Buying Guide

C.H.I. vs Clopay Garage Doors | Comparison Guide | MyGarageDoorBROKE.com™

Mitch & Michelle Stone 8 min read
Clopay Canyon Ridge carriage house style garage door

If you're shopping for a new garage door, you've probably come across two names: C.H.I. and Clopay. Both are well-known manufacturers with solid reputations. But which one is better for your home?

Here's an honest comparison to help you decide.

The Short Answer

Both C.H.I. and Clopay make quality garage doors. You won't go wrong with either brand. The best choice depends on your priorities: style options, price point, insulation needs, and what's available through your local installer.

Our recommendation: We install Clopay doors because of their exceptional style variety, consistent build quality, and strong dealer support. But we're happy to explain both options so you can make an informed decision.

If you want help choosing, call us at (314) 400-8133. We can walk you through the options based on your specific situation.

About Each Brand

C.H.I. (C.H.I. Overhead Doors)

C.H.I. is based in Illinois and has been manufacturing garage doors since 1981. They're known for building doors in the USA and offering a wide range of styles at competitive prices. C.H.I. is popular with professional installers because of their quality-to-price ratio.

Clopay

Clopay is one of the largest garage door manufacturers in North America, based in Ohio. They've been in business since 1964. Clopay is known for extensive style options, including their Canyon Ridge collection of faux wood doors and their Avante full-view aluminum doors. You'll often see Clopay doors at home improvement stores as well as through professional dealers.


Comparison: Key Factors

Style and Design Options

Clopay Styles

  • Classic steel raised panel doors
  • Carriage house styles (Gallery, Coachman, Canyon Ridge)
  • Modern full-view aluminum and glass (Avante)
  • Real wood doors
  • Faux wood composite doors

C.H.I. Styles

  • Raised panel and flush panel options
  • Carriage house collection
  • Full-view aluminum options
  • Wood and overlay styles

Winner: Clopay — If you want a specific look or need to match existing architecture, Clopay's variety is hard to beat. Their Canyon Ridge faux wood collection, in particular, offers stunning carriage house aesthetics without the maintenance of real wood.

Clopay Avante full-view glass garage door
Clopay's Avante collection offers modern full-view aluminum and glass designs

Insulation and Energy Efficiency

Both brands offer doors with polystyrene and polyurethane insulation options.

Feature C.H.I. Clopay
Insulation Types Polystyrene & Polyurethane Polystyrene & Intellicore® Polyurethane
R-Value Range R-6 to R-17+ R-6 to R-18+
Best For Good insulation at competitive prices Premium insulation with Intellicore technology

Winner: Tie — Both brands offer well-insulated doors suitable for St. Louis weather. The specific R-value depends on the model you choose, not the brand.


Build Quality and Durability

Both C.H.I. and Clopay manufacture doors that hold up well over time when properly maintained.

  • C.H.I. is often praised by installers for consistent build quality and reliable hardware. Their doors are manufactured in the USA.
  • Clopay also has a strong reputation for durability. Their steel doors feature multiple layers of protection against rust and corrosion, including their proprietary Safe-T-Bracket® system.

Winner: Tie — Both brands build solid doors. Quality differences between specific models matter more than brand-level differences.


Price

Pricing varies significantly based on style, size, insulation, and features. In general:

  • C.H.I. tends to be competitively priced, sometimes coming in slightly lower than comparable Clopay models. This makes them popular with budget-conscious homeowners who still want quality.
  • Clopay pricing is mid-range to premium depending on the line. Their basic steel doors are affordable, while their Canyon Ridge and Avante collections are premium-priced.

Winner: C.H.I. for budget, Clopay for premium — C.H.I. may offer better value at lower price points. Clopay's premium lines cost more but offer unique designs you won't find elsewhere.


Warranty

  • C.H.I. offers a limited lifetime warranty on most residential doors, covering sections, hardware, and finish depending on the model.
  • Clopay also offers limited lifetime warranties on many of their doors, with specific coverage varying by product line.

Winner: Tie — Warranties are comparable. Read the fine print on the specific model you're considering.


Availability

  • Clopay doors are widely available through both professional dealers and home improvement stores like Home Depot.
  • C.H.I. doors are primarily sold through professional installers and dealers, not big-box retailers.

Winner: Clopay — If you want to see doors in person at a retail store, Clopay is easier to find. For either brand, working with a professional installer gives you access to the full lineup.


Which Brand Do We Recommend?

Why We Choose Clopay

We install Clopay garage doors and have seen them perform exceptionally well in St. Louis homes over the years. Here's why we partnered with Clopay:

  • Unmatched style variety — More design options than any other brand
  • Consistent quality — Doors arrive well-built and ready to install
  • Strong dealer support — Clopay stands behind their products and their dealers
  • Happy customers — Our Clopay installations consistently get great feedback

That said, C.H.I. also makes quality products, and we're not here to bash either brand. The right door depends on:

  • Your budget
  • The style you want
  • Your insulation needs
  • What's available from your installer

Questions to Ask Before You Buy

Regardless of which brand you choose, ask your installer:

  1. What's the total installed price? Get a complete quote, not just the door cost.
  2. What's the R-value? If energy efficiency matters, know what you're getting.
  3. What's the warranty? Understand what's covered and for how long.
  4. Can I see samples? Color and texture look different in person than in photos.
  5. How long will installation take? Most residential installations are done in half a day.
  6. Do you remove the old door? Confirm disposal is included.

Ready to Choose Your New Garage Door?

We're happy to walk you through the options, show you samples, and give you an honest recommendation based on your budget and style preferences.

Serving St. Louis, St. Charles, and Jefferson County. Family-owned. Licensed and insured.

Need Help Choosing?

Our team can walk you through the options and help you find the right garage door for your home and budget.

Mitch & Michelle Stone

About the Authors

Mitch and Michelle Stone are a husband-and-wife team with over 20 years in the home service industry. They founded MyGarageDoorBROKE.com to bring honest, reliable garage door service to St. Louis, St. Charles, and Jefferson County.

Family Owned & Operated

Ready to Get Started?

Whether you're looking for a new garage door or need repairs, we're here to help. Free estimates, honest pricing, same-day service available.

Mitch and Michelle - Your local garage door experts
314-400-8133

Serving St. Louis, St. Charles, and Jefferson County. Licensed and insured.