How Much to Charge for Watch and Clock Repair
Price watch repair from a bench hourly rate of $75–$150, delivered as tiers: battery and seal at $25–$75, a service at $150–$400, and a full mechanical overhaul at $400–$900 depending on calibre and complications. Mark parts up 30–100%, surcharge vintage and complicated movements, and charge a diagnostic fee credited on approval. ShowTheReceipts keeps each tier as a saved line.
Everything derives from the bench rate
Set an honest bench rate of $75–$150 an hour, then build tiers from the hours each job actually takes. Customers buy tiers; you price hours.
| Tier | Common range |
|---|---|
| Battery and seal | $25–$75 |
| Service (clean, lubricate, regulate) | $150–$400 |
| Full overhaul | $400–$900 |
| Chronograph / complication | +50–150% |
| Vintage | +25–50% |
The diagnostic fee protects the bench
Charge $35–$95 to open, assess, and quote, credited toward the repair. A free diagnostic fills your day with people collecting five quotes on a watch they’ll never fix.
Parts markup pays for the search
30–100% depending on scarcity. The search is the work — sourcing a discontinued calibre part takes hours no customer sees, and the order is usually non-returnable.
The movement doesn’t tell you what it needs until it’s open. Never quote a tier through a caseback.
Clock work is different
House calls for grandfather and wall clocks carry a call-out fee plus a day rate, and transport of a large case is its own line. Regulating a clock in situ takes multiple visits — price the visits, not just the repair.
What not to do
- Don’t quote an overhaul before opening the case
- Don’t give away diagnostics
- Don’t price vintage the same as modern
- Don’t do house calls without a call-out fee
Frequently asked questions
What is a fair bench rate for watch repair?
$75–$150 an hour is the common independent range, higher for certified work on prestige calibres. Most customers never see the hourly figure because the work is quoted as a tier — but every tier price should be derived from it, not from what the shop down the road charges.
How much should a full overhaul cost?
$400–$900 for a standard mechanical movement, and well above that for chronographs, perpetual calendars, and vintage pieces needing fabricated parts. Quote the tier only after the case is open — a movement that looks clean can hide a rusted mainspring barrel.
How much should I mark up parts?
30–100% depending on how hard the part was to source. Rare and vintage components carry the higher end because finding them is the work — you're being paid for the search and the risk of a non-returnable order, not just the component.
Should I charge extra for vintage watches?
Yes — a 25–50% surcharge is normal. Vintage movements have unavailable parts, seized screws, and previous repairers' improvisations to undo, and the customer's expectations are usually higher than for a modern piece. Price the uncertainty in, or it comes out of your bench time.