How much does hard drive recovery cost?
How much does hard drive recovery cost?
$300 – $1,000+ average data recovery cost (logical failure)
$1,000 – $2,500+ average data recovery cost (physical damage)
Hard drive recovery cost
Hard drive recovery costs $300 to $1,000+ for logical failures like software issues, firmware corruption, or accidental deletion. For a physically damaged drive that requires repair in a certified cleanroom, data recovery costs $1,000 to $2,500+. Hard drive data recovery prices depend primarily on the drive size and type of damage.
| Type of damage | Average recovery cost |
|---|---|
| Logical (software or firmware issues, malware, accidental deletion or formatting, and more) |
$300 – $1,000+ |
| Mechanical (physical damage) |
$1,000 – $2,500+ |
A certified cleanroom is a specially designed environment that meets specific air flow, pressure, temperature, and humidity standards for controlling contamination and maintaining air quality—essential for protecting hard drive components from tiny particles that could render its data unrecoverable.
Logical failure
When data is lost due to logical issues, recovery costs range from $300 to $1,000+, depending on the severity of the damage and the amount of data. Logical damage refers to non-physical hard drive issues, often caused by software corruption, file system errors, accidental formatting, malware, or user errors.
Data recovery labs can usually retrieve data from logically damaged drives using specialized software tools.
Mechanical (physical) damage
Recovery costs for a physically damaged drive average $1,000 to $2,500 but can go much higher for severe cases. The recovery process for this type of damage is complex and labor intensive, requiring special tools and a certified cleanroom environment to safely disassemble the drive and extract data from the damaged components.
Physical hard drive damage is caused by failures or defects in the drive's mechanical components such as read/write heads, spindle motors, circuit boards, or platters.
Symptoms of physical hard drive damage include clicking or grinding noises, failure to spin up, or crash messages on the computer.
What determines the cost of data recovery?
Many variables impact the final cost of hard drive data recovery:
Drive type: Recovery prices vary for hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), flash drives, and RAID arrays. SSD and RAID recovery are often significantly more expensive.
File type: Encrypted or proprietary file types require more time and expertise to recover.
Diagnostics: Many recovery services charge a non-refundable $50 to $250 diagnostic fee to evaluate the drive.
Labor rates: Professional data recovery technicians charge $100 to $300 per hour, depending on their level of expertise.
Fee structure: Some recovery services charge flat fees based on drive capacity. Others charge based on the actual amount of data recovered.
Equipment / cleanroom: Physical recoveries require expensive equipment and certified cleanroom facilities, increasing costs.
Remote vs. offsite: Remote data recovery done over the internet is cheaper than shipping the drive to a lab, but remote recovery is not always an option. Most shipping fees range from $25 to $100.
Turnaround time: Rush services with 24- to 48-hour turnaround times cost more, often adding $500 or more to your total cost.
Digital forensics: Recovering data for legal investigations or evidence requires establishing a proper chain of custody, driving costs into the thousands or even tens of thousands.
Drive size
Larger capacity drives take longer to recover data from, which translates to higher costs. Recovering data from a 250GB hard drive with software issues may cost as little as $250, while data recovery from a 6TB hard drive with the same issues may cost over $1,000.
Some companies charge a recovery fee for drives up to a specified number of terabytes (TB), and then $150 to $250+ for each additional TB.
| Drive size (terabytes) | Logical data recovery cost | Physical data recovery cost |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1TB | $250 – $650 | $850 – $1,200 |
| 2TB – 3TB | $300 – $750 | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| 4TB – 5TB | $400 – $800 | $1,100 – $1,900 |
| 6TB – 8TB+ | $600 – $1,000+ | $1,300 – $2,500+ |
Additional fees
Be aware there are several extra fees that can add to the base data recovery price. Some companies charge an "attempt fee"—a fee you pay even if the recovery attempt is not successful—equal to 25% to 50% of the quoted recovery fee. The table below details several other potential costs:
| Fee type | Average cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Declined recovery | $40 – $100 | Return shipping charge if you decline service after receiving a quote |
| Transfer device / replacement media | $25 – $250+* | An external drive or flash drive to store your recovered files |
| Hard drive removal | $75 – $100+ | Service charge to remove the drive from a laptop or external enclosure |
| Opened hard drive | $100 – $500+ | If a drive was opened in a non-cleanroom environment; typically a non-refundable fee |
| Donor parts | $200 – $500+ | Fixing damaged drives often require compatible donor parts from an identical model. |
| Drive destruction service | $25 – $50 | Proper destruction of sensitive data after recovery |
| Storage | $25 – $50 per month | Long-term media storage if needed after recovery |
*Device cost depends on the drive size or amount of data.
If you purchase your own replacement media for the recovery service to transfer your data, professionals recommend using a drive at least two or three times the size of your damaged drive.
Hard drive recovery FAQs
How does hard drive recovery work?
To recover data from a damaged hard drive, engineers first evaluate the drive to diagnose the issue and determine whether the failure is logical (non-physical) or mechanical (physical). For logical damage, they attempt to repair the drive firmware or software to access the data.
If the drive is physically damaged, technicians carefully disassemble it in a cleanroom to avoid contamination. They then repair or replace failed components and clone the drive platters sector-by-sector to a new drive. Finally, they attempt to extract files from the cloned drive image using data recovery software.
How long does data recovery take?
Data recovery turnaround times vary from 1 to 14+ days depending on the type of damage and your chosen service level. Most companies offer standard and rush service options. Logical recoveries are typically faster, while recoveries involving severe physical damage take longer. Large RAID arrays and drives over 2TB also increase turnaround times.
Can I recover hard drive data myself?
For simple logical issues, you can try file recovery software like DMDE or UFS Explorer. However, never attempt to open a physically damaged drive, as this can permanently destroy data and increase recovery service costs significantly if you need them after the fact.
For the best chance of data recovery, choose a reputable, professionally certified data recovery company.
How to backup your data
To avoid expensive data recovery fees, regularly back up your important files:
Use built-in backup software like Windows File History or Mac's Time Machine.
Store files on cloud backup services like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox.
Make bootable system image backups using a tool like Macrium or Acronis True Image.
Periodically copy files to an external hard drive or flash drive.
Automate backups so you never forget!
Questions to ask a data recovery specialist
Ask the following questions to help you find a reliable, cost-effective data recovery service and get your important files back:
What are your certifications and security/privacy policies?
What type of drives do you accept?
Do you offer a free evaluation to diagnose and provide a quote for your recovery services?
Is there still a charge if you are unable to recover any data?
Is there a fee if I decline recovery after the diagnostic?
Does your price include donor parts if needed?
What is your average success rate for my issue?
What is the turnaround time and cost for my drive's brand, model, and issue?
Can you recover specific files, or do you recover full drives only?
Do your prices pertain to the drive size or the amount of actual data I need recovered?
What is the final cost including diagnostic fees, parts, attempt fees, return shipping, and any other fees?
Using our proprietary cost database, in-depth research, and collaboration with industry experts, we deliver accurate, up-to-date pricing and insights you can trust, every time.