Finance
"Repair or Replace?" Appliance Decision Calculator
The financial answer to whether to fix or buy new — for any appliance.
In this article
The 50% repair rule
Consumer Reports' guideline: if the repair cost exceeds 50% of the current value of the appliance, replace it. This calculator uses remaining lifespan to estimate current value more accurately than age alone.
When to always replace regardless
- Energy efficiency: a 15-year-old refrigerator uses 2–3× the electricity of a new one, costing $150–300/year extra
- If this is the second major repair in 2 years
- If parts are discontinued or hard to find
⚡ CalcWolf Insight
The 50 percent rule: if a repair costs more than 50% of the replacement cost, and the item has passed 75% of its expected lifespan, replace it.
Frequently asked questions
Should I repair or replace my appliance?▾
If repair cost is under 50% of current value AND the appliance is under 2/3 of its expected lifespan, repair wins. Over those thresholds, replacement is usually smarter.
How do I decide when to replace an appliance?▾
Consider three factors: repair cost vs replacement cost (replace if repair exceeds 50%), age vs expected lifespan (replace if past 75% of lifespan), and energy efficiency (new appliances may save enough in energy costs to justify replacement even if the old one still works).
✓ Math logic verified against primary sources
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