Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Better financial move
Repair
Repair cost as % of new price
32%
Net repair path cost
$278
Net replace path cost
$860
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How to use this
- 1Enter repair cost quote ($).
- 2Enter new replacement price ($).
- 3Enter current appliance age (yrs).
- 4Enter typical lifespan (yrs).
- 5Enter annual energy savings if replaced ($).
- 6Read your better financial move on the right — it updates as you type.
- 7Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
The common rule of thumb is to replace an appliance if repair costs exceed 50% of a new one's price, but that ignores how old the appliance already is and how much a new, more efficient model would save on utility bills. This calculator weighs repair cost against remaining expected life, and factors in annual energy savings from a new efficient model to give a more complete answer than the 50% rule alone.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Repair cost quote: 350 $
- New replacement price: 1100 $
- Current appliance age: 9 yrs
- Typical lifespan: 13 yrs
- Annual energy savings if replaced: 60 $
Results
- Better financial move: Repair
- Repair cost as % of new price: 32%
- Net repair path cost: $278
- Net replace path cost: $860
What each field means
Inputs
- Repair cost quote ($)
- The repair cost quote used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 350 $ so you have a working example on load.
- New replacement price ($)
- The new replacement price used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 1100 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Current appliance age (yrs)
- The current appliance age used in the calculation, measured in yrs. Starts at 9 yrs so you have a working example on load.
- Typical lifespan (yrs)
- The typical lifespan used in the calculation, measured in yrs. Starts at 13 yrs so you have a working example on load.
- Annual energy savings if replaced ($)
- The annual energy savings if replaced used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 60 $ so you have a working example on load.
Results
- Better financial move
- Returned as a plain value and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Repair cost as % of new price
- Returned as a percentage. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Net repair path cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Net replace path cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Is the 50% rule still useful?
Yes as a fast gut-check — if repair cost is under 50% of replacement price and the unit is under half its typical lifespan, repairing is almost always right. This tool adds nuance for appliances near end of life.
How much do energy-efficient models actually save?
Refrigerators and washers from 10+ years ago can use 30-50% more energy than current Energy Star models — $40-90/year in savings is common depending on your utility rates and usage.
What if the appliance is under warranty?
Repair almost always wins if warranty covers most of the cost — plug in the out-of-pocket repair amount, not the full repair value, to get an accurate comparison.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Repair vs Replace Appliance Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/repair-vs-replace-appliance
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/repair-vs-replace-appliance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Repair vs Replace Appliance Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Repair vs Replace Appliance Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/repair-vs-replace-appliance) (2026).