iPad Screen Repair Cost Guide by Model [2025 Updated]

Cracked iPad screen? You're looking at anywhere from $99 to $649 depending on the model and repair method.

But here's what Apple won't tell you: third-party repairs cost 40-60% less and are often just as good. And DIY? Even cheaper.

This guide breaks down the exact costs for every iPad model, plus difficulty ratings, environmental impact, and how to decide between repair and replacement.

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Quick Cost Comparison by Model

iPad Pro (2024)

| Model | Apple Price | Third-Party | DIY Cost | Difficulty | |-------|-------------|-------------|----------|------------| | iPad Pro 12.9" (6th gen) | $649 | $350-$450 | $220-$300 | 🔴 Hard (8/10) | | iPad Pro 11" (4th gen) | $549 | $300-$380 | $180-$250 | 🔴 Hard (8/10) |

iPad Air (2024)

| Model | Apple Price | Third-Party | DIY Cost | Difficulty | |-------|-------------|-------------|----------|------------| | iPad Air 13" (M2) | $499 | $280-$350 | $180-$240 | 🟡 Moderate (6/10) | | iPad Air 11" (M2) | $449 | $250-$320 | $160-$220 | 🟡 Moderate (6/10) |

Standard iPad

| Model | Apple Price | Third-Party | DIY Cost | Difficulty | |-------|-------------|-------------|----------|------------| | iPad 10th gen (2022) | $299 | $180-$240 | $120-$160 | 🟡 Moderate (5/10) | | iPad 9th gen (2021) | $249 | $150-$200 | $100-$140 | 🟢 Easy (4/10) |

iPad mini

| Model | Apple Price | Third-Party | DIY Cost | Difficulty | |-------|-------------|-------------|----------|------------| | iPad mini 6 (2021) | $399 | $220-$280 | $140-$180 | 🟡 Moderate (6/10) |

Environmental Impact: Repairing any iPad screen saves 95-137kg of CO₂ vs buying new (equivalent to planting 4-6 trees).

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Option 1: Apple Store Repair

How It Works:

1. Book Genius Bar appointment
2. Drop off iPad (or mail in)
3. Repair takes 3-7 business days
4. Pick up or receive by mail

What Apple Includes:

• ✅ Genuine Apple screen + digitizer
• ✅ 90-day warranty
• ✅ Preserves Apple warranty (if active)
• ✅ Software testing included
• ✅ Touch ID/Face ID maintained

Costs by Model (Out-of-Warranty):

iPad Pro:

• 12.9" (2024-2018 models): $649
• 11" (2024-2018 models): $549
• 10.5" (2017): $449
• 9.7" (2016): $379

iPad Air:

• 13" M2 (2024): $499
• 11" M2 (2024): $449
• 5th gen (2022): $399
• 4th gen (2020): $379

Standard iPad:

• 10th gen (2022): $299
• 9th gen (2021): $249
• 8th gen (2020): $229

iPad mini:

• 6th gen (2021): $399
• 5th gen (2019): $299

With AppleCare+:

• Screen repair deductible: $49 (all models)
• Covers up to 2 incidents per year
• Worth it? If you paid $99 for AppleCare+ (2-year), break even after 1 repair

Pros:

• ✅ Official Apple service
• ✅ Genuine parts guaranteed
• ✅ Preserves warranty
• ✅ Face ID/Touch ID works perfectly

Cons:

• ❌ Most expensive option
• ❌ Long turnaround time (3-7 days)
• ❌ Requires appointment
• ❌ May recommend other "necessary" repairs

When to Choose: If you have AppleCare+ ($49 repair) or need to maintain warranty.

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Option 2: Third-Party Repair Shops

Cost: 40-60% cheaper than Apple

What to Look For:

• ✅ High-quality aftermarket screens (same resolution, brightness)
• ✅ 90-day+ warranty
• ✅ Certified technicians (Apple-trained a plus)
• ✅ 4.5+ star reviews
• ✅ Data protection guarantee

Average Costs:

iPad Pro:

• 12.9" models: $350-$450
• 11" models: $300-$380
• Older models: $250-$350

iPad Air:

• Latest models: $250-$350
• Older models: $200-$280

Standard iPad:

• Latest models: $150-$240
• Older models: $120-$180

iPad mini:

• Latest model: $220-$280
• 5th gen: $180-$220

Turnaround Time:

• Same-day: Most shops (if part in stock)
• 1-2 days: If need to order screen
• Much faster than Apple

Quality Concerns:

Good quality aftermarket screens:

• ✅ Same resolution as Apple
• ✅ Multi-touch works perfectly
• ✅ 90%+ brightness match
• ✅ Oleophobic coating (fingerprint-resistant)

Low-quality screens (avoid):

• ❌ Lower brightness
• ❌ Washed-out colors
• ❌ Ghost touches
• ❌ No coating (gets dirty fast)

How to ensure quality:

• Ask what brand screen they use
• Check if they offer warranty
• Read reviews mentioning screen quality
• Ask to see before/after comparison

Warranty:

• Typical: 90-day to 1-year parts warranty
• Good shops: Lifetime warranty on labor

Pros:

• ✅ 40-60% cheaper than Apple
• ✅ Same-day service (usually)
• ✅ Quality often matches Apple
• ✅ No appointment needed
• ✅ Personal service

Cons:

• ❌ Quality varies by shop
• ❌ May void Apple warranty
• ❌ Face ID might not work (if damaged during repair)
• ❌ No Apple-certified guarantee

When to Choose: Best option for most people. Great value, fast turnaround.

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Option 3: DIY Repair

Cost: 60-70% cheaper than Apple (parts only)

Difficulty by Model:

| Model | Difficulty | Why | Time Required | |-------|-----------|-----|---------------| | iPad Pro 12.9/11" | 🔴 Hard (8/10) | Face ID cable fragile, adhesive very strong | 2-3 hours | | iPad Air (any gen) | 🟡 Moderate (6/10) | Lots of adhesive, touch IC delicate | 1.5-2 hours | | iPad 10th gen | 🟡 Moderate (5/10) | Adhesive moderate, no home button to preserve | 1-1.5 hours | | iPad 9th gen | 🟢 Easy (4/10) | Easiest iPad to repair, home button easy to transfer | 1-1.5 hours | | iPad mini 6 | 🟡 Moderate (6/10) | Small components, precision needed | 1.5-2 hours |

What You'll Need:

Essential Tools:

• Heat gun or iOpener ($10-20) - softens adhesive
• Plastic opening picks ($5) - separates screen
• Suction cup ($3) - lifts screen
• Phillips/Tri-point screwdrivers ($10)
• Spudger ($5) - disconnects cables
• Tweezers ($5)
• Isopropyl alcohol ($5) - removes adhesive

Total tool cost: $43-63 (reusable for future repairs)

Pro tip: iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit ($75) includes everything.

Replacement Screen:

• iPad Pro screens: $220-$300
• iPad Air screens: $160-$240
• Standard iPad screens: $100-$160
• iPad mini screens: $140-$180

Where to buy:

• ✅ iFixit (best quality, most expensive)
• ⚠️ Amazon (quality varies, check reviews)
• ⚠️ AliExpress (cheapest, inconsistent quality)

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Preparation (10 min)

• Back up iPad completely
• Power off completely
• Clear workspace
• Lay down soft cloth

2. Heat & Separate (15-30 min)

• Heat edges with heat gun (don't overheat!)
• Place suction cup near edge
• Insert opening pick under glass
• Slowly work pick around entire perimeter
• Warning: Don't insert pick more than 5mm deep!

3. Disconnect Components (10 min)

• Unscrew LCD shield plate
• Disconnect digitizer cable
• Disconnect LCD cable
• iPad 9th gen: Carefully remove home button and transfer to new screen

4. Install New Screen (15 min)

• Connect cables to new screen
• Test before sealing (power on, check touch)
• Apply new adhesive strips
• Press firmly around edges
• Screw in shield plate

5. Testing (5 min)

• Power on
• Test all touch areas
• Test Face ID/Touch ID (if applicable)
• Check brightness
• Test multi-touch (pinch/zoom)

Common DIY Mistakes:

1. Cracked LCD

• Inserting pick too deep
• Solution: Stay <5mm depth

2. Damaged Face ID

• Tearing delicate cable
• Solution: Ultra-careful with right side cables (iPad Pro)

3. Dead Touch

• Damaged digitizer connector
• Solution: Don't force connectors, align perfectly first

4. Poor Adhesion

• Dust/oil under screen
• Solution: Clean with isopropyl alcohol before sealing

DIY Risks:

• ⚠️ Damage LCD during removal (most common error)
• ⚠️ Break Face ID/Touch ID cable
• ⚠️ Poor adhesion = screen lifts
• ⚠️ Voids Apple warranty
• ⚠️ No professional backup if something goes wrong

Pros:

• ✅ Cheapest option (save $200-400)
• ✅ Learn valuable skills
• ✅ Repair on your schedule
• ✅ Support right-to-repair movement

Cons:

• ❌ Risk of further damage
• ❌ Voids warranty
• ❌ Time-consuming
• ❌ Requires patience and precision

When to Choose: If you're comfortable with electronics, have patience, and want maximum savings.

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Environmental Impact by Repair Choice

Manufacturing a New iPad:

| Model | Manufacturing CO₂ | Water Use | Raw Materials | |-------|------------------|-----------|---------------| | iPad Pro 12.9" | 142 kg CO₂ | 3,800 L | 42 kg | | iPad Air | 97 kg CO₂ | 2,600 L | 31 kg | | Standard iPad | 112 kg CO₂ | 2,900 L | 35 kg | | iPad mini | 95 kg CO₂ | 2,400 L | 28 kg |

Repairing Your Screen:

| Repair Method | CO₂ Emissions | Savings vs New | |--------------|---------------|----------------| | Apple Store | 5 kg | 97% reduction | | Third-Party | 4 kg | 97% reduction | | DIY | 3 kg | 98% reduction |

Your Repair Saves:

iPad Pro 12.9":

• 🌍 137kg of CO₂ (equivalent to driving 340 miles)
• 🌳 6.5 trees planted
• 💧 3,800 liters of water
• ⚡ 110 kWh of energy

iPad Air:

• 🌍 92kg of CO₂ (equivalent to driving 230 miles)
• 🌳 4.4 trees planted
• 💧 2,600 liters of water
• ⚡ 75 kWh of energy

All repairs save >96% CO₂ vs buying new.

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Should You Repair or Replace?

Repair If:

• ✅ iPad is less than 4 years old
• ✅ Everything else works perfectly
• ✅ Battery health >70%
• ✅ Repair cost <40% of new iPad cost

Replace If:

• ❌ iPad is 5+ years old
• ❌ Slow performance (can't run latest apps)
• ❌ Multiple components failing
• ❌ Repair cost >50% of new iPad cost

Cost-Benefit Analysis:

Example: iPad Air 5th gen (2022)

• Current value: $400
• Apple screen repair: $399 (100% of value) → ⚠️ Questionable
• Third-party repair: $280 (70% of value) → ✅ Worth it
• DIY repair: $180 (45% of value) → ✅ Definitely worth it

General Rule: If repair cost <50% of current value, repair is worth it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will my Apple Pencil still work after repair?

Yes, as long as the repair is done correctly. The digitizer in quality replacement screens supports Apple Pencil.

What about Face ID/Touch ID?

Apple Store: Face ID/Touch ID guaranteed to work.

Third-Party: Usually works if technician is careful. Ask shop before repair.

DIY: Face ID cable is very delicate. If damaged, Face ID won't work (but iPad still functions).

iPad 9th gen: You must transfer the original home button to keep Touch ID working.

Can I claim insurance for cracked iPad screen?

Depends on your insurance:

• Homeowners/renters: Often covers accidental damage (check deductible)
• Credit card purchase protection: Some cover within 90-120 days
• AppleCare+: Covers for $49 deductible

How long does a screen repair last?

Quality repairs last 3-5 years (as long as the iPad itself). Apple genuine screens typically outlast cheap aftermarket.

Can I trade in iPad with cracked screen?

No - Apple and most trade-in programs don't accept devices with screen damage. You must repair first.

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Final Recommendation

For most people: Go with a certified third-party repair shop ($150-$450). You'll save 40-60% vs Apple while getting quality service in a fraction of the time.

If you have AppleCare+: Use it! $49 is a steal.

Tech-savvy DIYers: Save $200-400 if you're careful and patient. Buy quality screens from iFixit.

Environmental warriors: No matter which option, you're saving 92-137kg of CO₂. That's a massive win for the planet.

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Take Action Now

Use HowMuchToFix to:

• 📸 Upload a photo of your cracked iPad
• 💰 Get instant cost estimates from local shops
• 🌍 See your CO₂ savings (up to 137kg!)
• 🔧 Find certified repair technicians near you

Get My Free Estimate →

Join 50,000+ people choosing repair over replace.

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Last updated: January 2025. Prices reflect current market rates and may vary by location and model.