Repair a dishwasher under about 6 years old for a drain pump, heating element, or door latch — those run $75–$250. The repair that tips toward replacing is a control-board failure ($200–$600) on a dishwasher near its ~9-year average life, where the fix can approach a large share of a new one.
Typical, national repair costs (parts and labor), compiled from published appliance repair pricing guides. "Worth it" assumes an average-age unit — a newer dishwasher tips toward repair, an older one toward replace. Researched estimates, not a quote — parts availability and your local labor rate move the real number.
| Failure | Typical repair | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Drain pump | $150–$250 | usually repair |
| Heating element | $150–$250 | usually repair |
| Control board | $200–$600 | depends on age |
| Door latch | $75–$150 | usually repair |
The 50% rule: replace when the repair is over half the price of a new one AND the dishwasher is past half its ~9-year life. Run the numbers for yours →
Under about 6 years old, yes for a drain pump, heating element, or door latch ($75–$250). A control-board failure ($200–$600) on a dishwasher near its ~9-year life often tips toward replacing.
Most dishwasher repairs run $75–$600. Pumps, elements, and latches are inexpensive; the control board is the costly repair.
A dishwasher lasts about 9 years on average, per the National Association of Home Builders — the shortest of the major kitchen appliances.
Repair it. A dishwasher that will not drain is usually a drain pump or a clog — a $150–$250 fix — which is well worth it on nearly any dishwasher under 6 or 7 years old.
The free calculator takes the failure, your quote, and the age and gives a repair-or-replace verdict with the math shown. See the full repair-or-replace guide for every appliance, or — if you fix appliances for a living — how SideWRK works for appliance repair, or open the live demo with no signup.
Run the calculator →SideWRK runs an appliance repair business from your phone — flat-rate invoices with the service-call fee credited, billable mileage, truck stock that warns before you run out, and the honest warranty check that earns the next call.
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