Key points from the chart
- The chart gives typical lifespans for 27 parts of a home, from the roof and furnace to the toilet and the washing machine.
- Wood or stone flooring (100 years), the toilet (lifetime), the shower enclosure and kitchen cabinets (50 years each) last longest.
- Home security systems and smoke detectors (5 to 10 years) and enamel-coated steel kitchen sinks (5 to 10 years) have the shortest lives.
- Most major appliances fall between 9 and 15 years: dishwasher and microwave 9, washing machine 10, dryer and refrigerator 13, range 13 to 15.
All figures are from the graphic, which cites the National Association of Home Builders/Bank of America Home Equity Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components.
The appliance life expectancy chart in text
Title: How Long Will Your House Last? Subtitle: A part-by-part guide to the life expectancy of the pieces and systems in your home. The illustration is a cutaway two storey house with an office, a child’s bedroom, a bathroom, a bedroom, a living room and a kitchen, with labels joined to each part by dotted lines.
| Part of the home | Life expectancy |
|---|---|
| Furnace | 15-18 yrs |
| Air-Conditioning Unit | 10-15 yrs |
| Windows | 15-30 yrs |
| Heat Pump | 16 yrs |
| Roof (asphalt shingles) | 20 yrs |
| Exterior Paint | up to 15 yrs |
| Home Security System/Smoke Detector | 5-10 yrs |
| Electric Switches and Sockets | 10+ yrs |
| Toilet | Lifetime |
| Shower Enclosure | 50 yrs |
| Tub/Shower Faucets | 20+ yrs |
| Whirlpool Tub | 20-50 yrs |
| Carpeting | 8-10 yrs |
| Kitchen Cabinets | 50 yrs |
| Kitchen Faucet | 15 yrs |
| Microwave Oven | 9 yrs |
| Kitchen Sink (enamel-coated steel) | 5-10 yrs |
| Wood Deck | 10-15 yrs |
| Wood or Stone Flooring | 100 yrs |
| Garage Door Opener | 10-15 yrs |
| Driveway (asphalt) | 15-20 yrs |
| Dishwasher | 9 yrs |
| Garbage Disposal | 12 yrs |
| Dryer | 13 yrs |
| Washing Machine | 10 yrs |
| Range | 13-15 yrs |
| Refrigerator | 13 yrs |
Source line: National Association of Home Builders/Bank of America Equity Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components.
What the NAHB study behind the chart says
The study was published by the National Association of Home Builders in February 2007, sponsored by Bank of America Home Equity. NAHB surveyed manufacturers, trade associations and researchers in the summer of 2006 [1].
It stresses that lifespans depend on the quality of installation, the level of maintenance, weather and climate, and how heavily a part is used. Appliances in particular are often replaced before they wear out because styles and technology change. Appliance figures are based on first owner use [1].
The report also says it should be used as a general guideline only, and not as a guarantee for any individual product [1]. Among appliances it lists gas ranges as the longest lasting at 15 years, dryers and refrigerators at about 13 years, and compactors (6 years), dishwashers and microwave ovens (9 years) among the shortest [1].
How long does a house last
The chart covers parts that wear out, not the structure. In the same NAHB study, poured concrete and concrete block foundations last a lifetime if properly built, walls and ceilings last the full lifespan of the home, and brick walls have an average life of more than 100 years. Framing systems such as timber frames and structural insulated panels are also rated for a lifetime [1].
Notes on this infographic
- Exterior paint is shown as “up to 15 yrs”, but the study says interior and exterior paint can last 15 years or longer, although owners often repaint sooner [1].
- Wood decks are shown as 10 to 15 years. The study gives 20 years under ideal conditions, with 10 to 15 years only in the South, 20 to 25 in dry areas and 20 to 30 in the North [1].
- The study gives furnaces 15 to 20 years in its summary and 15 years for electric and 18 years for gas warm air furnaces in its appliance table, which matches the chart’s range [1].
- Smoke detectors are listed by the study as under 10 years, noting that the US National Fire Alarm Code requires replacement every 10 years [1].
- Range 13 to 15 years combines electric (13) and gas (15) ranges; windows 15 to 30 years combines aluminium (15 to 20) and wood (30 plus) frames [1].
- The figures date from 2006 to 2007 and describe US homes.
Questions about home appliance life expectancy
How long do household appliances last?
Most major appliances last between 9 and 15 years, according to the chart. Dishwashers and microwave ovens last 9 years, washing machines 10, dryers and refrigerators 13 and ranges 13 to 15 years. The NAHB study behind the chart notes that appliances are often replaced before they wear out because styles and technology change [1].
How long does a furnace last?
15 to 18 years, according to the chart. The NAHB study gives furnaces 15 to 20 years in its summary, and 15 years for electric and 18 years for gas warm air furnaces in its appliance table [1]. The chart shows a heat pump at 16 years and an air-conditioning unit at 10 to 15 years.
Which parts of a house last the longest?
Wood or stone flooring, at 100 years, and the toilet, which the chart says lasts a lifetime. The shower enclosure and kitchen cabinets follow at 50 years each. The chart covers parts that wear out rather than the structure, and the NAHB study says properly built concrete foundations last a lifetime and brick walls average more than 100 years [1].
How long does a wood deck last?
The chart shows 10 to 15 years, but the NAHB study gives 20 years under ideal conditions [1]. It gives 10 to 15 years only for the South, with 20 to 25 years in dry areas and 20 to 30 years in the North [1]. The figures date from 2006 to 2007 and describe US homes.
Sources
- National Association of Home Builders, NAHB/Bank of America Home Equity Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components, February 2007 (PDF copy).
- Spotless Agency, How Long Will Your House Last, Calameo. A similar graphic with the same title, figures and source, carrying a Spotless logo.
- Realty Executives, How long will your home and everything in it last?, February 2017.
Last reviewed 30 October 2026
