Do garage door openers require a special light bulb?

Garage door openers do not strictly require a special light bulb in terms of base size, but they do have specific requirements for vibration resistance, heat tolerance, and radio frequency interference, so using the right bulb matters. Most openers use a standard medium E26 base, and for many years manufacturers recommended a rough service incandescent bulb or an appliance bulb rated for garage door openers, because these have reinforced filaments that withstand the vibration and shaking of the opener. A regular household incandescent can burn out quickly from vibration. With the move to LEDs, the issue is interference. Many cheap LED bulbs emit radio frequency noise that interferes with the opener's remote receiver, reducing range from 50 feet to 5 feet. Because of this, Chamberlain, LiftMaster, Genie, and other brands now sell LED bulbs specifically labeled garage door opener compatible, which are shielded to prevent interference and are also vibration resistant and rated for cold garages. While you can physically screw in any standard LED or CFL, it is best to use a bulb labeled for garage door openers, or at least a high-quality name-brand LED that is FCC compliant and not a high-power corn cob style, to avoid remote range problems and early burnout.