The Cost Of Replacing a MacBook Air Screen in 2024

The MacBook Air was first released in 2008, so there are a lot of models in the wild that might need their screens replaced. The cost of the repair will depend on the model of the MacBook Air, as well as the problem it is having with its screen. Below I will cover the most common models I see for repair and the cost of repairing each model. I have been repairing MacBook Air screens since the beginning, and after repairing a few thousand screens personally, I can confidently say I am an expert Mac screen repair tech.

MacBook Air Screen Repair Cost

How much does it cost to replace a MacBook Air screen? The cost to replace a MacBook Air screen is $299 for most models. The A1466 model is $179, while the A1932 and A1279 models are $299. The A2337 model is $299 for the LCD or $429 for the entire display. The M2 MacBook Air is $499 for screen repair. The new 15″ MacBook Air is currently $549 for the screen repair service.

Below I cover the most common models with examples of damage that will need screen repair.

Selecting The Correct Repair

There are multiple parts in a display assembly, and chances are they do not all need to be replaced in order to get your computer fully working again. Knowing the basic parts that are required to complete your MacBook screen repair will help you select the correct repair for your needs.

Clutch or Hinge Cover (Also called Bezel)

The clutch cover runs along the bottom of the MacBook screen. It is the part that says “MacBook Air” on it. Sometimes I see clutch covers that are cracked or broken while the LCD panel itself is working fine! This means the computer works perfectly and the entire screen is visible and working, but there is a crack along the bottom of the screen in the part that says “MacBook Air” on it. If this is the issue you have, you just need a clutch cover replacement rather than an LCD replacement.

iSight Camera

The MacBook Air camera almost never has an issue. If the camera does stop responding, the issue is almost always with the logic board inside your computer rather than the camera itself. Sometimes though, the cameras will fail and require replacement. Unfortunately with the way these MacBook Airs are assembled, you usually have to replace the LCD panel when you replace the camera.

Back Housing

The back housing is sometimes referred to as the “lid”. It is the part that has the Apple logo on it. Usually, the housing does not need to be replaced, but if there is a dent on the corner of the housing, a dent on the housing itself, or if liquid damage is present in the housing, then you will need the housing replaced as well as the LCD. Again, because of the way these are assembled you normally can’t replace just the housing by itself.

Hinges

The hinges are exactly what they sound like, the hinge where the display meets the computer. Older model Macs from the 2006-2012 era sometimes had hinges that would crack or break and cause the display to not stay up properly. That is much rarer on the MacBook Airs, but it can happen. Some models require an entire display replacement in order to replace the hinges, while others you can replace separately. Because Apple routes cables through the hinges, you usually have to replace the entire display assembly if you have issues with the hinges.

Take your time to research and choose a computer repair shop that you feel good about. With a little effort, you can find a great shop that will take care of your MacBook screen repair needs.

Repair Shop Recommendations

After over a decade in the Mac Repair industry, I can offer a few insights into different Mac Repair shops that do good work. There are literally thousands of Mac repair shops now, but some that I have gotten to know over the years and have found to be good shops are:

MacScreenRepair.com – That’s right, me! I believe I am a great choice if you are looking for screen repairs for your Mac.

Rossmanngroup – I have known the owner (Louise) since we were both newbies in the repair space. His shop provides great work at an affordable price. They are based in New York.

MackTechs – These guys are a smaller shop and provide solid service to their clients. They are based in Philadelphia.

TCRS – I have asked for Tim’s help on logic board repairs many times over the past decade. He does not necessarily specialize in screen repair, but his shop is a great choice if you need logic board-level repairs. They are based in SoCal.

As I said, there are thousands to choose from, so do some research on the ones you are interested in and I am sure you can find a good repair shop to complete your MacBook screen repair.

Apple Store Repair Cost

If you have a MacBook Air that is not covered under AppleCare+, you will spend between $450 and $650 repairing your screen through Apple. There are a couple of different ways that the display repair is billed, so the price you are quoted will vary, but these are the standard quotes. Note that each damage tier is added to by a labor charge, which is usually $100. So a Tier 1 repair is usually about $280 for the MacBook Air + a $100 labor charge.

Tier 1 Accidental Damage does not usually cover the display. It is for other parts that might have been accidentally damaged like the touchpad getting cracked or the fingerprint sensor on the keyboard being damaged. Tier one is usually quoted at $280 + a labor charge at the Apple store, although I have heard it quoted as low as $230 +labor.

Tier 2 Accidental Damage does cover the display, as long as everything else on the computer is not damaged. So if there is a dent or any kind of damage on a component other than the display, it can not be repaired under tier 2. Tier 2 repair is usually about $480 +labor at the Apple store.

Tier 3 Accidental Damage covers the display as well as other components that are damaged, as long as the logic board is still working properly. This tier is usually $530 +labor at the Apple Store.

Tier 4 Accidental Damage covers everything that could have been damaged in the computer, including the logic board. This is the tier that is usually quoted for liquid-damaged computers. A tier 4 repair is usually quoted at $650 + labor at the Apple store.

Does Apple Care cover a cracked screen MacBook Air?

AppleCare+ does partially cover the cost of repairing a cracked screen on a MacBook Air. When you buy your computer, you are given the option to purchase AppleCare+. If you decide to purchase AppleCare+ and crack your screen, the total for the repair will be $99.

If you decide to not purchase AppleCare+ and instead just keep the standard 1-year warranty, the cracked screen repair is not covered.

Will the Apple store replace the screen if the MacBook Air is old?

Apple stores replace parts on computers that are less than 7 years old. If your Mac is over 7 years old, you can still get it repaired, but you will need to visit a repair shop that is not an Apple store to have the service completed.

Best Buy MacBook Air Repair Cost (as of Jan 2023)

Repair cost through Best Buy is generally the same as through the Apple store. Best Buy usually charges around $450-$650 for MacBook Air screen repair.

In June of 2019, Best Buy became an Apple Authorized Service Provider. This means they have a relationship with Apple so they can order parts from Apple directly, and repair devices that are covered under Applecare.

Their actual repair capabilities on the store level seem to vary from store to store, but all the Best Buys in my area do not have Mac technicians in the actual store. They do have iPhone technicians and offer screen repair for iPhones (sometimes same-day repairs are available). But for Mac repair, they ship the computer out to be repaired and then have it shipped back to the store after repair.

When they do send a MacBook out for service, they are actually sending it to the same repair depots that the Apple Store does. They quote a marginally higher turnaround time than Apple (about 2 weeks). But generally have the computer back a little quicker than that.

UBreakiFix MacBook Air Repair Cost (as of Jan 2023)

UBreakiFix is not an Apple Authorized Service Provider. I do not know if they offer a genuine Apple screen (they could be utilizing Apple’s new self-repair program as I do for certain repairs), but I do know that their price for the 2020 M1 MacBook Air “starts at 479.99”. In order to get an exact quote, you have to bring your computer in for their free diagnosis.

Do It Yourself MacBook Air Screen Repair Cost

The MacBook Air LCD replacement process is one that I don’t recommend for a beginner to an intermediate-level technician to attempt. It is best to start practicing with bad screens before moving on to these repairs. They are delicate and you can cause all kinds of problems during the repair by scratching backlight sheets or ripping cables under the LCD panel.

The display assembly replacement is a lot easier and can be completed by somebody with some technical repair experience. Apple has a self-repair program that covers the A2337 model MacBook Air. You can read about the program and get links in my 2020 M1 MacBook Air screen replacement guide.

I will say I have seen a lot of damaged screens when people attempt to repair the LCD panel on a MacBook Air themselves. Normally the damage is not fixable and you have to then replace the entire display assembly. I have a troubleshooting page for the A1466 MacBook Air if you have attempted a repair and ran into problems.

If you are experienced enough to complete the repair, you can find the panels on public sites like iFixit, eBay, Amazon, etc. As a shop, you will probably want to work with your vendor to get panels that have a guarantee so you can hold them in stock. The price for panels usually ranges from around $100 to about $400 for the newest model. Generally, the panels decrease in price with time, but sometimes if an LCD panel is not used frequently by apple, they will become rare and cost more over time for new ones.

I have put together a few guides on how to replace the LCD yourself. I currently have a 2010-2017 display and LCD replacement guide available. I also have started working on an A2337 display replacement guide that is still a work in progress. I am also working on making video guides for screen repair and hope to have those posted by the March of 2023.

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