Appliance Repair Cost Calculator
How much does appliance repair cost? Pick your appliance and the broken part to get a parts-plus-labor planning range, check the 50% repair-vs-replace rule, and test any quote you receive — all from 2026 cost data, 100% free and private.
Estimate a repair
Repair or replace? The 50% rule
If a repair costs more than 50% of a new appliance and the unit is past half its expected lifespan, replacement usually wins. Fill in your numbers:
Is this quote fair?
Enter a written quote and compare it to the planning band for the same appliance and fault.
How appliance repair pricing works
Every appliance repair bill has three ingredients: a diagnostic / service-call fee ($50–$100, often waived if you proceed), parts, and labor (typically $80–$110/hr from independent techs, $100–$200/hr in expensive metros). The national average repair costs about $171, and most completed jobs land between $100 and $400. What moves you up or down the range is the fault: a $20 thermal fuse is a different universe from a $500 compressor.
Average repair cost by appliance (2026 sources)
| Appliance | Source range | This calculator’s engine band | Typical new price | Expected life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | $150–$600 | $105–$940* | $1,200 | 13 yrs |
| Washing machine | $100–$400 | $85–$735* | $900 | 12 yrs |
| Clothes dryer | $80–$300 | $93–$525* | $900 | 12 yrs |
| Dishwasher | $100–$350 | $75–$388* | $700 | 10 yrs |
| Oven / range | $100–$400 | $103–$543* | $1,000 | 14 yrs |
| Microwave | $75–$250 | $75–$258* | $250 | 8 yrs |
| Garbage disposal | $100–$250 | $55–$260* | $200 | 10 yrs |
*Engine band = cheapest fault low to most expensive fault high at default settings. Source ranges: InvoiceFly, Puls, Nashville Appliance Co, Max Appliance Repair Hamilton (2026), Appliance Care of Atlanta, Liberty Home Guard — see Sources below.
Service-call and diagnostic fees
| Source | Diagnostic / trip fee | Waived if you proceed? |
|---|---|---|
| Puls (national) | $79–$89 | Yes — $0 with repair |
| InvoiceFly (national) | $75–$125 | Varies by shop |
| Nashville Appliance Co | $40–$80 trip fee | Sometimes |
| California market data (2025–26) | $65–$170 | Varies by shop |
Worked examples (from the engine)
Example 1 — 11-year-old refrigerator, dead compressor (West region)
A standard-brand fridge, 11 years old, in a West-coast metro. Compressor fault at $110/hr: parts $250–$500, labor $316–$506 → $566–$1,006, midpoint $786 (diagnostic waived). The 50% gate: $786 is 65.5% of a $1,200 replacement and the unit is at 85% of its 13-year lifespan → replace. Cost per remaining year of the repair: $393/year vs roughly $92/year for a new fridge over 13 years.
Example 2 — 3-year-old washer, dead drain pump
Standard washer, 3 years old, national rates: parts $40–$120, labor $110–$193 → $150–$313, midpoint $231. The 50% gate: $231 is 25.7% of a $900 replacement at 25% of lifespan → repair. Cost per remaining year: $25.67 — an easy call.
Example 3 — checking a $600 compressor quote
The planning band for a fridge compressor is $525–$940. A $600 quote → fair (inside the band). A $1,050 quote → high (above the band plus margin — get a second quote). A $1,500 quote → extreme (walk away or replace the fridge). A $350 quote → suspiciously cheap (unlicensed tech, used parts, or a bait price that grows on-site).
The 50% repair-vs-replace rule, precisely
| Repair cost vs new price | Appliance age vs lifespan | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Over 50% | Past half of expected life | Replace |
| Over 50% | Under half of expected life | Borderline — second quote, check warranty |
| 35–50% | Past half of expected life | Borderline — weigh remaining years |
| Under 35% | Any | Repair |
Technicians cite this rule because it encodes the real economics: an old appliance repaired expensively buys few remaining years at a high cost per year. For HVAC systems (furnace, AC, heat pump) the math is different — see our HVAC repair vs replace calculator. To estimate what your aging appliance is worth today for the 50% math, see our appliance depreciation calculator; if an insurance claim is involved, value works differently — see the actual cash value calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much does appliance repair cost on average?
How much is an appliance repair service call or diagnostic fee?
How much does refrigerator repair cost?
How much does washing machine repair cost?
How much does dryer repair cost?
How much does dishwasher repair cost?
How much does oven or range repair cost?
Should I repair or replace my appliance? What is the 50% rule?
Why does the brand change my appliance repair estimate?
Does the age of my appliance change the repair cost?
How can I tell if an appliance repair quote is fair?
Can I save money by repairing an appliance myself?
Sources
- InvoiceFly — How Much Does Appliance Repair Cost? (+ Free Calculator 2026): national average $171; range $100–$400; service call $75–$125.
- Puls blog — How Much Does Appliance Repair Cost?: diagnostic $79–$89, waived with repair; repairs from $139.
- Nashville Appliance Co — Appliance repair cost guide: $50–$60/hr certified, $80–$110/hr independent, $40–$80 trip fee; and repair or replace guide: lifespans and the 50% rule.
- Max Appliance Repair Hamilton — 2026 cost guide (PDF): per-appliance ranges and replace thresholds.
- Appliance Care of Atlanta — 2026 breakdown by device type: compressor $500–$1,000; gas ovens +15–25%.
- Liberty Home Guard — Should You Repair or Replace Your Appliance?: new-unit prices, lifespans, per-appliance 50% thresholds.
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