Direct answer: Back glass is just the glass panel mounted over your existing frame — fast and cheap for cracks ($10–35 wholesale, 40–70 min). Back housing is the complete frame assembly (frame + glass + brackets + buttons) and you transplant all the internals into it — the fix when the frame is bent or a color change is requested ($25–80 wholesale, 60–120 min). Pick back glass for glass damage; pick back housing for structural damage.
The Difference at a Glance
| Back glass | Back housing | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Glass panel + adhesive | Full frame + glass + brackets + buttons |
| What you keep | The existing frame | Everything inside |
| Install time | 40–70 min | 60–120 min |
| Wholesale cost | $10–35 | $25–80 |
| When to use | Cracked glass only | Bent frame, broken buttons, color change |
When to Choose Back Glass
Choose back glass when only the glass is cracked and the frame is straight:
- Cracks, chips, spider webs on the back
- Camera lens ring damage
- Customer wants to keep their original frame color
Process: open the phone, remove the internals (battery, board, wireless coil, cameras), fit the pre-adhesive glass over the frame, press firmly, reassemble. Full steps in our iPhone X back glass guide.
When to Choose Back Housing
Choose back housing when there’s structural damage:
- Bent frame from a drop (glass won’t seat correctly)
- Broken/missing buttons (volume, power, mute switch)
- Cracked charging port housing
- Color change or a complete “new phone” feel
Process: open the phone, transfer every internal — board, battery, wireless coil, cameras, Taptic Engine, speaker, port assembly, flexes — into the new housing, then reassemble. This is a full teardown-and-rebuild: allow 60–120 minutes and charge $150–250.
Cost & Margin Comparison
| Repair | Parts (wholesale) | Shop price | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back glass (pre-adhesive) | $10–35 | $100–180 | $65–145 |
| Back housing swap | $25–80 | $150–250 | $70–170 |
| Back glass + camera (common combo) | $20–50 | $150–220 | $100–170 |
Back glass work is famously the highest margin per hour in the industry — cheap parts, premium pricing, and customers who don’t comparison-shop glass.
What to Stock
- Pre-adhesive back glass for your top 3 models (usually iPhone X, 11, 12 families)
- Back housing in the most common colors (black, white) for your top 2 models
- Camera brackets (some housings need the bracket from the old unit)
- Full adhesive kits — every housing swap needs fresh adhesive
ScrnFix carries both back glass with adhesive and back housing for iPhone X through 13 series, wholesale pricing from 5 units, DHL 3–5 days worldwide.
FAQ (People Also Ask)
Q: Does back glass replacement affect wireless charging?
A: Not if the wireless coil is undamaged and re-seated correctly. Glass-only repair risks coil damage; housing swaps are safer for the coil.
Q: Can I replace back glass without removing the battery?
A: No — the internals must come out to fit the glass. It’s not a “peel and stick” job on the outside.
Q: Which is more profitable, back glass or back housing?
A: Per hour, back glass. Per job, back housing. Stock both and price by damage.
Q: Do I need a laser machine for back glass?
A: No — pre-adhesive back glass mounts on the frame without a laser. Lasers are only for glass-only removal on the original frame.
Q: What’s the most profitable iPhone repair?
A: Back glass replacement — a $10–35 part priced at $100–180, with 40–70 minutes of labor.
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