plunger dent tricks on a door with broken glass or a cracked panel. HomeGuide notes DIY attempts often cause more damage and can void warranties.
- Never adjust springs or cables to make a damaged door run.
- Clean up broken window glass with gloves before anyone walks through the garage.
What's likely going on
Thin steel or aluminum panels
Single-layer steel and aluminum doors dent more easily than insulated or thicker-gauge steel. Large hail can dent almost any door.
Wind-driven hail
Hail carried by strong wind hits the door face on instead of glancing off, which is why the side of the house facing the storm takes the most damage.
Paint cracking at the dent
HomeGuide says paint cracking is what pushes a dent from minor into moderate repair at $250 to $400.
Multiple damaged panels
Once several sections are hit, HomeGuide notes pros most often recommend replacing the door rather than the panels.
Diagnose it now
What it typically costs
HomeGuide's third-party estimate puts minor dent repair at $100 to $300, moderate damage at $250 to $400, single panel replacement at $300 to $900 per panel, multiple panels at $600 to $1,500 or more, and a complete replacement door at $700 to $3,500. Matching panels on an older door can be hard, which is often why a full replacement gets quoted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does homeowners insurance cover hail damage to a garage door?
Often, yes. Hail is a covered peril on most homeowners policies, but your deductible may be more than a single-door repair. Photograph everything and get an itemized quote before you file.
Should I repair or replace a hail-dented garage door?
A few dents with intact paint are worth repairing. HomeGuide says that when multiple panels are damaged, pros most often recommend replacing the door, at $700 to $3,500 installed.
Can I fix hail dents on my garage door myself?
Small dents on intact paint sometimes come out with DIY methods, but HomeGuide warns those attempts often cause more damage and can void warranties.
What size hail damages a garage door?
The National Weather Service says hailstones the size of quarters or larger can dent cars, damage roofs and break windows. Thin steel and aluminum door panels dent at about the same point, and wind-driven hail does more damage.
The service that handles this
Guidance only — independent local providers assess and price their own work. Last reviewed: October 16, 2026.
Sources for the cost figures
- HomeGuide: Garage Door Dent Repair Cost (third-party estimate, July 17, 2025) (third-party estimate)
- NOAA National Weather Service, Melbourne FL office: Hail Safety Rules
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