Types of Windshield Chips and Cracks
The six most common types of windshield damage are bullseye chips, star breaks, half-moon chips, combination breaks, stress cracks, and edge cracks. Bullseye and half-moon chips are the easiest to repair, costing $50 to $75 and typically covered at $0 by insurance. Star breaks and combination breaks are more complex but still repairable when under three inches in diameter. Stress cracks and edge cracks generally require full windshield replacement at $300 to $800 or more. The key factors determining repairability are size, depth, location on the glass, and how quickly you act. Mesa drivers face higher urgency because extreme heat above 110 degrees and rapid monsoon temperature drops cause chips to spread into cracks faster than in most cities.
A visual guide to identifying your windshield damage, understanding whether it can be repaired, and knowing how urgently you need to act in Arizona's climate.
Bullseye Chip
RepairableModerate UrgencyWhat it looks like: A dark circle with a clear cone-shaped impact point in the center, resembling a dartboard target.
Caused by a round object (like a rock) hitting the glass head-on. The impact creates a circular separation between the layers of glass. This is the most common type of chip from highway driving.
Typical Cost
$50 - $75
Often $0 with insurance
Repair Details
Bullseye chips are the easiest damage type to repair because of their uniform, contained shape. Resin fills the cone cleanly and bonds well. In Mesa heat, repair within 24 to 48 hours before desert dust infiltrates the damage point.
Star Break
Usually RepairableHigh UrgencyWhat it looks like: A central impact point with short cracks radiating outward like a starburst or asterisk pattern.
Formed when a sharp-edged object strikes the glass with force, creating fracture lines that extend in multiple directions from the impact. Common on I-10, I-17, and the Loop freeways where construction debris is frequent.
Typical Cost
$60 - $85
Often $0 with insurance
Repair Details
Star breaks are repairable if the overall diameter is smaller than 3 inches and the radiating legs are not too long. In Mesa summer heat, the multiple fracture lines expand rapidly -- each leg is a potential crack. Repair as soon as possible.
Half-Moon (Partial Bullseye)
RepairableModerate UrgencyWhat it looks like: A semicircular chip that looks like half of a bullseye. The impact creates a D-shaped or crescent mark.
Similar to a bullseye but the object hit at an angle rather than head-on, creating an asymmetric cone. Very common when rocks kick up from the vehicle ahead at highway speeds on Mesa area freeways.
Typical Cost
$50 - $75
Often $0 with insurance
Repair Details
Half-moon chips respond well to professional repair. The resin injection process fills the crescent shape effectively. These can spread quickly during Mesa monsoon season when temperature drops are rapid and severe.
Combination Break
Usually RepairableHigh UrgencyWhat it looks like: A complex pattern showing elements of both a star break and a bullseye, with a circular center and extending fracture legs.
The result of a particularly forceful impact that creates both a cone (like a bullseye) and radiating cracks (like a star break) simultaneously. Usually caused by larger rocks at high speed.
Typical Cost
$65 - $85
Often $0 with insurance
Repair Details
Combination breaks are repairable if the total damage diameter stays under 2 to 3 inches. These are more complex because the resin must fill both the cone and the fracture lines. Mesa heat accelerates spreading -- act the same day.
Stress Crack
Rarely RepairableCritical UrgencyWhat it looks like: A long, straight or gently curving crack with no visible impact point. Often starts near the edge and extends inward.
Unlike impact damage, stress cracks form from thermal expansion, structural flex, or pressure changes -- not from an object hitting the glass. Mesa drivers see these frequently after running the A/C on a scorching hot windshield or after monsoon temperature drops.
Typical Cost
Replacement: $300 - $800+
Repair Details
Stress cracks generally cannot be repaired because they lack a contained impact point for the resin to anchor to. The crack tends to continue growing because the underlying cause (thermal stress) persists in Mesa year-round. Most stress cracks require full windshield replacement.
Edge Crack
Replacement NeededCritical UrgencyWhat it looks like: A crack that starts within 2 inches of the windshield edge and extends inward. Can be straight or curved.
Edge cracks originate at the windshield perimeter where the glass meets the frame seal. They are caused by impact damage near the edge, poor installation, or thermal stress at the mounting point. Even a small edge crack compromises the structural seal.
Typical Cost
Replacement: $300 - $800+
Repair Details
Edge cracks almost always require windshield replacement. The edge of the windshield is structurally bonded to the vehicle frame and provides up to 60 percent of the roof support in a rollover. Do not delay -- edge cracks grow rapidly in Arizona heat.
Quick Reference
| Damage Type | Repairable? | Cost | Urgency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullseye Chip | Repairable | $50 - $75 | Moderate Urgency |
| Star Break | Usually Repairable | $60 - $85 | High Urgency |
| Half-Moon (Partial Bullseye) | Repairable | $50 - $75 | Moderate Urgency |
| Combination Break | Usually Repairable | $65 - $85 | High Urgency |
| Stress Crack | Rarely Repairable | Replacement: $300 - $800+ | Critical Urgency |
| Edge Crack | Replacement Needed | Replacement: $300 - $800+ | Critical Urgency |
Bullseye Chip
Cost: $50 - $75
Star Break
Cost: $60 - $85
Half-Moon (Partial Bullseye)
Cost: $50 - $75
Combination Break
Cost: $65 - $85
Stress Crack
Cost: Replacement: $300 - $800+
Edge Crack
Cost: Replacement: $300 - $800+
Not Sure What Type of Damage You Have?
Call us or text a photo. We will identify the damage and tell you whether it can be repaired -- no charge.