Repair or Replace? Appliance Calculator

Answer three quick questions and get an instant, honest verdict — built on the industry 50% rule and your appliance's age, not a sales pitch. No sign-up, nothing sent anywhere; the math runs right in your browser.

Appliance

Age: 8 years

NewTypical lifespan 10–15 yr25+

What's wrong? (optional)

Repair quote (optional, USD)

Have a quote? Enter it to apply the 50% rule to your exact numbers.

VerdictEvaluate — get a quote

50% rule threshold: $850
New unit (mid-range): $1,700
Age vs lifespan: 62%
Repair estimate: —

A refrigerator typically lasts 10–15 years (about 13). At 8 years, yours is at roughly 62% of that typical lifespan.
The 50% rule: when a repair would cost more than about $850 — half the $1,700 mid-range price of a comparable new unit (a new one runs $900–$2,500) — replacement usually wins.
Add a repair quote (or pick the specific fault) to apply the 50% rule to your exact numbers — this verdict is based on age alone.
A modern ENERGY STAR refrigerator uses roughly 30–50% less electricity than a 12–15-year-old one — worth weighing on an older unit.
California's SB-244 right-to-repair law (in force since July 2024) requires makers to keep parts and documentation available for ~7 years, which strengthens the repair case for units made 2017 or later.
2025–26 tariffs pushed new-appliance prices up (~+4% recently) while parts rose more modestly — which nudges borderline cases back toward repair.
Verdict: evaluate. It's a genuine judgment call — get a firm diagnostic quote and apply the 50% rule to your exact numbers.

Dig into the numbers for your refrigerator:

Link to this calculator

Run a repair blog or forum? Drop this free tool in for your readers.

<a href="https://easybear-appliancerepair.com/tools/repair-or-replace">Repair or Replace? Free appliance calculator</a>

How the verdict is calculated

Two inputs drive the decision, exactly as an honest technician would weigh them: how old the appliance is relative to its typical lifespan, and how big the repair is relative to the price of a comparable new unit (the 50% rule). We look them up in a simple decision matrix — nothing is a weighted black box.

Ranges, not quotes. The lifespan, replacement, and repair figures below are editor-reference industry ranges verified as of mid-2026 — presented as ranges, never invented precision. They are a starting point for the math, not a quote for your specific unit. Your real price depends on brand, parts, and labor; book a diagnostic for a firm number.

Lifespan, replacement price & the 50% line

Appliance	Typical lifespan	New (mid-range)	Repair over this → replace
Refrigerator	10–15 yr	$900–$2,500	$850
Freezer (standalone)	10–15 yr	$400–$1,200	$400
Washer	10–14 yr	$600–$1,400	$500
Dryer	10–13 yr	$500–$1,200	$425
Dishwasher	9–12 yr	$500–$1,300	$450
Oven / range	13–15 yr	$700–$2,200	$725
Microwave (over-the-range / built-in)	7–10 yr	$250–$600	$213

The age × cost decision matrix

Age vs lifespan	Repair < 25% of new	25–50%	> 50%
< 50% of lifespan	Repair	Repair	Evaluate
50–80% of lifespan	Repair	Evaluate	Lean replace
> 80% of lifespan	Evaluate	Lean replace	Replace

Two more thumbs on the scale, both documented: 2025–26 tariffs raised new-appliance prices (~+4% recently) faster than parts, nudging borderline cases toward repair; and California's SB-244 right-to-repair law (in force since July 2024) keeps parts and documentation available for roughly seven years on units made 2017 or later.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the repair-or-replace calculator decide?

It applies the industry 50% rule paired with your appliance's age: if a repair would cost more than half the price of a comparable new unit — and the appliance is past roughly 80% of its typical lifespan — replacement usually wins, while younger appliances and cheaper faults lean toward repair. Every threshold comes from published lifespan and price ranges, not a sales pitch.

What is the 50% rule?

The 50% rule says that once a repair tops half the cost of a comparable new appliance, you're usually better off replacing it. Because a new refrigerator runs about $900–2,500 and a new dishwasher $500–1,300, the 50% line lands near $850 and $900 respectively. It's a guideline, not a guarantee — age and any remaining warranty matter too.

What is the average lifespan of a home appliance?

Refrigerators typically last 10–15 years, washers 10–14, dryers 10–13, dishwashers 9–12, ovens and ranges 13–15, standalone freezers 10–15, and microwaves 7–10. Ovens are the longest-lived kitchen appliance; microwaves are the cheapest to replace. Where your unit sits against that lifespan is half of the repair-or-replace decision.

Are these real repair prices?

The calculator uses editor-reference repair and replacement ranges verified as of mid-2026, shown as ranges — not a quote for your specific unit. A control-board fix might run $250–600 and a dryer heating element $150–300, but your actual price depends on brand, parts, and labor. Book a diagnostic for a firm number.

When should I replace instead of fixing?

Replace when the appliance is past roughly 80% of its typical lifespan and the repair would cost more than 50% of a new one — the red zone in the calculator. Sealed-system failures on older fridges and freezers, and front-load washer bearing jobs on 8-year-old machines, are classic replace-leaning cases. Most other faults still favor repair.

Go deeper by appliance

Each guide walks the same math for one appliance, with fault-by-fault repair costs and the age at which replacement takes over.

Read the full repair-vs-replace math for California →

How the verdict is calculated

Lifespan, replacement price & the 50% line

Appliance	Typical lifespan	New (mid-range)	Repair over this → replace
Refrigerator	10–15 yr	$900–$2,500	$850
Freezer (standalone)	10–15 yr	$400–$1,200	$400
Washer	10–14 yr	$600–$1,400	$500
Dryer	10–13 yr	$500–$1,200	$425
Dishwasher	9–12 yr	$500–$1,300	$450
Oven / range	13–15 yr	$700–$2,200	$725
Microwave (over-the-range / built-in)	7–10 yr	$250–$600	$213

The age × cost decision matrix

Age vs lifespan	Repair < 25% of new	25–50%	> 50%
< 50% of lifespan	Repair	Repair	Evaluate
50–80% of lifespan	Repair	Evaluate	Lean replace
> 80% of lifespan	Evaluate	Lean replace	Replace

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the repair-or-replace calculator decide?

What is the 50% rule?

What is the average lifespan of a home appliance?

Are these real repair prices?

When should I replace instead of fixing?