How Much Does it Cost To Repair Laptop Screen
Whether it is a crack or too many blown pixels, a broken laptop display can stop you dead in the tracks, especially if you require a laptop for work daily. It can be overwhelming if you aren’t really sure what to do next.
We assume you might wonder whether your laptop is dead forever and whether you have to buy a new one. The good news is that it is not necessary to buy a new laptop if your existing laptop’s screen has a crack. You can get the screen repaired and continue using it as before. Plus, it usually doesn’t cost as much to repair a laptop screen as buying a new laptop.
Before you jump into repairing your laptop screen yourself or otherwise, find out whether a warranty covers any accidental damage to your laptop. If there isn’t, continue reading this guide to know how much it costs to repair a laptop screen.
Why is it important to fix a broken laptop screen?
Many people often delay fixing a broken screen if the laptop is still working. There are numerous cons for this:
- When you delay fixing the screen, it could lead to further problems with the laptop.
- You never know when your laptop may stop working. Perhaps you are in the middle of an important meeting, and the next thing you know, your laptop has stopped working.
- It can be harmful to your eyes. Laptop screen problems may affect the display on the screen and hence put excessive strain on your eyes.
- Many times, fixing the laptop screen may not be as time-consuming or costly as you would have thought.
Causes of Screen Damage
Laptop screens can be damaged due to various reasons. The most common reason for internal cracks is when excessive pressure is applied to the screen. This could happen in many ways, such as:
- An object such as headphones or a pen is kept on the keyboard. Closing the laptop’s lid will cause the screen to crack.
- When an object hits the screen
- Holding the laptop from its screen
Laptop screens may crack or malfunction due to other reasons as well, such as:
- Screen burn
- Obsolete driver
- Problems with the cable and connector
- Malfunctioning backlight
Types of Screen Damage
The following are the different types of screen damage:
- Crack/broken screen
- Irregular pixelization and resolution
- Color distortion
- Blank screen
- Flickering
- Geometric distortion
- Blurry or stretched image
- Horizontal or vertical lines
- Light and dark spots
- Inverter concerns
- Loose cable connection
- Problems with the LCD
All of the problems described above may require the screen to be repaired. So, how much does it cost to repair a laptop screen? Let us find out.
Cost of Repairing a Laptop Screen?
Repairing the broken laptop’s screen won’t make a hole in your pocket. It is not that costly. The repair costs depend upon the following factors:
- Model of your laptop
- Type of damage
- Whether the other parts of the laptop, along with the screen, need to be repaired. In some cases, the battery or keyboard might also be damaged and require repair as well.
- The size of the screen
Keep in mind that if you hire a professional to repair your laptop’s screen, there will be an additional $50-$100 charged as service fees. So, getting a laptop screen repaired by a professional is estimated to cost $150- $300.
It isn’t that difficult to replace the laptop’s screen by yourself. You can get replacement screens online for very reasonable prices. They come in the range of $50-$200. You have to mention your laptop’s brand and model number to the company to get the right screen for your laptop.
Websites like iFixit and YouTube tutorials have made replacing the laptop screen easier to do by yourself. We will discuss the DIY screen replacement process later in this guide.
Laptop Screen Replacement Cost
Below, we have listed the estimated average laptop screen replacement costs of some of the most commonly used brands in the United States:
| Product name | Estimated laptop screen replacement cost |
| Hp laptop screen | $40-$100* |
| Lenovo laptop screen | $60-$100 |
| Asus laptop screen | $40-$60 |
| Dell laptop screen | $45-$80 |
| Acer laptop screen | $50-$100 |
| Samsung laptop screen | $60-$100 |
| Toshiba laptop screen | $60-$240 |
| MacBook screen:
Older model Latest MacBook Pro and Air devices |
$60-$80 $300-$500 (Other more recent MacBook devices’ screens cost more.) |
*These figures are the replacement costs of the most common laptops of these brands. The latest models of these brands will have slightly higher screen replacement costs.
Cost of Used Laptop Screens
You also have the option of buying a used laptop screen. It is cheaper than a new screen. A used laptop screen can cost around $20-$60, but you will have to make sure it is in good condition.
Laptop Screen Repair Guide
You know that your laptop screen isn’t functioning right. Perhaps there are cracks on it, blotches on the screen, or any other symptoms. And, you aren’t what to do now!
Should you hire a professional immediately? Or can you replace the screen by yourself? Should you wait until the laptop stops working completely? Don’t worry; we’re here to help.
We have listed below some steps you can carry out when your laptop’s screen requires repair.
Is there a problem only with the screen?
This is an important question to answer, especially if you plan to replace the screen yourself. You have to first determine whether there is a problem only with the screen or if there’s some other issue causing a problem with the screen display. There can be an underlying problem with the hardware or even the software.
You can find out whether there is a deeper problem; all you have to do is connect your laptop to an external monitor.
- If the external monitor shows a clear display, there is only a problem with your laptop’s screen and nothing else.
- If the external monitor does not show a clear display or does not work properly, this suggests that there is a problem with your laptop’s hardware (or, in rare cases, software). If the latter is the case, we recommend taking your laptop to a repair shop. However, if there is a problem only with the screen, you can just replace the laptop’s screen.
Repairing Vs. Replacing – What To Do?
Now that you are fully confident that the problem lies with your laptop’s screen, you can go ahead and repair the screen. However, people are often unable to decide whether it is really worth it to repair the screen or if it is better to replace the laptop.
Mostly, it is better to repair the laptop’s screen because it is cheaper to do so. However, you can consider replacing your laptop in these situations:
- If your laptop’s model is pretty old, it is difficult to find a replacement screen for it. Many people question the life of the laptop. The life of a laptop is 3-5 years at most. After five years, any laptop is considered old because the older components are no longer able to run advanced applications.
- If you think there are high chances that other hardware will start causing problems in the future, it is better to buy a new one.
- If the repairing cost is greater than 50% of the cost involved in replacing the entire laptop, there’s no point in getting it repaired.
Finding the Right Screen for your Laptop
It is very easy to find the right screen for your laptop online. All you have to do is:
- Find out the model number of your laptop. This is printed on the ID tag sticker towards the laptop’s bottom.
- Search the brand and model number of your laptop online.
- The search results will give you a list of vendors selling the screen you require.
- To verify these sellers, you can research a bit about them on websites like eBay and Amazon.
- Replacing your laptop’s screen is an easy procedure. You can do it yourself if you think you are competent enough. Websites like iFixit.com and YouTube tutorials have made it easy for tech-savvy people to do such kinds of DIY projects.
- Some laptop models also have screen repair kits in the market that makes screen repairing easier. You can also call your local technician to do it for you. The technician service charges are $60-$120.
DIY Laptop Screen Replacement
The following is a DIY laptop screen replacement procedure for the basic models. The following steps may vary for different laptops. However, the general process is very similar for all laptops.
The following tools are required:
- A screwdriver
- Thin metal blades or a putty knife
- A replacement LCD panel (you can buy this from a laptop manufacturer’s authorized dealer or a third-party supplier)
What to do:
- Disconnect the power supply and remove the battery before starting this procedure.
- Carefully examine the bezel around the screen. You have to remove this bezel to access the screws that hold the LCD in place.
- Sometimes, the screws are hidden behind rubber cushions. So first, remove the cushions and then the screws underneath before removing the bezel.
- Sometimes, the bezel isn’t fixed with screws. It’s simply stuck with a double-sided tape.
- After removing the screws, start removing the corners using a thin metal blade. Then work your way around the bezel. Completely remove the bezel. You can also use a plastic spudger for this purpose.
- Now you can see the LCD’s mounting brackets. You have to remove the screws that secure the lid.
- Rest the display with the front-side facing down on the case, and disconnect its cable.
- Connect the new panel by positioning it in the lid and securing it using appropriate screws.
- Before reattaching the bezel, you can test the new panel at this stage. Reconnect the battery and power cable. Turn on the laptop. If the display works, you can reattach the bezel to any external screws and rubber cushions.
- This straightforward procedure requires a little patience and not much of your time. You just have to make sure that you have the right replacement screen, and you are good to go!
FAQ
How do I know what charger I need for my HP laptop?
When you are buying a replacement laptop charger for your HP laptop, the first thing you should do is check whether the charger is compatible with your laptop. This step is important because different HP laptops use laptop chargers with different compatibility. They do not have one single, compatible laptop charger.
To find out whether the charger you are planning to buy is compatible with your HP laptop, you must check the laptop’s Volts and Amps. This is printed on the sticker at the bottom of the laptop. Sometimes, it is written below the laptop’s battery. Next, check the Volts and Amps of the AC adaptors. Match these figures (the ones on the laptop with the ones on the adaptor) to know whether they are both compatible.
Do all HP laptops use the same charger?
As stated above, HP laptops do not use the same charger. Different HP laptops use chargers with different compatibility.
How can you tell the difference between HP Chargers?
HP chargers, like other branded chargers, have unique serial numbers. The chargers have different serial numbers because multiple OEMs manufacture these chargers. Due to this, HP chargers for the same model may even have different markings and serial formats.
Having said this, the basic specifications of chargers are standardized. Therefore, you can use chargers with the same basic model numbers for multiple HP laptops of the same model. They are interchangeable.
You can differentiate between two HP chargers by comparing their Volts and Amps mentioned on the adaptor. Different chargers will have different figures for these units.
Key takeaways
There is no exact answer to how much it costs to repair a laptop screen. The cost of repair depends on the type of damage to the screen, model, and brand of the laptop. However, the good news is that the cost of repairing a laptop’s screen isn’t too high unless your laptop belongs to an expensive brand and is the latest model.
You can also replace the laptop’s screen by yourself. You just have to buy the correct replaced screen beforehand. Hopefully, this guide solved your laptop screen’s problem, and you now know what to do!
