Every battery wears out. What matters is which stage of wearing out you're at, because "lasts a bit less than it used to" and "the case is starting to bulge" are not the same conversation.
The signs, in order of urgency
Runs out faster than it used to but still gets you through most of a day is normal ageing, not a fault. Suddenly drops from 40% to shutting off, or only turns on while plugged in, means the battery can no longer hold a usable charge and is close to the end. A case that's started to bulge, or a trackpad that's lifted slightly at one edge, means the battery is physically swelling and needs attention now, not on your next visit.
What it costs
$120 to $260, parts and labour together. Business laptops with easily accessible batteries sit toward the lower end. Ultrabooks with the battery glued in rather than screwed down take longer to open safely, which is reflected at the higher end.
How the replacement works
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Confirm the battery is the problem
A quick health check rules out a charging port or power delivery fault instead.
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Source the right battery
Matched to your exact model, not a generic universal pack.
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Fit and test
New battery in, old one disposed of safely, and we check it holds charge properly before handing it back.
Common questions
How do I check my battery health without bringing it in?
On Windows, open Command Prompt and run "powercfg /batteryreport". It generates a report showing the battery's original design capacity against what it can currently hold, which tells you how worn it is.
Is it worth replacing on an older laptop?
If the rest of the machine still does what you need, yes, a battery is one of the cheaper repairs and gives the whole laptop a lot more life. We'll say so if the machine itself isn't worth the investment.
Can I keep using it if it's swollen?
No. Stop using it and read the warning above. A swollen battery is a safety issue, not just a performance one.
Will I lose anything from having it replaced?
No. A battery swap doesn't touch the drive or any of your files.