The short version
New price, age and condition give a starting estimate. Published guides, dealer asking prices and dealer buy offers provide different reference points; none guarantees what your appliance will sell for.
| Evidence | What it says | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Reports (updated Apr 2025) | Used appliances can be up to 75% off retail; the average is about 50% off, even for unused items | industry guide (Consumer Reports) |
| Commonplace resale marketplace (Jun 2026) | Most used goods sell for 20–40% of retail; like-new 50–70%, good 30–50%, fair 15–30%, for parts 10% or less | trade estimate (Commonplace) |
| The Appliance Advisor directory | Private sales roughly 20–40% of new; dealer prices 40–70% below new | trade estimate (The Appliance Advisor) |
| Used-appliance dealers | Retail price bands and starting prices, with different services and warranty terms; selected examples are linked below | dealer published prices; historical evidence Sep 2026, selected rows rechecked 10 Oct |
| Dealer buying from the public (NV) | Conditional offers for selected brands and appliance types; the dryer example below shows money offered to the seller | dealer published buy offers, rechecked 10 Oct 2026 |
Our evidence table below links selected dealer examples and explains the limits of the saved September evidence.
How the calculator estimates value
The calculator above uses a simple, transparent formula. It’s our estimate, built from the sources on this page.
Estimate = new price band × age factor × condition factor
1. New price band. Pick the tier that matches the appliance, based on typical new prices in September 2026:
| Appliance | Basic | Mid | Premium | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | $500–$1,000 (top-freezer) | $1,000–$2,300 (side-by-side, bottom-freezer, entry French door) | $2,300–$5,000 (large or counter-depth French door) | industry guides (CR, HomeGuide) + Best Buy listings, Sep 2026 |
| Washer | $450–$700 (top-load agitator) | $700–$1,300 (HE top-load, standard front-load) | $1,300–$2,200 (large smart front-load) | industry guides (CR, HomeGuide) |
| Dryer | $450–$800 | $800–$1,200 | $1,200–$2,300 | industry guides (CR, HomeGuide) |
| Dishwasher | $300–$500 | $500–$1,000 | $1,000–$3,000 | industry guides (CR, HomeGuide) + Best Buy listings, Sep 2026 |
| Range | $550–$900 (basic freestanding) | $900–$1,600 (convection, entry slide-in) | $1,600–$4,000 (induction, dual-fuel) | our estimate from HomeGuide’s stove and range prices |
If you know what the appliance actually cost new, use that instead.
2. Age factor. It starts at 60% of new for a brand-new unit and falls in a straight line to 10% at the end of the appliance’s typical life. After that it stays at 10%:
age factor = 0.10 + 0.50 × (1 − age ÷ typical life), with a minimum of 0.10.
We use the typical lives on our lifespan pages: refrigerator 12 years, washer 10, dryer 13, dishwasher 10, range 15. The 60% starting point reflects Consumer Reports’ finding that even unused appliances average about 50% off, and Commonplace’s 50–70% for like-new items. The 10% floor reflects the scrap and recycling values below.
3. Condition factor.
| Condition | Factor | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Like new | 1.00 | No visible wear, all parts and manuals |
| Good | 0.80 | Works fully, light cosmetic wear |
| Fair | 0.55 | Works, but dents, rust spots, missing trim or a known minor fault |
| Not working | 0.15 | Parts or repair value only |
These ratios follow the spacing of Commonplace’s condition bands (like-new 50–70%, good 30–50%, fair 15–30%, parts 10% or less), scaled so that “like new” is the reference.
Worked example
A 5-year-old mid-tier washer in good condition: new band $700–$1,300. Age factor = 0.10 + 0.50 × (1 − 5 ÷ 10) = 0.35. Condition factor = 0.80.
Estimate = $700–$1,300 × 0.35 × 0.80 = about $195–$365.
For comparison, one South Carolina dealer advertises “Deluxe” used washers at $225–$500+ and “Standard” ones at $200–$225, with a warranty. A private sale without a warranty should sit at or below dealer prices.
What used appliances fetch by age: the evidence
| Age | Typical share of new price | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 0–3 years, like new | About 40–60% | Consumer Reports: average about 50% off even unused. Fridge.com: top-freezers 1–3 years old $300–$600, against $500–$1,000 new |
| 4–8 years, good | About 20–40% | Commonplace and The Appliance Advisor: 20–40% of retail in private sales. Dealer prices for used washers ($175–$500) work out to roughly 15–70% of mid-tier new prices |
| Past typical life, working | About 5–15%, often under $100 | AppliancePartsPros: fridge 10–15 years old $50–$200. Dealer buy prices $25–$100 |
| Not working | Scrap or parts | Commonplace: 10% or less for parts. Dealers may buy some brands “working or not” |
A different model from Reperch halves a refrigerator’s value in year one, then takes about 10% of the original price off each year. By year five that gives a lower figure than ours. We use the gentler curve because dealer and resale evidence for 3- to 8-year-old units sits higher than Reperch’s model implies.
Used refrigerator prices
Refrigerators get their own bands because the style changes the new price so much. The figures below are our estimate for a working fridge in good condition (light cosmetic wear, everything works), from the calculator formula on this page and rounded to $5. For a specific figure, choose Refrigerator in the calculator at the top of this page.
The three styles map to the refrigerator tiers in the new-price table. Consumer Reports lists top-freezers at $500–$1,700, side-by-sides at $1,100–$2,500 and French doors at $1,000–$5,000; HomeGuide’s 2026 tiers are basic $200–$600, average $600–$2,300 and high-end $2,300–$5,000; and Best Buy listed top-freezers from about $480 in September 2026.
Used fridge price by style and age (good condition)
| Age | Top-freezer ($500–$1,000 new) | Side-by-side / bottom-freezer / entry French door ($1,000–$2,300 new) | Large or counter-depth French door ($2,300–$5,000 new) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | $225–$445 | $445–$1,025 | $1,025–$2,235 |
| 3 years | $190–$380 | $380–$875 | $875–$1,900 |
| 5 years | $155–$315 | $315–$720 | $720–$1,565 |
| 8 years | $105–$215 | $215–$490 | $490–$1,065 |
| 10 years | $75–$145 | $145–$335 | $335–$735 |
| 12+ years | $40–$80 | $80–$185 | $185–$400 |
Basis: our estimate (new price × age factor × condition factor, as set out in the calculator method).
Condition changes the number a lot. For a mid-range fridge (the middle column):
| Age | Like new | Good | Fair | Not working |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | $475–$1,095 | $380–$875 | $260–$600 | $70–$165 |
| 5 years | $390–$900 | $315–$720 | $215–$495 | $60–$135 |
| 8 years | $265–$615 | $215–$490 | $145–$335 | $40–$90 |
Basis: our estimate (same method).
What fridge sellers and dealers publish
Published prices, viewed in September 2026. Dealer prices include testing, cleaning and a warranty.
| Source | What it covers | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| KWR Appliances, Greenville, SC | Basic / Standard / Deluxe used fridges | $175–$225 / $225–$350 / $300–$1,000 | dealer published prices |
| ABC Appliances & Service (Tampa Used Appliances), FL | Average used fridge | $275–$500; top/bottom freezer from $275, side-by-side from $498, French door from $650 | dealer published prices (30-day warranty) |
| St. Louis Appliance Outlet, MO | Used refrigerators | From $299 | dealer published starting price (90-day warranty) |
| Fridge.com guide | 1–3 years old: top-freezer / side-by-side / French door | $300–$600 / $600–$1,200 / $800–$1,500 | retailer guide |
| AppliancePartsPros guide (Mar 2025) | Working, under 10 years / 10–15 years old | $100–$500 / $50–$200 | parts retailer guide |
| We Buy Appliances, Reno, NV | What they pay you | $50–$100 (selected brands, working or not) | dealer published buy price |
| DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, National Grid (MA) | Utility recycling payment for a working fridge (10–30 cu ft) | $50–$75 plus free pickup (DTE $100 for pickups booked 19 Oct–20 Nov 2026) | official (utility programs) |
Our 1–3-year-old top-freezer bands ($190–$445) sit at or a little below Fridge.com’s range. Fridge.com doesn’t say whether its ranges are asking or sale prices, so this is a loose check. Its $800–$1,500 for 1–3-year-old French doors falls at the low end of our premium column, which is why the Limitations section treats the top of that column as optimistic.
What moves a used fridge’s price
- Style. French door is worth more than side-by-side, which is worth more than top-freezer, because that’s the order of new prices. Consumer Reports rates top-freezers as more reliable than other types, which makes them a lower-risk used buy even though they’re worth less.
- Ice maker and dispenser. They add value when they work. They are also, per Consumer Reports, the two most commonly reported refrigerator problem areas, so test them before paying extra.
- Size and fit. Consumer Reports lists widths from 22 inches for top-freezers to 37 inches for French doors. A buyer’s space limits which fridges they can use.
- Energy use. ENERGY STAR says an old refrigerator uses about 20% more energy than a new ENERGY STAR model, and estimates that a second fridge in a basement or garage could be wasting $90 a year. Buyers of older fridges should factor that in.
- Cooling performance. A fridge that can’t hold FDA’s 40°F (fridge) and 0°F (freezer) is a not-working fridge, whatever it looks like.
- Recall status. For example, Electrolux recalled about 383,240 Frigidaire side-by-side fridges with slim ice buckets in February 2024, with a repair remedy.
The floor for an old fridge that still cools: a utility recycling rebate. Programs are local. In Michigan, DTE Energy pays a $50 gift card, doubled to $100 for pickups booked 19 October–20 November 2026 (its funds are limited, first come, first served), and Consumers Energy $50; National Grid’s Massachusetts program pays $75 for pickups during 2026. All three pick up free, require a working, empty unit of 10–30 cu ft, and pay only customers in their areas. If private buyers offer less, the rebate is the better deal; more options are in where to sell used appliances.
Built-in refrigerators (Consumer Reports: $6,000–$20,000 new), mini fridges and commercial units are outside these bands. For a Sub-Zero, start with the build date in the Date Code field of its rating plate: see Sub-Zero refrigerators. To find any other fridge’s age, use how old is my refrigerator; for the life left, how long refrigerators last. Hauling one home yourself? Read what to do before you plug a refrigerator in after a move. Putting it in a garage? Match the model’s rated temperature range first.
What moves the price up or down
- Style and features. Angi notes stainless steel, energy-efficient appliances and matching washer–dryer pairs have the best resale value.
- Recall status. A recalled appliance can’t legally be sold unless it has been repaired under the recall. See the appliance recall check.
- Brand and parts availability. Some dealers buy only certain brands. The Nevada dealer above takes only Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, KitchenAid and some Kenmore.
- Local demand and logistics. A buyer who has to rent a truck will pay less. Delivery alone costs $25–$200, according to Consumer Reports.
- Utility rebates can set a floor for old fridges, in some areas. National Grid’s Massachusetts program pays $75, and DTE and Consumers Energy in Michigan pay $50 (DTE pays $100 for pickups booked by 20 November 2026), for a working fridge of 10–30 cu ft, with free pickup, to customers in their areas.
Where the numbers come from
Our saved September 2026 evidence contains 24 published price observations from 12 pages by 8 businesses, plus 7 rules of thumb. Those are source entries, not 24 confirmed sales. They cover 11 refrigerator, 6 washer, 3 dryer, 1 dishwasher and 3 range observations.
Selected dealer evidence, checked 10 October 2026
These examples make the dryer, dishwasher and range evidence easier to inspect. Each amount is per appliance. A starting price has no stated upper limit; none of these rows is a national average or a verified completed sale.
| Appliance and type | Published amount | Basis and limits | Source and location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Used dryers | Basic $175–$200; Standard $200–$225; Deluxe $225–$350 | Dealer retail bands; 30-day dryer warranty | KWR Appliances, Greenville, SC |
| Selected used dryer types | Basic electric from $175; front-load digital from $298; with pedestal from $325 | Dealer starting prices for different types, not one price range | ABC Appliances & Service, Tampa, FL |
| Used dishwashers | From $125 | Dealer starting price; 30-day parts/labor warranty; installation costs extra | ABC Appliances & Service, Tampa, FL |
| Used electric stoves | Basic $100–$125; Standard $125–$200; Deluxe $200–$450 | Dealer retail bands for electric stoves | KWR Appliances, Greenville, SC |
| Selected stove/range types | Coil-top or gas from $225; glass-top from $265; slide-in from $550 | Dealer starting prices; $550 is not a ceiling | ABC Appliances & Service, Tampa, FL |
| Eligible dryers with a top-mounted lint filter | $25–$50 offered to the seller | Dealer buy offer, not retail. Selected brands only; purchase depends on acceptance and need | We Buy Appliances, Reno/Sparks, NV |
The Reno buyer lists Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, KitchenAid and some Kenmore appliances. Its offer is not available for every dryer. Check the seller’s current inventory, terms and any delivery or installation charge before comparing a dealer price with a private listing.
Read each basis separately. Dealer retail is an asking price; a dealer buy offer is money it may pay you. The guide percentages near the top of this page are the named publishers’ estimates, and the calculator uses our own age-and-condition model. These examples do not establish a dealer’s profit or validate an exact private-sale value.
For the refrigerator evidence and estimate bands, see what fridge sellers and dealers publish on this page; for washers, used washer prices.
Limitations
- Dishwasher and dryer evidence is thin. We found one dealer’s dishwasher prices and three dryer sources. Treat those estimates as rougher.
- Premium fridges may be overestimated. The published evidence for 1–3-year-old French-door fridges is $800–$1,500, at or below the low end of our premium band. The resale market doesn’t reward high original prices as much.
- Dealer prices aren’t private-sale prices. Testing, cleaning and warranty coverage can affect the price. Check what is included; delivery or installation may cost extra.
- Local markets differ. Prices in big metros and rural areas can differ widely. Compare three or four local listings for the same style.
- A short test can’t reveal a failing compressor. Running a fridge for a few minutes at a seller’s home won’t show a compressor that is about to fail.
- Age matters most at the ends. The straight-line model can’t know if a 3-year-old unit has a failing part, or if a 14-year-old one was barely used.
What to do next
- Get appliance-specific bands: used refrigerator prices on this page and used washer price.
- Decide where to sell: where to sell used appliances.
- Buying? Run the used appliance buying checklist and find the age with how old is my refrigerator.
Whole-page source review: 6 October 2026. The selected dealer table and dryer FAQ were rechecked on 10 October 2026. The used refrigerator price guide (source review 6 October 2026) merged in as a section on 2 November 2026. The utility recycling programs were re-checked on 9 November 2026.
