How long do appliances last? Average lifespan by appliance

Average lifespans of refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, ranges, and more from the NAHB study, plus signs it is time to replace an appliance.

By Appliance Insider Editorial Team · Updated October 3, 2026

A new stainless steel dishwasher being installed under a quartz counter, with the old unit pulled out beside it and a toolbox on the floor.

Short answer: most major home appliances last about 9 to 15 years. The most widely cited estimates come from a 2007 National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Bank of America Home Equity study, which put average first-owner life at about 15 years for gas ranges, 13 years for refrigerators, dryers, and electric ranges, 10 years for washers, and 9 years for dishwashers and microwaves.

Appliance lifespan chart

Average life in years, first-owner use. Source: NAHB / Bank of America Home Equity, Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components (2007), based on Appliance Magazine (September 2005) and Grainger data.
Appliance	Average lifespan	Related guide
Gas range	15 years	Read guide
Range/oven hood	14 years	—
Electric range	13 years	Read guide
Refrigerator (standard)	13 years	Read guide
Dryer (electric)	13 years	Read guide
Dryer (gas)	13 years	Read guide
Food waste disposer	12 years	—
Freezer	11 years	—
Washer	10 years	Read guide
Exhaust fan	10 years	—
Dishwasher	9 years	Read guide
Microwave oven	9 years	—
Refrigerator (compact)	9 years	—
Trash compactor	6 years	—

How to read these numbers

They are averages, not warranties. The NAHB notes that appliance life depends a great deal on how much the appliance is used, and that appliances are often replaced before they wear out because styles, technology, and preferences change.
The underlying data is from the mid-2000s. Newer data points the same way or slightly shorter: Wirecutter, citing Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers research, reported that most appliances lasted 11 to 16 years in 2010 and 9 to 14 years by 2019.
ENERGY STAR uses a 12-year lifetime for refrigerators when it estimates savings, and says refrigerators over 15 years old could be costing about $95 a year to run.

Signs an appliance is near the end of its life

It is at or past the average age in the chart and needs a major repair (compressor, sealed system, motor, control board, or a cracked tub).
It needs repairs repeatedly, or the repair estimate is about half the price of a comparable new model or more.
Replacement parts are discontinued or on long back-order for your model.
There is rust through the cabinet or tub, or a refrigerator can no longer hold safe temperatures (40°F or below in the fresh-food section, 0°F in the freezer, per the FDA) even after cleaning coils and checking door seals.
Running costs are high: an old refrigerator uses about 20% more energy on average than a new ENERGY STAR certified model, per ENERGY STAR.

For a step-by-step decision framework, read Repair or replace? How to decide when a major appliance breaks, and see typical prices in our appliance repair cost guide.

How to make appliances last longer

Refrigerators: keep condenser coils clean, leave a few inches of space behind the unit, and check door seals (refrigerator maintenance checklist).
Dryers: clean the lint screen every load and the vent at least once a year, as NFPA advises (dryer vent cleaning guide).
Washers: use only the recommended amount of HE detergent, run the cleaning cycle monthly, and leave the door open to dry (washer odor and cleaning guide).
Dishwashers: clean the filter regularly and scrape, rather than rinse, dishes (dishwasher drain guide).
Everything: follow a schedule. Our maintenance calendar lists monthly, quarterly, and annual tasks.

Appliance lifespan FAQ

What is the longest-lasting major appliance?

In the NAHB/Bank of America Home Equity study, gas ranges had the longest average life of the major kitchen and laundry appliances at about 15 years, followed by range hoods at 14 and electric ranges, refrigerators, and dryers at about 13. Trash compactors (6 years), dishwashers, and microwaves (9 years each) had the shortest.

Do appliances last as long as they used to?

Somewhat less, according to available data. Wirecutter, citing research from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, reported that most appliances lasted 11 to 16 years in 2010 and 9 to 14 years by 2019. Lifespan has always varied widely with use and maintenance.

Is it worth repairing a 10-year-old appliance?

It depends on the appliance and the repair. A 10-year-old range with a failed igniter is usually worth fixing because ranges often last 13 to 15 years, while a 10-year-old dishwasher with a failed motor is near the end of its typical 9-year average life. A common rule is to replace when a repair costs about half the price of a comparable new model.

Does maintenance really make appliances last longer?

Maintenance prevents many of the failures that end an appliance early. Clean refrigerator condenser coils, an annually cleaned dryer vent, a clean dishwasher filter, and the correct amount of HE detergent all reduce strain on motors, heaters, and pumps. Follow the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual.