Can You Replace the Glass Top of a Stove?
If your stove top is damaged, get cracking and call a pro
Highlights
Cooking on a broken glass cooktop can cause an electrical fire.
Repairing a glass stove top with minor damage costs $150 to $300, while buying a new one costs $150 to $800.
In most cases, you don’t need to replace the entire stove, just the glass top.
Glass cooktops are sleek, easy to clean, and don't require you to light a pilot just to make dinner. But what happens if the glass becomes cracked or damaged—can you replace the glass top of a stove? The answer is yes, although it’s a job best left to a pro. Here’s what you need to know.
Can You Replace the Top of a Glass Top Stove?
If your glass top is broken, in most cases you can repair or replace it without having to replace the entire stove.
Glass stove tops can get damaged from heavy cookware like cast-iron skillets and ceramic pots, or if heavy crockery is repeatedly dropped on them. They can also develop cracks from extended use over time. While glass stove tops can crack to the point of serious damage, the stove framework and burners usually stay fully functional.
If you see cracks and breaks of any size on the glass stove top, refrain from cooking with it until you get it repaired or replaced. Even tiny pieces of glass can cause a costly and dangerous electrical fire next time you use the stove.
Types of Glass Stove Tops
Electric Smooth Top
This is the most common type of electric stove burner, with an electric base and glass cooktop. Metal coils underneath the glass are powered by electrical current; this transmits heat to warm up pots, pans, and anything else on the surface.
A replacement glass stove top for an electric smooth top costs $150 to $600.
Induction
Induction stoves heat up very rapidly and cost significantly more than electric smooth tops. They use electromagnetism to heat pots and pans directly rather than warming the surface of the cooktop; as a result, they are safer and more energy-efficient.
Glass stove tops designed for induction stoves cost $300 to $800.
Repairing a Glass Stove Top vs. Replacement
Is it worth it to get the stove top repaired, or should you just replace it entirely?
You can expect to pay $50 to $150 per hour for an appliance professional to repair the glass with a layer of epoxy. However, you will also need to monitor the cracks to make sure they don't come back or get worse. If you have an electric smooth top, the cost of repairs versus buying a whole new stove top often isn't worth it.
If you have an induction stove, repairs can sometimes be more economical than a full replacement. A local appliance installer can help you decide the best course of action.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Unless you’re very handy and have installed or repaired glass stove tops in the past, hiring a pro is the safest bet. Any installation errors or stray shards of glass can put you at high risk for an electrical fire even with a shiny new stove top.
Appliance professionals who know electric stoves will ensure that your old cooktop is safely disposed of, the new one is installed correctly, and that your stove is fully functional.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can expect to get 15-20 years out of a glass stove top with normal wear and tear. Your glass stove top's life will be shorter if you use very heavy cookware on a regular basis, such as cast-iron skillets.
It's common for glass stove tops to accumulate stains from food and liquid burns. Avoid using abrasive scrubbers and cleaning agents and stick to gentle cleansers. Combining a thin layer of dish soap with a vinegar spritz can break down charred residue without damaging the surface.
A decade plus of normal wear and tear combined with heavy cookware usage are the most common reasons glass stove tops break. The glass can also break from sudden temperature changes, including dramatic shifts in the local climate. Manufacturer defects and poor quality control are rarer causes of cracks, but they do occur.