Enter your repair quote (or let us estimate one), your appliance's age, and get a clear verdict — with the reasoning behind it.
This calculator applies the “50% rule” technicians use every day: if a repair costs more than half of what a new appliance would cost, replacing is usually the better value. It weighs that against your appliance's age relative to its typical lifespan, then gives you a straight answer — repair, replace, or a close call — along with the numbers behind it.
Repair cost is well under the replacement threshold.
See refrigerator guides →Two rules are checked together. First, the 50% rule: if the repair cost is at least half of the replacement cost (your purchase price if you gave one, otherwise a typical price for that appliance and brand tier), replacement wins on cost alone. Second, the lifespan rule: if the appliance has already passed roughly half its typical lifespan, the risk of another expensive failure soon counts against repairing, even for a cheap fix.
When neither rule is close to triggering, repair wins. When one rule triggers clearly, that's a straightforward verdict. When the numbers sit near the edges of both rules, it's called a close call and you'll see both sides of the reasoning.
If a repair costs more than 50% of the price of a new equivalent unit, most technicians and consumer groups recommend replacing rather than repairing. This calculator checks your numbers against that threshold.
Yes. An appliance already past half its typical lifespan is more likely to have another costly failure soon, even if this particular repair is affordable. That risk is weighed alongside the 50% cost rule.
Use your own quote whenever you have one — it's always more accurate than a general estimate. The built-in estimate is a fallback for when you're deciding whether it's even worth calling a technician.
A close call means the repair cost and appliance age are both near the replacement threshold — it could reasonably go either way. In that case, factor in your budget, how much the appliance bothers you when it fails, and how long you plan to stay in the home.
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This calculator gives a general recommendation based on typical costs and lifespans — it is not a professional inspection. Always get a written estimate from a licensed technician, and check whether your appliance is still under warranty before paying for any repair.