Repair vs Replace Your Dishwasher: When the Math Says It's Time

Your dishwasher stops draining. Or it's leaving dishes spotted. Or it's making a grinding noise that wasn't there last month. The repair tech quotes you $280–$450. A new mid-range dishwasher costs $650–$1,100 installed. What's the right call?

Dishwashers are among the most frequently replaced appliances in the home — and one of the most frequently over-repaired . Unlike a furnace or roof, the economics of dishwasher repair tilt toward replacement much earlier in the lifecycle because the gap between repair cost and replacement cost is relatively small. Here's how to make the right decision with data, not guesswork.

The average dishwasher lasts 9–13 years . If yours is in the 7–10 year range and experiencing its first major failure, you're in the decision zone. For a broader view of appliance lifespans, see our appliance lifespan guide .