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Repair vs replace appliance calculator
Put your repair quote, extra life and replacement price in: $600 for 3 years costs $380.00 a year, $1,200 for 10 years costs $240.00 a year.
★ COMPARISONS · HOME · APPLIANCE
Repair vs Replace Appliance: Annualized Cost Compared
On the defaults — a $600 repair that buys 3 more years against a $1,200 replacement lasting 10 years, with the old appliance costing $180.00 a year to run and a new one $120.00 — repairing costs $380.00 a year and replacing costs $240.00 a year, so replacing saves $140.00 a year. This is the GENERIC-APPLIANCE version — one annualized model for any appliance — the repair-vs-replace-refrigerator page is the FRIDGE version, the repair-vs-replace-washer page is the WASHER version, the repair-vs-replace-dishwasher page is the DISHWASHER version, and the diy-vs-hire-appliance-repair page is the WHO-DOES-IT version — doing the repair yourself against hiring it out, not repair against replacement.
What does replacing saving $140.00 a year mean?
It means the cheap option is not the cheap option: a $600 repair looks half the price of a $1,200 replacement, but spread over the years each option actually delivers, the repair costs $380.00 a year and the replacement costs $240.00 a year. Over a 30-year common horizon — 10 repairs against 3 replacements — that gap is $11,400.00 against $7,200.00, a $4,200.00 difference. The part people get wrong is comparing the two one-off bills: a repair that lasts 3 years has to be paid again and again, while the replacement keeps running.
Three things to check before you trust the number
Is 3 years of extra life honest? Everything turns on it. At 8 years the repair still loses by $15.00 a year, and only at 10 years does it break even — so a repair needs to nearly match a new appliance life to win here. If the technician will not stand behind more than a year or two, the repair case collapses.
Are the running costs real? The old appliance costs $60.00 a year more to run than a new one on the defaults, and that gap alone is $600.00 over 10 years. Check the energy label and your actual bills rather than guessing, because an old appliance that costs $300.00 a year to run pushes the repair cost to $500.00 a year.
What is left out? The original purchase price is sunk and excluded on purpose — it is spent either way. Also excluded: disposal fees, installation, downtime, and the value of a warranty on a new appliance, which all usually favor replacing a little more, not less.
Worked example
On the defaults: $600 repair, 3 more years, $180.00 a year to run; $1,200 replacement, 10 years, $120.00 a year to run.
- Repair annualized: ($600.00 + 3 × $180.00) ÷ 3 is $1,140.00 ÷ 3, which is $380.00 a year.
- Replacement annualized: ($1,200.00 + 10 × $120.00) ÷ 10 is $2,400.00 ÷ 10, which is $240.00 a year.
- The saving: $380.00 minus $240.00 is $140.00 a year in favor of replacing.
- The horizon check: 3 × 10 is a 30-year common horizon, so repair totals 10 × $1,140.00 = $11,400.00 and replacement totals 3 × $2,400.00 = $7,200.00.
And the other way: the break-even repair cost is $180.00, the break-even extra life after repair is 10 years, and the break-even replacement cost is $2,600.00 — a replacement dearer than that would make repairing the cheaper choice.
Every branch, checked
- $300 repair, 3 more years, $180.00 a year to run: $300 repair, 3 more years, $180.00 a year to run: Repair $280.00 a year; replacement $240.00 a year; replacement saves $40.00 a year. Over a 30-year common horizon: repair $8,400.00, replacement $7,200.00.
- $600 repair, 5 more years, $180.00 a year to run: $600 repair, 5 more years, $180.00 a year to run: Repair $300.00 a year; replacement $240.00 a year; replacement saves $60.00 a year. Over a 50-year common horizon: repair $15,000.00, replacement $12,000.00.
- $600 repair against a $900 replacement lasting 10 years: $600 repair against a $900 replacement lasting 10 years: Repair $380.00 a year; replacement $210.00 a year; replacement saves $170.00 a year. Over a 30-year common horizon: repair $11,400.00, replacement $6,300.00.
- $600 repair, 3 more years, $300.00 a year to run: $600 repair, 3 more years, $300.00 a year to run: Repair $500.00 a year; replacement $240.00 a year; replacement saves $260.00 a year. Over a 30-year common horizon: repair $15,000.00, replacement $7,200.00.
- $600 repair against a $1,200 replacement costing $60.00 a year to run: $600 repair against a $1,200 replacement costing $60.00 a year to run: Repair $380.00 a year; replacement $180.00 a year; replacement saves $200.00 a year. Over a 30-year common horizon: repair $11,400.00, replacement $5,400.00.
- $600 repair, 8 more years, $180.00 a year to run: $600 repair, 8 more years, $180.00 a year to run: Repair $255.00 a year; replacement $240.00 a year; replacement saves $15.00 a year. Over a 80-year common horizon: repair $20,400.00, replacement $19,200.00.
The reverses, worked backwards
- Break-even repair cost at the default lives and running costs: $180.00 — at $180.00 the figures are Repair $240.00 a year; replacement $240.00 a year; neither saves anything. Over a 30-year common horizon: repair $7,200.00, replacement $7,200.00.; at the lower neighbor the figures are Repair $206.67 a year; replacement $240.00 a year; repair saves $33.33 a year. Over a 30-year common horizon: repair $6,200.00, replacement $7,200.00.; at the upper neighbor the figures are Repair $273.33 a year; replacement $240.00 a year; replacement saves $33.33 a year. Over a 30-year common horizon: repair $8,200.00, replacement $7,200.00. — verdict: STEP.
- Break-even extra life after repair at the default costs: 10 years — at 10 years the figures are Repair $240.00 a year; replacement $240.00 a year; neither saves anything. Over a 100-year common horizon: repair $24,000.00, replacement $24,000.00.; at the lower neighbor the figures are Repair $246.67 a year; replacement $240.00 a year; replacement saves $6.67 a year. Over a 90-year common horizon: repair $22,200.00, replacement $21,600.00.; at the upper neighbor the figures are Repair $234.55 a year; replacement $240.00 a year; repair saves $5.45 a year. Over a 110-year common horizon: repair $25,800.00, replacement $26,400.00. — verdict: STEP.
- Break-even replacement cost at the default repair and running costs: $2,600.00 — at $2,600.00 the figures are Repair $380.00 a year; replacement $380.00 a year; neither saves anything. Over a 30-year common horizon: repair $11,400.00, replacement $11,400.00.; at the lower neighbor the figures are Repair $380.00 a year; replacement $370.00 a year; repair saves $10.00 a year. Over a 30-year common horizon: repair $11,400.00, replacement $11,100.00.; at the upper neighbor the figures are Repair $380.00 a year; replacement $390.00 a year; replacement saves $10.00 a year. Over a 30-year common horizon: repair $11,400.00, replacement $11,700.00. — verdict: STEP.
What the defaults assume
The defaults are a $600 repair buying 3 years at $180.00 a year to run, against a $1,200 replacement lasting 10 years at $120.00 a year to run. The model is annualized cost: one-off cost plus life times yearly running cost, divided by life, for each option, compared over the common horizon formed by multiplying the two lives. The break-even repair cost is checked at $100.00 either side, because $100.00 spread over 3 years is $33.33 a year; the break-even life is checked at 1 year either side. The model does not include disposal or installation fees, downtime, breakdown risk between repairs, or the resale value of a newer appliance — it is a cost comparison, not a full ownership appraisal, and it is not repair advice for a specific appliance.
Output · formula · meaning
| Output | Formula | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Repair annualized cost | (repair cost + extra life × yearly running cost, current) ÷ extra life | $380.00 a year — ($600.00 + 3 × $180.00) ÷ 3. |
| Replacement annualized cost | (replacement cost + new life × yearly running cost, new) ÷ new life | $240.00 a year — ($1,200.00 + 10 × $120.00) ÷ 10. |
| Yearly saving from replacing | repair annualized − replacement annualized | $140.00 a year — $380.00 − $240.00. |
| Common horizon | extra life × new life | 30 years — 3 × 10. |
| Repair total over the horizon | horizon ÷ extra life × (repair cost + extra life × yearly running cost, current) | $11,400.00 — 10 × $1,140.00. |
| Replacement total over the horizon | horizon ÷ new life × (replacement cost + new life × yearly running cost, new) | $7,200.00 — 3 × $2,400.00. |
| $300 repair, 3 more years, $180.00 a year to run | same model | Repair $280.00 a year; replacement $240.00 a year; replacement saves $40.00 a year. Over a 30-year common horizon: repair $8,400.00, replacement $7,200.00. |
| $600 repair, 5 more years, $180.00 a year to run | same model | Repair $300.00 a year; replacement $240.00 a year; replacement saves $60.00 a year. Over a 50-year common horizon: repair $15,000.00, replacement $12,000.00. |
| $600 repair against a $900 replacement lasting 10 years | same model | Repair $380.00 a year; replacement $210.00 a year; replacement saves $170.00 a year. Over a 30-year common horizon: repair $11,400.00, replacement $6,300.00. |
| $600 repair, 3 more years, $300.00 a year to run | same model | Repair $500.00 a year; replacement $240.00 a year; replacement saves $260.00 a year. Over a 30-year common horizon: repair $15,000.00, replacement $7,200.00. |
| $600 repair against a $1,200 replacement costing $60.00 a year to run | same model | Repair $380.00 a year; replacement $180.00 a year; replacement saves $200.00 a year. Over a 30-year common horizon: repair $11,400.00, replacement $5,400.00. |
| $600 repair, 8 more years, $180.00 a year to run | same model | Repair $255.00 a year; replacement $240.00 a year; replacement saves $15.00 a year. Over a 80-year common horizon: repair $20,400.00, replacement $19,200.00. |
| Break-even repair cost at the default lives and running costs | reverse | $180.00: Repair $240.00 a year; replacement $240.00 a year; neither saves anything. Over a 30-year common horizon: repair $7,200.00, replacement $7,200.00. |
| Break-even extra life after repair at the default costs | reverse | 10 years: Repair $240.00 a year; replacement $240.00 a year; neither saves anything. Over a 100-year common horizon: repair $24,000.00, replacement $24,000.00. |
| Break-even replacement cost at the default repair and running costs | reverse | $2,600.00: Repair $380.00 a year; replacement $380.00 a year; neither saves anything. Over a 30-year common horizon: repair $11,400.00, replacement $11,400.00. |
| $0 repair | same model | Repair $180.00 a year; replacement $240.00 a year; repair saves $60.00 a year. Over a 30-year common horizon: repair $5,400.00, replacement $7,200.00. |
| 0 years of extra life after repair | same model | Extra life after repair — more than 0 years. |
| Negative replacement cost | same model | Replacement cost — $0 or more. |
| $0 replacement | same model | Repair $380.00 a year; replacement $120.00 a year; replacement saves $260.00 a year. Over a 30-year common horizon: repair $11,400.00, replacement $3,600.00. |
Who uses this
- A homeowner facing a $600 repair quote — the headline shows the repair is not half-price at all once the 3-year life is spread out, and the $180.00 break-even tells them the most the repair is worth.
- A landlord deciding across several units — the annualized figure scales: $140.00 a year saved per appliance is the number to multiply, not the one-off bills.
- A technician explaining a recommendation honestly — the 10-year break-even life gives a plain test: if the repair cannot credibly last that long, replacement wins on cost.
- A student learning annualized comparison — one worked example from one-off bills to yearly rates to a common horizon, and branches that show how each input moves the answer.
Accuracy & limitations
Figures are the model’s own arithmetic on the numbers you type, computed from unrounded values and displayed rounded HALF_UP to 2dp. The main limitation is the forecast, not the arithmetic: extra life and yearly running costs are estimates, and a repair that fails early or a new appliance that underperforms changes the answer. The model ignores breakdown risk, disposal and installation fees, downtime, and any warranty value, and it treats running costs as flat over each life rather than rising with age. This page is a calculation tool, not repair advice for a specific appliance.
Cite this calculator
A $600 repair lasting 3 years costs $380.00 a year, while a $1,200 replacement lasting 10 years costs $240.00 a year. Source: Bright Side Kit, https://brightoolbox.com/repair-vs-replace-appliance/, accessed 28 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Should I repair or replace my appliance?
Compare annualized cost, not the one-off bills. On the defaults, repairing costs $380.00 a year and replacing costs $240.00 a year, so replacing saves $140.00 a year.
What is the most a repair is worth here?
$180.00. At a $180.00 repair cost the two options tie at $240.00 a year; at $80.00 repairing saves $33.33 a year, and at $280.00 replacing saves $33.33 a year.
How long must a repair last to be worth it?
10 years at the default costs. At 9 years the repair costs $246.67 a year and still loses; at 11 years it costs $234.55 a year and wins.
How expensive a replacement still beats repairing?
Up to $2,600.00. At a $2,600.00 replacement the two options tie at $380.00 a year; at $2,500.00 repairing saves $10.00 a year.
Why is the original purchase price not in the calculation?
Because it is sunk: it is spent whether you repair or replace. Only future costs — the repair or replacement bill plus future running costs — should decide the choice.
What if the repair is free?
Repairing wins. A $0 repair costs $180.00 a year, against $240.00 a year for replacing, so repairing saves $60.00 a year.
What if the extra life is 0 years?
That is an error, not a cost figure. The calculator requires extra life of more than 0 years, because dividing by 0 years has no meaning.