Guide · Repairs
Repair or replace a zip?
Updated: September 2026
2 min read
Is the slider stuck or are teeth missing? Sometimes a repair is enough, sometimes the whole zip has to come out. Replacement from €20 (trousers), €25 (dress/skirt), €30 (jacket/coat), usually in 1–3 working days. If it jams just before an event, a same-day fix is often possible.
- Replacement from €20 (trousers), €25 (dress/skirt), €30 (jacket/coat)
- Usually 1–3 working days
- Same-day repair often possible in 1–2 hours
- Slider swap cheaper than full replacement
- Type, length and colour matched to the garment
Contents
Prices and process at a glance:
Pin down the zip problem in four steps
Before you come in, quickly check what's wrong — then we can size it up faster.
- 01
Check the slider
Does the slider run stiffly or pop open? Often the slider is just worn out — then it can sometimes be replaced on its own.
- 02
Inspect the teeth
If teeth are missing or bent, a new slider won't help — the whole zip has to be replaced.
- 03
Look at the stop and seam
Is the bottom stop broken or the seam beside the tape coming apart? Note exactly what's broken.
- 04
Bring the item in
Bring it in and we'll tell you straight away whether a repair will do or the zip needs replacing — and what it costs before we start.
Repair or replace entirely?
Two things break: the slider (the part you pull) or the teeth themselves (coil or metal). If only the slider is worn and pops open, it can sometimes be replaced on its own — cheaper and faster. But if teeth are missing, the coil has torn or the tape is split, the whole zip has to come out and a new one go in. We can usually see at a glance which applies to your item.
Zip replacement — costs and turnaround
Gross prices, incl. 19% VAT. Final price depends on length, type and access. Usually 1–3 working days.
- Trousers
- from €20, 1–3 working days
- Dress or skirt
- from €25, 1–3 working days
- Jacket or coat
- from €30, 1–3 working days
- Leather jacket
- On request — more work than fabric. See our leather repair guide.
When a full replacement is needed
In these cases a repair is no longer enough.
- Teeth are missing or bent — the zip no longer closes cleanly.
- The zip splits in the middle and reopens as you close it.
- The slider can't be matched and replaced (special size or shape).
- The fabric tape beside the teeth is torn.
- On jackets: a two-way or separating zip that no longer feeds in at the bottom.
When it has to be fast
If the zip jams just before an event, it doesn't always need replacing — we can often get it running again as a same-day repair, in many cases within one to two hours. Call ahead and we'll keep a slot free. Our same-day repair guide describes the whole process.
Which zip goes in?
For a replacement we match type (coil, metal, plastic), length and colour, so the new zip suits the piece and lasts. On jackets we also check whether it has to be a separating or two-way zip. Bring it in — we pick the right replacement and fit it so the repair doesn't show.
More guides
Same-day repair — tear, zip, button, today
When a zip jams just before an event, we fix it in the workshop — often while you wait. From €15. How late we can take work in depends on how busy we are and when we close — best to call shortly before you come.
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Leather jackets & trousers repaired
Zip, seam, lining or fit on leather jackets and trousers: much can be repaired and altered instead of giving up on the piece. Leather is handwork — we'll give you a price once we've seen it. In our workshops across Berlin, Brandenburg and the Altmark.
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Shortening jeans without losing the factory look
Jeans too long but too good to throw out? The challenge with denim is keeping the character — the original hem, the contrast topstitching, the faded edge. A workshop that knows denim shortens the leg and reattaches the original hem so the jeans look like they left the factory at your height.
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Frequently asked questions about zips
What does a new zip cost?
Replacement from €20 on trousers, from €25 on a dress or skirt, from €30 on a jacket or coat. Leather jackets on request. We name the final price before any work.
Can a zip be repaired instead of replaced?
Sometimes yes — if only the slider is worn. If teeth are missing or the coil has torn, the whole zip has to be replaced.
How long does it take?
Usually one to three working days. If the zip is only jammed, it can often be a same-day repair within one to two hours.
Do you also replace zips in leather jackets?
Yes. It's more work than fabric, so it's on request — see our leather repair guide for more.
What if only the slider is broken?
Then we often replace just the slider, if the size and type match — cheaper and faster than a full replacement.
What type of zip is used as a replacement?
We match the type (coil, metal, plastic), length and colour so the new zip suits the piece — on jackets we also check whether it needs to be a separating or two-way zip.
Ready? Stop by.