How to Use the Appliance Repair vs Replace Calculator
When an appliance breaks, deciding whether to repair it or buy new is easy to get wrong if you only look at the repair bill. A fair comparison spreads the repair cost over the remaining years you expect to use it, and spreads the new unit's price over a typical 10-year lifespan. Enter the estimated repair cost, new unit price, and expected remaining life after repair, and this calculator compares the annualized cost of each option.
It also applies the common 50% rule used in the appliance repair industry: if the repair cost exceeds 50% of a new unit's price, replacing is usually recommended even with some life left, since older appliances tend to have other parts nearing failure too.
If the annualized costs are close, it's worth weighing harder-to-quantify factors like energy efficiency, warranty support, and how satisfied you are with the current unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is the common '50% rule' — if repair cost tops 50% of a new unit's price on an older appliance, replacing is usually recommended. Use this calculator's result alongside that rule of thumb.
Ask your repair technician or check the manufacturer's typical lifespan. If unsure, a conservative estimate of 1-2 years is a reasonable starting point.