Computer help
How much does computer repair cost in the UK?
Most repair shops will not put prices anywhere, which makes it hard to know whether a quote is fair. Here are honest, typical UK ranges for the common jobs, what changes the price, and how to avoid paying for a repair that is not worth doing.
Quick answer
Typical UK prices in 2026: most common software fixes (slow computer, virus removal, clean-up) run roughly £40 to £90. An SSD upgrade including the part is usually £80 to £150 and transforms an older machine. Laptop screens are commonly £80 to £200 fitted. Data recovery varies most, from around £100 for straightforward cases to a lot more for physically damaged drives. A fair repairer tells you the price before starting and does not charge if they cannot fix it.
Typical prices for common jobs
- Diagnosis: often free or up to about £40, and it should be knocked off the repair price if you go ahead. Ask.
- Slow computer clean-up or virus removal: roughly £40 to £90.
- SSD upgrade (the big speed boost): roughly £80 to £150 including the drive.
- More memory (RAM): often £40 to £100 including the part.
- Laptop screen replacement: commonly £80 to £200 fitted, depending on the model.
- Data recovery: the widest range. Straightforward recoveries from around £100; physically damaged drives can cost several hundred because they need specialist work.
These are guide ranges, not quotes. Rare parts, older machines and business-critical urgency all move prices.
What changes the price
- Parts: a common laptop screen is cheap; a rare or premium one is not.
- Labour time: some machines come apart in minutes, some take an hour just to open.
- Urgency: same-day and out-of-hours work often costs more.
- Where: big-name shops carry big overheads. Independents are usually cheaper for the same work.
How to avoid being overcharged
- Get the price before the work starts. A fair repairer always tells you first.
- Ask if it is no fix, no fee. It should be.
- Sense-check against replacement. If the repair costs more than about half the price of a decent replacement, think twice. Try the repair or replace calculator.
- Be wary of pressure. Anyone piling on urgency or refusing to explain the fault in plain English is telling you something.
Sometimes the honest answer is "do not repair it"
A good repairer will occasionally talk you out of a repair, because an expensive fix on a machine that is already past it is bad value for you. If your machine is old and struggling, read when it is worth fixing an old computer before spending anything.
In Bolton? I work exactly this way: free quote before any work, no fix no fee, and a straight answer if the repair is not worth doing. Often same day.
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Common questions
How much does it cost to fix a slow computer?
Most common software fixes, such as clearing a slow computer, removing a virus or a general clean-up, run roughly 40 to 90 pounds. If the cause is an old hard drive, an SSD upgrade including the part is usually 80 to 150 pounds and makes the biggest difference.
How much is a laptop screen replacement?
Laptop screens are commonly 80 to 200 pounds fitted, depending on the model and screen quality. On a decent laptop that is usually worth it; on a very old budget machine it often is not.
Should a repairer charge if they can't fix it?
A fair repairer tells you the price before starting and does not charge if they cannot fix the problem. If someone wants payment up front with no diagnosis or no-fix-no-fee policy, be cautious.