It’s inevitable that your phone is going to drop and crack. Once your screen cracks, the crack slowly builds in size, and you have to decide if you’ll live with it, wait for an upgrade, or replace the screen, which can be very costly.
Fixing an iPhone screen shouldn’t be almost the price of a new phone. Remember:
- You can find cheap places to replace your iPhone screen for under $150
- The actual cost will depend on what iPhone model you have and how bad it’s damaged
- Always check if you have a warranty before you get your screen fixed
- Plan ahead to back up your phone and save your files
How Much Does It Cost to Repair iPhone Screen?
The average cost to repair an iPhone screen in the U.S. is $220. However, you could pay as low as $29 if you have a warranty or up to $329 if you don’t. If your phone is older than the iPhone X model, you can find a repair for under $100.
Here is a list of popular stores to get your iPhone screen repaired:
| Apple | Best Buy | Staples |
| iPhone 5 and 5s | 29.99 | 79.99 |
| iPhone SE (1st gen) | 29.99 | 79.99 |
| iPhone 6 | 69.99 | 89.99 |
| iPhone 6 Plus | 79.99 | 99.99 |
| iPhone 6s | 109.99 | 109.99 |
| iPhone 6s Plus | 119.99 | 129.99 |
| iPhone 7 | 129.99 | 129.99 |
| iPhone 7 Plus | 139.99 | 149.99 |
| iPhone 8 | 139.99 | 129.99 |
| iPhone 8 Plus | 149.99 | 139.99 |
| iPhone X | 229.99 | 199.99 |
| iPhone XR | 159.99 | 189.99 |
| iPhone Xs | 229.99 | 249.99 |
| iPhone Xs Max | N/A | 269.99 |
| iPhone 11 | N/A | 199.99 |
| iPhone 11 Pro | N/A | 379.99 |
| iPhone 11 Pro Max | N/A | 419.99 |
| iPhone SE (2nd gen) | N/A | 149.99 |
| iPhone 12 mini | N/A | 349.99 |
| iPhone 12 | N/A | 399.99 |
| iPhone 12 Pro | N/A | 399.99 |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | N/A | 439.99 |
My Personal Experience (How Much I Paid)
I recently had to replace the screen on my iPhone, and I did not want to break the bank for it. After doing some research, I found that there are some tips to remember to find cheap iPhone screen repair.
For example, you should check your warranty, do your research, and plan ahead. And, I also made some mistakes that I hope to warn you about.
But I ended up paying only $86 to fix my very spider-webby screen. So from my experience, here’s how to replace an iPhone screen for cheap.
If You Have Apple Warranty or AppleCare+
Apple warranties vary by region, but they generally do not cover accidental or water damage in the US. However, if you purchased AppleCare+ with your phone, then your screen repair will only cost $23.
Before getting your iPhone screen fixed, the first thing to check is if your phone has a warranty or protection plan.
Apple is still doing repairs during the pandemic. You can submit a request for a repair, and they will mail you a pre-labeled box.
How Much is AppleCare+?
Sadly, AppleCare+ costs from $199 to $299, depending on the model of your phone. And you have to sign up for AppleCare+ within 60 days of purchasing the phone.
If you’re buying a new phone and know you’re prone to accidents, it may be worth it, especially if you have a newer model because if you crack your phone twice, AppleCare+ will be cheaper than going elsewhere.
How Long Does AppleCare+ Last?
AppleCare+ lasts for two years and comes with 24/7 support, and they can even send a technician to you at your home or office.
If you’re not sure if you have a warranty or AppleCare+, sign in to the Apple support site with your iCloud account, and if you have a plan, it will be listed there.
Check If You Quality for Apple Products and Consumer Law Rights
Depending on where you live, you might have consumer laws in your favor. According to Apple, “Your country or region might have consumer-protection laws for some repair issues.”
The benefit of an Apple authorized screen repair is that it uses genuine Apple parts and tools, backed by Apple and done by trained Apple technicians. And, if you use a non-authorized screen repair, then your warranty is void.
Finally, if you bought your iPhone through a third-party vendor like Best Buy, Amazon, or Walmart, check and see if you have a warranty from them. If you purchased your phone in the last year, your warranty will likely still be good.
My Personal Experience (No Warranty)
Sadly, my broken iPhone screen was well past its warranty. Without a warranty, Apple charges from $129 for older models to $329 for the iPhone 11 Pro Max. But you can find much cheaper repairs than Apple. For over $300, it’s almost more worth it to just buy a new phone.
Cheapest Place to Replace Phone Screen
If you’ve cracked your screen once, you’ve likely cracked it before and will do it again. If you pick the wrong repair place, then you could end up paying the cost of a brand new phone after a few repairs, and you should have just gone with a new iPhone to start with.
Follow along as I take you through some of the better and cheaper options for repairing your iPhone screen so that you can continue to use it without paying high prices to get repairs done.
Staples
A popular, less-expensive place for iPhone repair is actually the same place you buy your pens and paper – Staples.
Staples uses premium, non-refurbished parts and covers them for a limited one-year warranty.
They offer both screen and battery replacement and water damage treatment. Screen repairs cost about $140 at Staples’ Tech Service.
However, they may not serve all newer iPhone models at each store. You can call your location for details or check if they offer repair for your model with their mail repair service.
Office Depot
Office Depot is one of the most common locations to replace iPhone and other smartphone screens. According to their official website, they have approximately 1400 stores across America.
Their price is around $99-$299, depending on the model. You can look up Yelp for the closest Office Depot near you or search for one on the Office Depot store locator.
The good thing about Office Depot’s iPhone screen repair is they can do it on the same day, and it comes with a 1-year Warranty.
Best Buy
Best Buy has a popular department that fixes cell phones and PC and has many locations close to most people. They are an accessible location to get your iPhone or Android repaired.
They can even come to you if you’re too busy to go out and have the budget for it. You can make an appointment with Geek Squad with Cell Phone Repair by Geek Squad.
Best Buy is everywhere, and it is convenient. However, their price is pretty high as well. For example, their iPhone screen replacement starts at $129, and for Samsung, it starts at $199.99.
Yelp Local Repair Shops
The cheapest place to replace iPhone screens varies depending on your model and where you are located.
It will take some research to find the cheapest repair shop near you. I recommend checking Yelp for deals near you and then comparing quotes.
Tip 1: Original Parts is about $30 more than Aftermarket Screen
In many cases, small mom-and-pop shops have very knowledgeable staff (usually the owner), and they take better care of your phone compared to bigger stores.
Search on Yelp for “cellphone screen repair”, look for 4+ star shops, and glance through their reviews. Know the market price, so you don’t get ripped off. For example, this is the price in my area (Los Angeles):
- Yelp’s 4-5 star Shops iPhone 11 Screen Replacement $110-$135
- Yelp’s 4-5 star Shops Samsung Galaxy S10 Screen Replacement $310-$380
Tip 2: Ask for their Warranty. Most shops have a 6month-1 year warranty and can get it done in 30min-1hour.
Batteries & Bulbs
I ended up paying $86 at Batteries & Bulbs. But I have an older model; their prices on the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are actually more expensive than Apple. But after researching my iPhone model, I found that they had a pretty competitive price. Plus, they offer $10 off if you schedule an appointment online. They have stores in all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and DC.
Wherever you go, you will want to find a vendor with a warranty on their repairs because if something goes wrong after you take it home, you’ll want them to fix it. And using a non-authorized Apple service provider will void any warranty you have with Apple. You should also look at their customer reviews and check to see if they have a proven track record of good repairs. Bonus if you can find before and after photos.
What to Known Before going to the Repair Shop
No matter where you go to repair your iPhone, you’ll want to keep in mind these tips before you take it or mail it in. I never thought about number four until my technician asked if I wanted him to check on a few things.
- First, before you even take your phone in always back up your device to save your photos and apps.
- If you have an Apple watch, make sure you unpair it so that it creates a fresh backup and you don’t lose your watch backup.
- You may also want to turn off iMessage, or any notifications you don’t want accidentally popping up.
- Make sure that before and after the repair, you check the speakers, calls, home button/unlocking features, moving apps, etc so that you know nothing went wrong while they fixed it.
- And right before the repair, remove the case and any accessories.
Apple recommends resetting your device to factory settings before you take it in, possibly to ensure there is no tampering with your apps, etc.
Then you can restore your backup to your regular settings after it’s fixed.
You don’t have to reset it, but if you elect not to, then be prepared to share your password with the technician because they will need to be able to access it unlocked to complete the repair.
Another important note to consider is for the hour or so that your screen is being repaired (or days if you’re mailing it in), you will not have access to your phone.
No texts, directions, or easy access. I hadn’t considered this. After dropping my phone off, I ran some errands, and I had to navigate back to the store from memory.
Luckily, I made it back, but I recommend bringing someone with you who has a phone. That way, the shop can also call your friend’s phone to let you know when the repair is done.
Bonus Tip: Screen Protector
When my iPhone was finished with the repair, I was amazed at how shiny and new it looked. But as soon as I got it home, it was covered in fingerprints.
I should’ve covered it with a screen protector right away. That’s why my bonus tip is to buy a screen protector right after so that you can apply it fresh to the clean screen.
That way, you don’t have any fingerprints on your new screen.
- Amazon’s Best Selling iPhone Screen Protector
- Amazon’s Best Selling Samsung Phone Screen Protector
My advice is don’t buy the screen protector from the repair place. This means you need to plan ahead to have the screen protector ready.
It will be cheaper on Amazon or from another vendor. I ended up ordering one on Amazon, but it took a few days, and my worst nightmare was cracking my freshly fixed screen all over again.
You can find a quality, tempered glass screen protector for under $10. And buying a $10 screen protector is a lot cheaper than paying $100 to repair a cracked screen.
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