Clock repair: costs, what to expect and how to find a good repairer

Most mechanical clocks that stop need a service (clean, oil and adjust) rather than a true repair. A repairer inspects the movement, then quotes for a service or a full overhaul (strip down, replace worn bushings and parts). The price depends on the type of movement, how many trains it has, its condition and whether parts are still made, so always ask for a written estimate. To find someone qualified, search the AWCI directory by ZIP code or ask a local NAWCC chapter.

Oiling interval (Howard Miller guidance)	About every 2 years
Cleaning interval (Howard Miller guidance)	Every 5 to 10 years, depending on climate
Clockmaker certifications (AWCI)	CC21 and CMC21
Where to look	AWCI Find a Professional; NAWCC chapters
Before moving a floor clock	Remove the pendulum and weights

A clock that has stopped, strikes the wrong hour or keeps poor time is not always broken. Many "repairs" turn out to be a clock that is out of level, out of beat or simply not wound. When a clock really does need work, it helps to know what a repairer is likely to do, what you are paying for and how to judge whether they are any good. This guide covers mechanical clocks (weight- and spring-driven) and quartz clocks.

Check these first, before you pay for a repair

Is it wound? Eight-day clocks need winding once a week, on every winding point or weight. A clock that runs but won't chime often has an unwound chime train.
Is it level and in beat? An even "tick ... tock" matters more than a spirit level. An uneven beat is the most common reason a pendulum clock stops after a few minutes.
Is the chime switched off? Look for a "silent" setting or an automatic night shut-off.
Has the packing been removed? New and recently moved clocks often have foam or paper packing at the hammers, under the movement and around the chime rods.
Quartz clock? Fit a fresh alkaline battery, clean the contacts and check that the hands don't touch each other or the glass.

Our clock troubleshooting guide walks through each of these. If the clock still won't run, or you can hear grinding, see worn or bent parts, or a key turns without stopping, it's time for a professional.

Repair, service or overhaul: what's the difference?

Repairers use these words in slightly different ways, so ask what is included. As a rough guide:

Term	What it usually includes	When it's needed
Adjustment	Setting the beat, levelling, correcting the chime or strike, regulating the rate. Often done on a house call.	Clock runs but stops, chimes wrongly or keeps poor time.
Service (clean and oil)	Movement removed, cleaned, inspected, lubricated, reassembled and tested.	Manufacturers recommend periodic servicing even when a clock seems fine.
Overhaul (restoration)	Full strip-down, plus repair of wear: new bushings for worn pivot holes, polished pivots, new mainsprings or cables, replacement parts.	Old or neglected movements with visible wear, or a clock that stops again soon after a clean.
Movement replacement	A new movement of the same type fitted to the old case and dial.	Some modern mass-produced movements are cheaper to replace than to rebuild.

Howard Miller's owner's instructions say a movement should be oiled about every two years and thoroughly cleaned every five to ten years "depending on climatic conditions", and the company recommends against servicing the movement yourself. Old oil turns sticky and holds grit, which wears the pivots and their holes; that wear is what turns a routine service into an overhaul.

What affects the cost of clock repair?

We don't print price lists, because charges vary a lot between regions and repairers and change over time. Instead, here is what drives the quote, so you can compare like with like:

Number of trains. A time-only clock has one gear train. A striking clock has two and a chiming clock has three, so a chiming movement has roughly three times as many parts to clean and check.
Power source. Spring-driven clocks store a lot of energy in their mainsprings, which must be let down safely before the movement is taken apart; springs may need replacing. Weight-driven clocks may need new cables.
Condition. Worn pivot holes need bushing, bent teeth need repair and broken parts may need to be made by hand. Wear is the biggest unknown until the movement is apart.
Parts availability. Parts for current movements from makers such as Hermle may be available off the shelf; parts for antique or obscure movements may have to be made.
House calls and transport. Floor clocks are often serviced by removing the movement on a house call and taking it to the workshop, which adds travel time.
Case, dial and glass. Cabinet repairs, dial restoration and glass are separate jobs, sometimes done by other specialists.
Warranty. Ask how long the work is guaranteed and what that covers.

Antique clock repair

For an antique, originality is a large part of its value. A good antique clock repairer keeps original parts wherever possible, repairs rather than replaces, and tells you what was changed. Ask for any parts that are replaced to be returned to you. Avoid refinishing an original case or repainting a dial before you have taken advice; both can reduce value. If you want to know what a clock is worth before deciding how much to spend, see how to value a grandfather clock.

How to find a good clock repairer

Clock repair is a small trade, and many good repairers work from home workshops without much advertising. Two US organisations can help:

AWCI, the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute, is the trade association for the industry. Its Find a Professional search lets you look up clockmakers and watchmakers by ZIP code, keyword or name. AWCI also runs certifications: CC21 (Certified Clockmaker for the 21st Century), which covers modern clocks including chiming movements, 400-day clocks and cuckoo clocks, and CMC21 (Certified Master Clockmaker), which adds complicated restorations of vintage clocks.
NAWCC, the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors, based in Columbia, Pennsylvania, runs the National Watch & Clock Museum, workshops and local chapters, and has a business directory. Chapter members can often recommend repairers in your area.

Questions worth asking any repairer:

Do you work on this kind of clock (for example a German three-train chiming movement, an American shelf clock, or a French carriage clock)?
Will you give me a written estimate after inspecting it, and call me if you find more work?
Will you service the whole movement, or only fix the obvious fault?
How long will it take, and how long is the work guaranteed?
Do you make house calls to remove and refit floor clock movements and set the beat?

Be wary of a firm price given over the phone without seeing the clock, or of any "service" that does not involve taking the movement out of the case.

Grandfather clock repair near you

Because floor clocks are heavy and awkward, many repairers come to you. A typical visit: the repairer checks level and beat, then removes the weights, pendulum, hands, dial and movement, takes the movement to the workshop, and returns to refit it, set it in beat and check the chime. If the clock was made by Howard Miller or its Ridgeway brand, note that the company wound down in 2025 and closed its manufacturing in early 2026 (see clock brands), so independent repairers are now the main route for service.

How to move a grandfather clock safely

Moving is when most damage happens. Hermle's guidance is that "the safest way to move a clock is by keeping it up right". If the clock can stay upright, remove the weights and tie up the chains; if it must be laid down, also secure the chains and stabilise the chime rods. In practice:

Stop the pendulum and lift it off its hook. Wrap it flat.
Note which weight came from which position (facing the clock: left, centre, right), then lift each one off. Label them; the heaviest usually goes on the right.
For chain clocks, tie the chains together so they can't fall off their sprockets. For cable clocks, follow the maker's instructions or ask a repairer, so the cables stay seated on their drums.
Remove loose shelves, finials and the key; tape the doors shut.
Carry the clock with two people, upright if possible; never drag it by the hood.
In its new place, level it, re-hang the weights and pendulum, and set it in beat. See how to start a grandfather clock.

Questions people ask

How much does clock repair cost?

There is no standard price. The quote depends on the number of gear trains (time-only, strike or chime), whether the clock is spring- or weight-driven, how worn it is, whether parts are available and whether a house call is needed. Ask for a written estimate after the repairer has inspected the clock.

How often should a mechanical clock be serviced?

Howard Miller's instructions recommend oiling the movement about every two years and a thorough cleaning every five to ten years, depending on climate.

Is it worth repairing an old clock?

Often yes, if it has family or antique value; a well-serviced movement can run for many more decades. For some modern mass-produced movements, fitting a new movement can be cheaper than rebuilding the old one. A repairer can tell you which applies.

Can I oil my own clock?

Manufacturers such as Howard Miller advise owners not to service the movement themselves. Too much oil, or the wrong oil, collects dirt and causes wear. Owners can safely wind, level, set the beat and regulate the clock.

How do I find grandfather clock repair near me?

Search the AWCI Find a Professional directory by ZIP code, ask a local NAWCC chapter for recommendations, and ask each repairer whether they make house calls to remove and refit floor clock movements.

Sources

Last updated November 6, 2026. Found an error? Tell us.