Appliance Life Expectancy Calculator
Find out how many years your appliance has left.
Enter the appliance type and age to see remaining life and replacement planning.
This calculator estimates the remaining useful life of a household appliance and compares ongoing repair cost to replacement cost — helping you decide whether to fix or replace.
The primary formula is the 50% Rule:
Replace if: Repair Cost ≥ 0.50 × Appliance Age Factor × Replacement Cost
Where the Appliance Age Factor scales from 0 (brand new) to 1.0 (at end of expected life). It is calculated as:
Age Factor = Current Age / Expected Lifespan
A secondary metric is Cost Per Year of Remaining Life:
CPY = Repair Cost / (Expected Lifespan − Current Age)
If CPY > Annual Depreciation of a new appliance, replacement is usually the smarter choice.
Worked Example: Your washing machine is 9 years old. Expected lifespan is 12 years. Replacement cost is $700. A repair quote is $280.
- Age Factor = 9 / 12 = 0.75
- 50% Rule threshold = 0.50 × 0.75 × $700 = $262.50
- Since $280 > $262.50, replacement is recommended.
- CPY = $280 / (12 − 9) = $93/year — high for only 3 remaining years.
Average Appliance Lifespans: Refrigerator 13–17 yr; Washing machine 10–14 yr; Dryer 10–13 yr; Dishwasher 9–12 yr; HVAC 15–25 yr; Water heater 8–12 yr. Always factor in energy efficiency gains — a new Energy Star appliance can save $50–$150/year in utilities, which further tips the math toward replacement.