The LiftMaster 8500W is a jackshaft-driven garage door opener that runs smoothly and quietly. This garage door opener has all of the best features and a few extras, such as built-in Wi-Fi, battery backup and a physical garage door lock. The 1/2-horsepower motor lifts doors of all sizes, even tall doors that other openers can’t lift, as long as they have torsion springs.
The LiftMaster 8500W is extremely expensive, costing around $500, which is almost twice as much as our pick for the best garage door opener, the Chamberlain B970. Additionally, LiftMaster focuses on professional installation by one of its dealers – the only brand in our comparison to do so – which adds to the total cost.
Some of the more useful features on this LiftMaster unit include wall mounting, a timer-to-close feature and a backup battery. The 8500W mounts onto the wall next to your garage door, and it requires a door with torsion springs instead of the more traditional (and more affordable) extension springs.
One of the best features is an included dead bolt that physically locks your garage door and activates automatically when you use the opener. Although many other openers have a setting on the keypad to disable the opener while you’re on vacation, that doesn’t prevent someone from forcing the door open. With the dead bolt that helps to prevent forced entry, the LiftMaster 8500W is the most secure garage door opener in our comparison.
The LiftMaster 8500W includes the standard safety features provided by the best garage door openers. These include a safety infrared beam and a pressure sensor, so the opener reverses and lifts the door if there’s an obstruction. The control panel also has a built-in motion sensor that turns on the lights automatically so you don't have to navigate a dark garage.
Our customer satisfaction research revealed that most buyers like the LiftMaster 8500W, particularly the way it frees up ceiling space for storage, the smartphone app, the LED light, the quiet operation and the dead bolt.
Common customer complaints included the system’s incompatibility with Amazon Alexa and the required subscriptions fees for some of the smart home connections, specifically those associated with Google Assistant and IFTTT. Customers also pointed out that the unit doesn’t have a DIY installation option and that, even if it did, it probably wouldn’t be very easy to install.
The opener comes with just one three-button remote and a digital control panel that allows you to program the closing timer, clock and light duration. The digital display shows the time and temperature as well. Unfortunately, it lacks a keyless entry pad; you must purchase extra controls separately. If you want a garage door opener that includes a keyless entry pad, consider our top pick, the Chamberlain B970.
The 8500W comes with a separate LED light that you can place in a central location on your ceiling, such as where a normal garage opener would go. This opener has built-in Wi-Fi and is compatible with the myQ smart home platform. It also works with HomeLink for vehicles made after 2012.
This smart garage door opener includes a lifetime warranty on the motor and the jackshaft lift system, and a five-year warranty on the other parts. As with most garage door opener accessories, the backup battery is covered for only one year.
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