How long does a refrigerator last?
A refrigerator typically lasts 12 to 14 years. The home builders’ survey gives 13 years, ENERGY STAR bases its savings figures on 12, and the US Department of Energy’s analysis uses an average of 14.3.
What the published figures say
| Years | Source | What the figure is |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | NAHB and Bank of America Home Equity, Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components (2007) | Standard-size refrigerators. Compact models: 9 years. Figures describe use by the first owner. |
| 12 | ENERGY STAR, refrigerators | The lifetime ENERGY STAR uses to state savings. |
| 14.3 | US Department of Energy, energy conservation standards for refrigerators and freezers, final rule (2024) | Average lifetime of standard-size refrigerators in the Department’s cost analysis. Compact models: 8.8 years. |
The sources measure different things, which is why they differ. A survey of first owners gives a shorter figure than an analysis that follows units until they are scrapped. All of them describe typical equipment. A given unit can fail sooner or run far longer, and age alone is not a reason to replace anything that works safely.
How old is yours?
The build date is coded into the serial number. Where to find it: How old is my refrigerator?
Find the age from the serial number
What the build year tells you
- Built before July 1, 2001, when a stricter federal efficiency standard for refrigerators took effect. Another followed on September 15, 2014.
- Built between the federal efficiency standards of July 2001 and September 2014.
What shortens or extends its life
- Condenser coils coated in dust, which make the compressor run longer and hotter.
- Worn door gaskets that let warm air in.
- A hot location such as a garage in summer.
- No clearance around the cabinet for air to carry the heat away.
Signs that replacement is near
- A compressor that runs almost without stopping, or is hot and loud.
- Food that spoils early, or a fresh-food section that will not hold its temperature.
- Heavy frost in a frost-free freezer.
- Moisture on the outside of the cabinet.
- A repair to the sealed refrigerant system on an old unit. It often costs a large share of a new refrigerator.
Sources
- NAHB and Bank of America Home Equity, Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components (2007): https://teamcomplete.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/07-NAHB-Life-Expectancy-Depreciation-Feb-2007.pdf
- ENERGY STAR, refrigerators: https://www.energystar.gov/products/refrigerators
- US Department of Energy, energy conservation standards for refrigerators and freezers, final rule (2024): https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-01-17/html/2023-28978.htm
- Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 430.32, energy and water conservation standards: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-10/section-430.32
Other equipment
- How long does a water heater last?
- How long does a tankless water heater last?
- How long does a furnace last?
- How long does a central air conditioner last?
- How long does a heat pump last?
- How long does a washing machine last?
- How long does a clothes dryer last?
- How long does a dishwasher last?
- How long does a range or oven last?
Figures last checked against their sources on October 5, 2026. Method and sources.