July 11, 2026
Nobody likes asking "how much is this going to cost?" and getting "well, it depends." So let me give you the honest version up front, the way I'd explain it if you called me about a slow laptop or a PC that won't boot. Here's what computer repair actually costs in Arlington in 2026 — and why some of the prices you'll see quoted around town aren't what they look like.
The Short Answer
I charge by the hour, and I keep it simple: $65/hr for remote help and $95/hr if I come to you in Arlington or anywhere in Northern Virginia. There's no separate "diagnostic fee" bolted on before we start, and I don't mark up parts. Most everyday problems — a slowdown, a virus, a printer that won't behave — land in the one-to-two-hour range, so you're usually looking at somewhere between $65 and $190 all in.
Bigger jobs cost more because they take longer, not because the number got invented on the spot. That's the whole idea: you pay for the time the work actually takes.
Why I Bill by the Hour Instead of "Flat Fees"
A lot of shops advertise a flat price — "$99 virus removal!" — and it sounds great until you read how it works. The flat fee usually covers a narrow definition of the job, and the moment your situation is even slightly different, the add-ons start. Then there's the parts markup, where a $40 part quietly becomes $90 on the invoice.
Hourly and transparent means you can see exactly where your money went: two hours of labor, plus whatever a part actually cost me, at cost. If a job turns out to be quick, you pay for quick. I'd rather have you as a repeat customer than win once and never hear from you again.
What Common Repairs Actually Cost
These are real ranges for Arlington, based on how long each job usually takes plus parts where they apply. Every machine is a little different, so treat these as ballparks, not quotes:
- Virus / malware removal: ~$65–$190. Almost all labor. A straightforward cleanup is an hour; a badly infected machine that needs a careful going-over is two.
- "It got slow" tune-up: ~$65–$190. Startup cleanup, updates, checking the drive's health. Often fixable remotely, which keeps it at the $65 rate.
- Windows reinstall / fresh setup: ~$130–$285. Two to three hours once you factor in backing up your files first so nothing gets lost.
- New computer setup / data transfer: ~$95–$285. Moving your files, email, and programs to a new machine so it feels like your old one, minus the problems.
- Won't turn on / no boot diagnosis: ~$65–$95 to find out what's wrong, then we talk before spending another dollar on parts.
- Home or office Wi-Fi / network fix: ~$95–$190. Usually an onsite visit since I need to see the actual space and where the dead spots are.
Two repair types swing widely enough to deserve their own pages: laptop screen replacement (parts-driven, roughly $80 to $700 depending on the model) and data recovery (depends entirely on how the drive failed). Check those for real numbers.
Ask for the Estimate First
Any honest tech will give you a ballpark before starting — get it. If someone won't estimate a job over the phone or in the first few minutes, that's your sign to keep looking. I'll always tell you roughly what I expect before the clock means anything.
How That Compares to Big-Box and Mail-In Shops
The big-box store counters can work, but you're usually dropping the machine off, waiting days, and paying membership or bench fees on top of the repair. Mail-in services are cheaper on paper until you add shipping both ways and the week your computer is gone. For most people in Arlington, a local visit or a remote session the same day just costs less in the thing you actually care about — time. My standard is a 2-hour response during business hours, not a two-day turnaround.
The price of a repair should never be a surprise. If you know the rate and you get an estimate up front, "it depends" stops being scary. — Sammy Lackey, SammIT
What Actually Changes the Price
A few honest variables, so nothing catches you off guard:
- Remote vs. onsite. Remote is cheaper ($65 vs $95) and works for a surprising number of software problems. I'll always try remote first when it makes sense.
- Parts. Screens, drives, RAM, and batteries cost what they cost — I pass them through without markup.
- When you need it. Evenings and weekends run higher ($150/hr after hours, 2-hour minimum), because that's real off-hours time. Normal business hours are the standard rate.
- Recurring headaches. If your machines keep needing attention, a flat $149/month maintenance plan is usually cheaper than paying per-fire — I keep things patched and monitored so the fires mostly stop starting.
When to Call a Pro
If your computer is slow, acting strange, or flat-out won't start, the cheapest move is usually to ask early — before a small problem becomes a data-loss problem. I do straightforward, hourly, no-surprise-fee work across Arlington and Northern Virginia, and I'll tell you honestly if something isn't worth fixing. You can see the full local rundown on my Arlington computer repair page, or if you just want a quick read on where you stand, remote diagnostics start at $65/hr — book a time here.