How Rising Appliance Costs Are Changing The Way People Shop

If the price tags on appliances are making you worry, you aren't alone. Not only are appliances expensive to run, but now they're increasingly expensive to buy. While 2025 predictions for this year included lower prices and more sales, the reality is the reverse. Prices began rising in February, with some major manufacturers such as Whirlpool and KitchenAid raising prices an additional 3.5% to 12% between June and August. Tariffs on aluminum and steel leading to higher production costs is the overarching reason, with companies either unable or unwilling to absorb the higher costs themselves. As a result, costs are changing people's shopping habits. Fewer people are buying new appliances, and the ones who are buying are less likely to pay for the fancier features.

Consumers who favor high-end or premium products are still buying, but even they are feeling the sting. They're turning to discount or secondhand stores more frequently than they used to. In general, consumers who need to replace their appliances are saving by choosing options with fewer bells and whistles. For larger purchases, retailers are seeing more consumers favor appliances with robust protection plans. If it's time to replace a freezer and fridge, for example, people want the assurances that come with a warranty. However, there is not necessarily a shift towards repairing appliances over replacing them. The majority of people are still choosing to replace an appliance over repairing it. However, while repairs can be more affordable than buying a new appliance, the repair industry isn't immune to tariff-related price increases.

At the moment, it's unclear if appliance prices will continue to rise, begin to fall, or hold steady for the end of 2026 into 2027. However, it's good to be prepared in case prices don't start to decrease. It may be a good idea to fall in line with the majority of consumers. Be smart about your purchases, and hold off on upgrades. If you missed the window to buy before companies increased their prices, you may want to consider waiting for a sale. However, if the appliance you want doesn't go on sale as the months roll on, make sure you buy it before the end of the year. This prepares you for prices potentially increasing even more in 2027, and you can keep the appliance in a warehouse if you're not ready for it to be installed.

If you need to replace your appliances immediately, there are a few options to consider. If your appliance is having minor issues, repair might be an option. Depending on the exact problem with your appliance, repairs may still be more affordable than replacing it. Alternatively, you can look for scratch and dent appliance sales. These are discounted appliances that have minor cosmetic damage but still work fine. They may not be the prettiest, but discounts typically start at 10% and may be up to half off. You should also consider paying with a credit card.

Buying a used or secondhand appliance may also be an option, but there are risks. Among the pros and cons of buying used appliances, a major one is that you can't be sure what shape it's in. You don't want to pay for both a new appliance only to turn around and need to pay for repairs as well. If you trust the seller and can be reasonably sure that the appliance is in working condition, though, it's worth considering.