Repair or Replace Your Laptop? A Simple Cost Rule
One number tells you most of the answer - here's the rule pros actually use.
Updated 2026-06-21
The 50% rule
Simple version: if the repair costs more than half the price of a comparable new laptop, replacing usually wins. A $120 screen on a $900 machine? Fix it. A $400 motherboard on a five-year-old budget laptop? Replace it.
The exception is data. If the files matter and aren't backed up, paying for data recovery is almost always worth it - even on a machine you're about to retire.
Repairs that are almost always worth it
Battery replacement, cracked screen, failed charging port, RAM or SSD upgrades, and virus or malware removal are typically cheap relative to the value they restore - and they can make an older laptop feel new. An SSD upgrade in particular is the single best speed boost for most aging machines.
When it's usually time to replace
Repeated motherboard failures, liquid damage across multiple components, or a machine so old it can't run current software are signs the money is better spent on a new device. A good shop will tell you this honestly instead of selling you a repair that won't last.
Back up first - then decide
Before any major repair or replacement, get your data off the device. If the drive is failing, a repair shop can often recover files even when the laptop won't boot - the sooner you stop using a failing drive, the better the odds.
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Frequently asked questions
Is it worth fixing a 5-year-old laptop?
If the repair is cheap (battery, screen, SSD upgrade) and the laptop still runs the software you need, yes. If it needs a costly part like a motherboard, replacement usually makes more sense - unless you need to recover data from it first.
Can a shop recover files from a laptop that won't turn on?
Often, yes. If the drive itself is intact, data can usually be recovered even when the laptop won't boot. Stop using the device and bring it to a data recovery specialist quickly to maximize the odds.