Quick answer
What is the 50% rule?
The 50% rule says not to spend more than half the price of a new appliance repairing an old one. Consumer Reports gives it as a rule of thumb. Add one more check: if the appliance is also past the middle of its typical life, replacing it usually makes more sense.
The rule is a starting point, not a verdict. Safety problems, energy costs, parts that are no longer made, and how often the appliance has already failed can all move the answer, and they're covered below.
Two checks
How the 50% rule works
Compare the repair with the price of new
Use the full repair bill, including the service call, parts, and labor. Compare it with what a comparable new model costs installed today, not what you paid years ago.
Compare the age with a typical life
Divide the appliance's age by its typical lifespan from the table below. Past 50%, a repaired appliance has less time left to pay back the repair.
Read the two checks together
Both under 50% is a repair. Both over is a replacement. When only one is over, that's where judgment, a second quote, and the exceptions below decide it.
Run your numbers
Repair or replace calculator
Enter the age, a typical lifespan from the table below, the repair quote, and the price of a comparable new model.
The calculator runs in your browser and doesn't save anything. If it doesn't load, the worked examples below follow the same arithmetic.
These are example numbers to show the arithmetic, not price estimates. Use your own quotes.
Typical lifespans
How long do appliances and home systems last?
Use these ranges for the age check. They come from InterNACHI's Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for Homes, which assumes regular maintenance and says the figures are guidelines, not guarantees. Where a range is given, use the low end for a hard-working or poorly maintained unit.
For a roof, the 50% rule works differently: a repair is usually a small share of a full replacement, so condition and leak history decide more than cost does. The roof guide walks through that decision.
When the math isn't enough
When to break the 50% rule
- Safety comes first. A gas leak, a carbon monoxide concern, scorched wiring, or a water heater leaking from the tank itself isn't a cost question. Stop using it and follow the technician's advice.
- Efficiency can tip an old system toward replacing. ENERGY STAR says a certified furnace is 15% more efficient than a conventional one, and it lists frequent repairs alongside rising energy bills as a sign to replace.
- Parts may not exist. If the part is discontinued or weeks away, the cheapest repair on paper can mean a month without the appliance.
- A better appliance can be worth fixing past midlife. Consumer Reports says repairing a refrigerator often makes sense up to about 10 years, except for budget top-freezer and side-by-side models, which are cheaper to replace.
- A repeat failure counts double. If this is the second or third repair in a short time, add the earlier bills to the comparison.
- Check the warranty before you compare anything. A covered part changes the math entirely, and some warranties require a registered product or an authorized technician.
Have the numbers before the technician arrives
Know the age, model, and warranty of everything in your home.
Homekeepr builds a living record of your home from an address and a few photos. It keeps model numbers, manuals, and warranties on hand, tracks the age of your appliances and systems, and plans replacements before they become emergencies.
Track my appliances in Homekeepr
Repair or replace FAQ
Questions homeowners ask about repairing or replacing
What is the 50% rule for appliances?
Don't spend more than half the price of a comparable new appliance on repairing an old one. Consumer Reports gives this as a rule of thumb. If the appliance is also past the middle of its typical life, replacement usually wins.
Is it worth repairing a 10-year-old refrigerator?
Often, yes. Consumer Reports says repairing a refrigerator often makes economic sense up to about 10 years, except for budget top-freezer and side-by-side models. Run the 50% rule with your quote.
Should I use the original price or today's price?
Today's price for a comparable new model, installed. That's what you would actually pay to replace it.
Does the 50% rule work for a furnace or water heater?
Yes, with the full installed price as the price of new. Safety findings, such as a cracked heat exchanger or a leaking tank, override the rule.
When should I ignore the 50% rule?
When there's a safety problem, when parts are no longer available, when a covered warranty changes the cost, or when a much more efficient replacement would pay for itself.
Sources
Reviewed October 29, 2026. Your technician's diagnosis and written quotes have the final word.
Consumer Reports: Insights on when to repair and when to replace (January 9, 2014)Consumer Reports: Should you repair or replace your broken refrigerator? (updated January 29, 2024)InterNACHI: Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for HomesENERGY STAR: When is it time to replace?
