What you need before you start

Screen replacement depends entirely on what device you own and whether you want to do it yourself or pay someone else. A smartphone screen costs between $100 and $300 at a repair shop, takes one to two hours, and voids no warranty if done by an authorized technician. A laptop screen runs $150 to $400 and requires removing the bezel and disconnecting the cable — doable at home if you have a screwdriver and patience, but riskier than phone repair. A desktop monitor is the cheapest fix: most modern monitors cost $80 to $200 new, and replacement is straightforward unplugging the old one and plugging in the new one.

Before you commit to any repair, know what broke. A cracked screen that still displays an image is a cosmetic problem. A screen that shows nothing, shows only part of the image, or shows lines and discoloration is a display failure. Both need replacement, but the cost and difficulty differ. Also check whether your device is still under warranty — if it is, the manufacturer may replace the screen for free or a flat fee, which is almost always cheaper than a third-party repair shop.

Key Takeaways

  • Authorized repair shops charge $100 to $300 for phone screens and $150 to $400 for laptop screens, take one to two hours, and preserve your warranty.
  • If your device is under warranty, contact the manufacturer first — replacement is often free or a fixed fee much lower than a repair shop.
  • Desktop monitors are cheapest to fix because buying a new one ($80 to $200) is usually less expensive than repairing the old one.
  • DIY screen replacement for phones and laptops is possible but risks damaging the device further if you slip with tools or disconnect the wrong cable.
  • Mail-in repair services exist for phones and laptops and often cost less than local shops, but take five to ten business days.

Smartphone screen replacement at a repair shop

Take your phone to an authorized repair center for your brand — Apple Store for iPhones, Samsung service center for Samsung phones, or the carrier's repair desk if you bought it through them. Bring your phone and a photo ID. The technician will inspect the damage, confirm the screen is the only problem, and quote you a price. Most shops can do the work the same day if you arrive before noon, though some require an appointment.

Authorized repair preserves your warranty and uses genuine parts, which last longer than aftermarket screens. The trade-off is cost: an iPhone 14 screen costs $279 at Apple, while a third-party shop charges $120 to $180 for the same phone. If your phone is out of warranty and cost is your main concern, a local independent repair shop is faster and cheaper, but the screen may yellow or fail sooner. Ask the shop whether they use original parts or aftermarket parts before you agree.

If you cannot visit a shop in person, mail-in repair services like iFixit, Puls, or your carrier's mail-in program will send you a prepaid box, you ship the phone, and they return it in five to ten business days. Cost is usually $150 to $250 for a phone screen. This route takes longer but works if no local shop is nearby.

Laptop screen replacement at a service center

Laptop screens are harder to replace than phone screens because the bezel — the plastic frame around the screen — must come off first, and the cable connecting the screen to the motherboard must be unplugged. A technician at a laptop repair shop or the manufacturer's service center can do this in one to two hours. Cost ranges from $150 to $400 depending on the laptop model and whether the screen is original or aftermarket.

If your laptop is a MacBook, take it to an Apple Store or authorized Apple repair center. If it is a Dell, Lenovo, HP, or Asus, contact the manufacturer's support line and ask for a local service center, or use their mail-in repair service. Authorized repair is more expensive but guarantees the right part and preserves your warranty. Independent repair shops are cheaper but may use lower-quality screens.

DIY laptop screen replacement is possible if you are comfortable with a screwdriver and small parts. You will need a replacement screen (order by your laptop's model number from Amazon or eBay, $80 to $200), a screwdriver set, and a spudger or plastic pry tool to avoid scratching the bezel. Watch a video for your exact laptop model on YouTube before you start — the steps vary widely. The job takes 20 to 40 minutes if you move slowly and carefully. The main risk is cracking the bezel or disconnecting the wrong cable, which can cost more to fix than paying a technician in the first place.

Desktop monitor replacement

Desktop monitors almost never repair — they are designed to be replaced. A new 24-inch monitor costs $80 to $150, a 27-inch costs $120 to $250, and a 4K monitor costs $200 to $400. Unless your monitor is very new or very expensive, buying a new one is cheaper and faster than finding a repair service. Most repair shops do not even stock monitor parts.

To replace a monitor, unplug the power cable and the video cable (HDMI, DisplayPort, or VGA depending on your setup) from the back of the old monitor. Unplug the same cables from your computer. Plug them into the new monitor in the same order. Turn on the monitor, then turn on the computer. If the image appears, you are done. If it does not, check that the video cable is fully seated in both the monitor and the computer, and that you selected the correct input on the monitor (use the buttons on the monitor's frame or the remote, if it has one).

Warranty and insurance options

If your device is still under the manufacturer's standard warranty, screen damage may or may not be covered. Apple's standard warranty does not cover accidental damage, but AppleCare+ does — it costs $99 to $379 depending on the device and covers two accidental damage incidents, each with a $29 to $99 deductible. Samsung, Dell, and other brands offer similar extended warranty plans. Check your warranty documents or contact the manufacturer to see what is covered before you pay for repair out of pocket.

If you have device insurance through your phone carrier or homeowner's insurance, screen damage may be covered. Call your insurance company and ask what the deductible is. Sometimes the deductible is higher than paying for repair directly, so compare the numbers before you file a claim.

When to replace instead of repair

If your device is more than four years old, a screen replacement may cost more than 30 to 40 percent of what a new device costs. At that point, buying a new device makes more financial sense, especially if the rest of the device is aging too. A five-year-old laptop with a broken screen is a good candidate for replacement because the battery, keyboard, and hard drive are also wearing out. A two-year-old phone with a cracked screen is worth repairing because the rest of the phone has years of life left.

Also consider repairability. Some phones and laptops are designed to be repaired — parts are available, and repair guides exist. Others are glued shut or use proprietary parts, making repair expensive or impossible. Before you buy a new device, check iFixit's repairability score to see how straightforward it will be to fix if something breaks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my phone while the screen is being repaired?

No. The technician must remove the screen to access the internal components, so the phone will not work during repair. Most shops take one to two hours, so plan to be without your phone for that time. If you need your phone for work, ask the shop whether they can do the repair while you wait, or use a mail-in service and bring a backup phone or tablet.

What is the difference between a cracked screen and a broken digitizer?

A cracked screen is damage to the display itself — the glass or LCD panel that shows the image. A broken digitizer is damage to the touch layer that sits on top of the screen and detects your finger. A phone can have a cracked screen but still respond to touch, or a broken digitizer but a working display. Repair shops charge the same price to replace either one because they replace the whole assembly together.

Will a screen protector prevent this from happening again?

A screen protector reduces the risk of cracks but does not eliminate it. A tempered glass protector ($10 to $30) absorbs impact and shatters instead of the screen, but only if the impact is direct and not too hard. A case that covers the edges of the phone provides more protection than a screen protector alone. Together, they reduce the chance of screen damage by 60 to 80 percent, but nothing is foolproof.

Is it cheaper to buy a used phone with a working screen than to repair mine?

Sometimes. A used phone of the same model with a working screen costs $200 to $400 on eBay or Facebook Marketplace, depending on age and condition. If your screen repair costs $250 and a used phone costs $300, the used phone is only $50 more and comes with a working battery and case. But a used phone has unknown history and no warranty, so you are taking a risk. Compare the repair cost to the used phone price before you decide.