Oven Lifespan: How Long Should Your Oven Last and When to Replace It

When you buy a new oven, a kitchen appliance designed to bake, roast, or broil food using electric or gas heating elements. Also known as a cooker, it’s one of the most used appliances in your home—so knowing how long it’s supposed to last matters. Most electric ovens last between 10 and 15 years, but that’s not a guarantee. If you’re using yours daily, skipping maintenance, or running it at high temps often, it could wear out in half that time. On the flip side, a well-cared-for oven can easily hit 20 years. It’s not magic—it’s about the parts inside and how they hold up.

The real clock starts ticking when the heating element, the coil that generates heat inside the oven cavity begins to fail. You’ll notice uneven baking, longer preheat times, or spots that don’t get hot at all. That’s not always a sign to replace the whole thing. Replacing a broken heating element costs under $100 and takes less than an hour if you’re handy. Same goes for the oven thermostat, the component that controls and maintains temperature. If your oven runs too hot or too cold, the thermostat might just be out of calibration—or dead. A pro can test it in minutes. Many people replace their oven because it’s not heating right, but 70% of the time, it’s just one small part that’s broken.

But not every issue is fixable. If the control panel is glitching, the door seal is cracked and won’t close tight, or the oven cavity is rusting through, those are red flags. You can’t repair rust. You can’t replace a broken control board for less than half the price of a new oven. And if your oven is over 12 years old, spending $300 to fix it doesn’t make sense when a new model costs $500 and uses 30% less energy. That’s the real math: repair vs. replace. It’s not about how old it is—it’s about what’s broken, how much it costs to fix, and whether it’s still efficient.

There’s no magic number for when your oven dies. But if you’ve had the same one since before smartphones were common, and it’s starting to act up, it’s time to pay attention. Look at the repair history. If you’ve replaced the heating element twice in five years, you’re on borrowed time. If your energy bills are creeping up and food takes forever to cook, that’s your oven telling you it’s tired. The good news? Most problems show up early. You don’t have to wait for it to die completely. A quick check of the elements, the thermostat, and the door seal can tell you if it’s worth fixing—or if you’re just delaying the inevitable.

Below, you’ll find real stories and step-by-step guides from people who’ve been there—how to spot the warning signs, how much repairs actually cost, and when to walk away from an old oven before it leaves you without heat—or worse, with a safety hazard. Whether you’re trying to squeeze one more year out of it or deciding whether to upgrade, you’ll find the facts you need to make the right call.