What does a MacBook repair cost? What sets the price

There is no single price for a MacBook repair. Replacing a battery is a different story than a screen, and a screen is a different story than a logic board fault. What a repair costs depends on a few things you can check yourself, and once you know them you can compare quotes fairly.

Blue Apple repairs MacBooks at Rijnstraat 76-H in Amsterdam. On the model page of your MacBook you can see what we offer; what cannot be said beforehand we explain after the diagnosis.

1. Which part is broken?

• A module you can swap. A battery, trackpad, port or keyboard: the price follows from the part and the work needed to get to it.
• The screen. On a MacBook the screen is one whole of panel, glass, backlight and cabling, and often the most expensive part. See MacBook screen repair.
• The logic board. A fault on the board is not a part you buy but work you pay for: tracing it, repairing it at component level and testing. The price depends on what is wrong. See MacBook motherboard repair.

2. Which model and what age?

A MacBook Air, a 13-inch Pro and a 16-inch Pro have parts that do not cost the same or are not equally easy to replace. The chip, the version and the availability of parts differ too. With older models parts are sometimes harder to get, and with very new ones they are not always available yet.

3. Which quality of part?

For many repairs there are several qualities: an original part, an equivalent or compatible part and a refurbished part. It makes a difference in price and in what you notice, for example in the colour and brightness of a screen. See original or compatible MacBook screens.

4. How much work is it?

On some MacBooks the battery is glued in or attached to the case, on others the keyboard is one piece with the top half. Such a repair takes more time than a part you simply unclip. Work on the logic board needs specialised equipment and experience.

5. What else is going on?

Liquid, a fall or a swollen battery can have affected more than one part, and you only see that once it is open. That is why a diagnosis before the price is more honest than an amount over the phone. See liquid on your MacBook and a swollen battery.

6. What is in the price?

• The part itself.
• The work to open, replace and close it again.
• Testing after the repair.
• The diagnosis, if it is charged separately.
• Collection or delivery, if you choose that; see pickup and delivery.
• The warranty on the part and its conditions.

How to compare quotes

1. Compare the same repair with the same part. A low price can be a different quality.
2. Ask for the total. A 'from' price says little as long as you do not know what comes with it.
3. Ask what is replaced. A module or a component on the board can make a big difference.
4. Ask what happens if it turns out different. Is the price adjusted, and do you hear about it first?
5. Ask about the warranty. Which part, for how long, under what conditions.
6. Do not compare on price alone. How a repairer works counts too: choosing a good repairer.

Repair or replace?

A repair is not always the answer. Weigh what it costs against a comparable replacement and how old your MacBook is. That is covered in repairing or buying a new MacBook. If it is still under warranty or AppleCare, look there too: AppleCare or an independent repairer.

Frequently asked questions

Why is a screen often more expensive than a battery?

Because the screen is a complete part with panel, backlight and cabling, while a battery is a single part. That says nothing about the effort: on some models a battery is more work than a screen.

Is a cheaper part sensible?

That depends on what you do with it. For a device you will use for years a better quality can pay back; for a second laptop a compatible part may be enough. A good repairer explains the difference.

Can you name a price beforehand?

For many standard repairs it is on the model page. For a fault where you can only say something after a diagnosis, such as a logic board fault or liquid damage, we say so honestly and you hear it before anything is repaired.

Where do I find the price for my model?

On the MacBook page you choose your model and see what we offer.