How long does a gas range last?
Updated August 2026
A gas range lasts 15–18 years, a few years longer than a comparable electric range, for one simple reason: there is no heating element to burn out. Gas surface burners and the oven's bake burner light with an igniter, and igniters are cheap, serviceable parts rather than the elements and coils that fail on electric models. The wear items on a gas range are those igniters and the grates and burner caps, all of which respond to cleaning. Keep the burners clean and a gas range easily reaches 18 years.
Lifespan by type and situation
| Type or situation | Typical lifespan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Gas range (overall) | 15–18 years | No heating element, so it outlasts electric |
| Surface burner igniters | Fail at 5–10 | Cleaning the ports often fixes slow lighting first |
| Oven bake igniter | Fails at 5–10 | A $150–250 fix, not a reason to replace the range |
| Grates and burner caps | Replaceable | Cosmetic and cheap; do not affect core lifespan |
| Control valves and board | Age with the range | A board failure past 12 can total a cheaper unit |
| Cleaned and maintained | 18+ years | Clean ports and igniters are the whole secret |
Signs yours is near the end
- Surface burners that click for a long time before lighting, or will not light at all after cleaning
- An oven that takes many minutes to reach temperature or bakes unevenly
- A gas smell around the range that lingers, which warrants shutting off the gas and calling a pro
- Yellow, lazy, or uneven burner flames instead of a crisp blue cone
- Rusted grates and burner caps, cracked porcelain, or an oven door that no longer seals
How to add years
A gas range asks for little beyond regular cleaning, and cleaning is exactly what keeps its igniters alive. Wipe up boil-overs before they carbonize on the burner caps and igniters, and clear the burner ports with a pin so each one lights cleanly instead of clicking, which is what slowly wears the ignition system. Keep the grates and caps free of baked-on grease, go easy on the oven's self-clean cycle since its heat is hard on the igniter and controls, and check that a crisp blue flame, not a yellow one, burns at each ring. When an igniter finally fails, a $150–250 fix is far cheaper than the $800–1,800 a new gas range costs, so match the repair to the fault. For the broader kitchen timeline see the range lifespan guide and our maintenance calendar.
What it costs to replace: plan on $800–1,800 installed ($2,000–4,000 for slide-in and pro-style models). Replacing on your own schedule, before it fails, is almost always cheaper than the emergency version. The home maintenance cost calculator helps you set the money aside before it comes due.
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Track your home's systems, free for 30 daysFrequently asked questions
Why does a gas range last longer than an electric one?
Because it has no heating element to burn out. A gas range averages 15–18 years to an electric range's 13–15, since its surface and oven burners light with an igniter rather than relying on coils and radiant elements that wear through. Igniters, grates, and burner caps are all cheap, serviceable parts. The control board is the one component that ages the same on both, and it is the failure most likely to total an older range. Regular cleaning of the burners and ports does more for lifespan than the fuel choice.
My gas burner clicks but will not light. Is the range dying?
Almost never. A clicking, non-lighting burner is usually just a clogged or wet igniter and burner port. After a spill or a cleaning, food debris and moisture bridge the igniter so it sparks without lighting. Dry everything, reseat the burner cap square on its base, and clear the port holes with a pin or needle. That fixes the vast majority of cases at zero cost. If it still will not light after drying and cleaning, the igniter or spark module may need replacing, a modest repair, not a new range.
Is a control board failure worth repairing on a gas range?
It depends on the range's age and price. A control or spark board runs $150–400 for the part before labor, so a total repair can reach $300–500. On a mid-range or premium gas range under 10 years old, that is worth it. On a basic range already past 12 or 13, a board plus labor climbs toward half the $800–1,800 a new one costs, and replacement usually wins. Igniter and burner repairs, by contrast, are cheap enough to be worth doing at nearly any age.
How can I make a gas range last to 18 years?
Keep the burners clean and the oven's self-clean cycle rare. Wipe boil-overs before they bake onto the igniters and burner caps, clear the port holes so each burner lights on the first click, and keep the grates degreased. Limit self-cleaning to two or three times a year, since its extreme heat stresses the oven igniter and controls. Watch for a crisp blue flame and address a slow-lighting burner early. None of it is expensive, and together it is the difference between a range that quits at 13 and one that cooks past 18.