Repairing blinds costs about $124 on average, but the cost can range from $49 to replace a broken cord lock yourself to around $350 to fix the cords and motor on motorized blinds with the help of a pro.
When you go to pull your blinds open and the cord snaps or sticks, you may begin to wonder how much it costs to repair blinds and whether it’s something you can do yourself. It costs about $124 on average to repair blinds, but the total will vary based on what parts are causing problems, the type of blinds you have on your windows, and whether you opt to hire a pro or repair the blinds yourself.
Some blinds are easier to restring and repair than others, which means you’ll spend less on the cost of repairing them. For instance, you can repair cellular blinds for $110 or less, while repairing Venetian blinds may cost around $220, and repairing motorized blinds may cost up to $480.
| Type of Blinds | Cost |
|---|---|
| Cellular | $10–$110 |
| Cordless | $10–$140 |
| Mini | $10–$120 |
| Motorized | $10–$480 |
| Outdoor | $10–$220 |
| Roller | $10–$140 |
| Roman | $10–$130 |
| Solar | $20–$120 |
| Venetian | $10–$220 |
| Vertical | $10–$120 |
When your blinds need repairing, multiple parts could be causing the problem. Perhaps the cord lock has broken off, leaving your blinds stuck halfway up the window, or the tilt mechanism could be faulty, preventing your blinds from tilting open or shut. No matter the damaged part, repairing starts at around $10 and goes to over $400.
| Damaged Part | Cost |
|---|---|
| Slats | $10–$35 each |
| Headrail | $30–$80 |
| Cord lock | $10–$20 |
| Lift cord | $10–$30 |
| Tilt mechanism | $10–$20 |
| Carrier clip | $10–$100 |
| Motor | $70–$425 |
Typically, the type of blinds and damage are the biggest cost influences for repairing blinds, but you may see some variations in cost based on what your blinds are made from, too. Real wood blinds are often the most expensive to repair, while PVC and aluminum blinds may cost less.
The more blinds you need to repair, the more you can save in the long run. The upfront cost will be higher, but you can get a discount for repairing blinds on multiple windows. This can be beneficial for families with toddlers or rambunctious pets that like to play with the blinds, making them worse for wear. It costs about $100 to $120 to repair the first set of blinds, then an additional $40 to $50 to repair blinds on additional windows.
| Sets of Blinds | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | $100–$120 |
| 2 | $140–$170 |
| 3 | $180–$220 |
| 4 | $220–$270 |
| 5 | $260–$320 |
Hiring a window contractor near you is a quick, effective way to make sure repairs are done properly to give more life to your blinds without causing more damage. The pros typically charge around $50 to $75 per hour, but they may have a minimum fee requirement of one hour or a project minimum of $100. Even if you only need a quick fix, you’ll still be expected to pay the minimum outlined in your project contract.
How do you know when you need to repair your blinds? Sometimes, it’s clear: a cord or string on the blinds has snapped, and your blinds are falling down. But other times, blinds that won’t draw open or shut easily or slats that don’t tilt correctly may also need repairing. Here’s what you can expect to pay for repairs based on the type of damage to your blinds.
Broken and bent slats aren’t just unsightly. They can also strain the strings of your blinds. You can replace broken slats for about $10 to $35 each, with PVC, plastic, aluminum, and bamboo slats costing on the lower end for replacements and real wood, faux wood, and fabric slats or shades costing on the higher end to replace.
Headrails help disguise the inner workings of vertical blinds, but when they are broken or damaged, they can prevent the blinds from moving open or shut properly. Fixing a headrail costs about $30 to $80 for materials plus the cost of labor.
The cord lock helps hold the cords in place to raise and lower the blinds, and it’s also a simple piece that many novice DIYers can replace themselves for about $10 to $20.
Repairing the lift cord, which is the cord material that pulls the blinds up or down, costs about $10 to $30 for the string materials, not including labor. This repair can take a few hours, so it’s usually best to leave restringing to the pros if you don’t have the time to tend to it.
Repairing a tilt mechanism costs about $10 to $20 for just the materials. Blinds can tilt slightly up or down or left or right for vertical blinds to let in more or less light. But if the tilt mechanism is damaged, you can’t properly open or shut your blinds for sunlight and privacy.
A carrier clip attaches to the cords in the headrail of vertical blinds and holds the vertical slats. Repairing carrier clips costs about $10 to $100, depending on the number of carrier clips you’re replacing. You may also need to pay to restring the cord and repair the headrail at the same time.
Motorized blinds are among the more expensive types of blinds to repair. If there’s an issue with the motor, repairs may cost $70 to $425. The motor must work properly to pull the cords to open and shut the blinds.
Pull cords play an important role in lowering and raising your blinds, but they are prone to becoming warped, frayed, or damaged over time, which could mean a simple fix if they are still attached properly. However, damage to additional parts of your blinds could necessitate a replacement, which is more complex and expensive.
Using blind string or a string replacement kit and a few common household items like a tape measure, scissors, and pliers means you may pay $10 to $20 to restring your blinds. However, if the blinds are too damaged or you’d prefer to start fresh, the average cost of blind installation is $772, although this varies based on labor, the number of windows, and the type of materials used, among other factors
Blinds require some TLC throughout the year to keep them working smoothly. Regular cleaning can prevent dust from building up in the blinds, while winterizing your windows offers better protection from cold temperatures outdoors while also saving you money on energy bills.
Dust and debris can wear down the moving parts of your blinds faster, so keeping the blinds clean can help extend their life span. Hiring a house cleaner costs about $90 to $250 per service; just be sure to request a deep cleaning or ask for special attention to be paid to the blinds if you want them dusted or wiped clean.
You can also DIY with household cleaning products to save money. To keep your blinds in good condition, clean them about once or twice per month.
Winterizing windows costs about $3 to $20 per square foot, and this process helps better insulate your windows from cold winter air. Some blind materials may be vulnerable to frosty temperatures, so winterizing your windows can protect against cracking and warping.
When it comes to determining the cost of repairing blinds, this is one DIY project that many homeowners can safely tackle themselves. A restringing kit or the materials to replace cords, cord locks, or even slats start at just $10, and you’ll spend about one to three hours making the repairs.
Hiring a window contractor or a handyperson will add about $50 to $75 per hour to the cost, but there are many cases where this is well worth the investment. Maybe you don’t have a few hours to spare tinkering with a single set of blinds, or perhaps you have multiple blinds that need attention. It’s also best to have a pro service motorized blinds or more expensive blinds, like custom or luxury wood blinds, to avoid damaging your window treatments.
If you’re looking into repairing your blinds, you may also be considering other window upgrades to make your home more comfortable. From tinting windows for privacy and UV protection to upgrading your window treatments, here are other common projects to tackle when repairing your blinds:
Window treatments cost: $150–$1,675
New windows cost: $180–$415
Window repairs cost: $175–$625
New window screen cost: $100–$480
Home window tinting cost: $315–$930
Repairing blinds can be a cost-efficient way to extend the life of your window treatments compared to the cost of replacing blinds. However, extensive damage and high-end blinds can still come with a high upfront cost. Fortunately, there are some ways to save on the cost of repairing blinds:
Consider repairing vs. replacing: Old or low-quality blinds may cost less time and money to replace than to repair.
DIY if possible: Some repairs, like replacing a cord lock or carrier clips, can be easy, even for beginner DIYers.
Repairing multiple blinds at once: You can often score a discount on repairing multiple sets of blinds at once, so ask your contractor or handyperson about repairing any blinds that need a little TLC.
Check your warranty: Your blinds may be under warranty, which could save you money on the cost of repairing the blinds. Low-cost blinds may not have a warranty, but motorized, solar, or custom blinds may have a 5-year, 10-year, limited-lifetime, or lifetime warranty.
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Repairing blinds can be worth the time and cost, especially if you have high-end blinds that would be expensive to replace. However, if your blinds are over six years old, have extensive damage, or are a lower-quality or low-cost product, it may not be worth it to repair them. Instead, it may be more cost-effective to buy new, higher-quality blinds.
You can find blind string or cord at home improvement stores or online, but you’ll need to measure your blinds’ existing string to know what size replacement to purchase. Cellular and pleated blinds or shades usually use a cord with a 0.9-millimeter diameter, mini blinds usually require a 1.4-millimeter cord, and wood blinds often use a 1.8-millimeter cord.
If you pull on the string of your blinds and it doesn’t budge, there are a few possible issues. The cord may have broken off, or it may be stuck and wedged into a part of the window or headrail. This can also happen if the cord lock is jammed or broken. You may need to replace the cord lock or restring the blinds if the string doesn’t pull.
Yes. Blind string replacement is a common DIY task that can be completed using a kit from your local home improvement store and following the manufacturer’s instructions. However, if your blinds require a more time-intensive replacement, we recommend contacting a pro.
