How long does an oven last?
Updated August 2026
An oven lasts 13–18 years, with electric wall and range ovens averaging 13–15 and gas ovens stretching to 15–18. The parts that wear are predictable: on a gas oven, the bake igniter weakens until it can no longer light the burner; on an electric oven, the bake or broil element eventually burns through. The other lifespan killer is the self-clean cycle, whose extreme heat stresses the control board and sensors. Baking that drifts off temperature is often just a worn igniter or element, not a dead oven.
Lifespan by type and situation
| Type or situation | Typical lifespan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Gas oven | 15–18 years | The bake igniter is the usual wear part |
| Electric oven | 13–15 years | Bake and broil elements burn out over time |
| Wall oven (built-in) | 13–16 years | Similar to a range oven but pricier to swap |
| Bake igniter (gas) | Fails at 5–10 | A $150–250 fix, not a reason to replace the oven |
| Heating element (electric) | Fails at 5–12 | A $30–60 part and an easy DIY on most models |
| Frequent self-cleaning | Cut 2–4 years | The 900°F cycle stresses the board and lock |
Signs yours is near the end
- Food cooking unevenly or taking far longer than the recipe, with temperatures drifting from the setpoint
- A gas oven that clicks or takes many minutes to light, or fills with a gas smell before igniting
- An electric element that stays dark, glows only in spots, or blisters and arcs
- A control board with a frozen display, unresponsive buttons, or error codes
- A door that will not seal, letting heat escape and throwing off every bake
How to add years
Most oven lifespan comes down to two habits. First, go easy on the self-clean cycle: its roughly 900°F heat is the single hardest thing you put an oven through, and boards, sensors, and door locks often fail right after a run, so use it two or three times a year at most and wipe up big spills by hand. Second, keep the oven accurate. Recalibrating the temperature when your baking drifts, and cleaning it regularly so grease does not foul the igniter or element, prevents most performance complaints. When it stops heating, a $30–60 element or a $150–250 igniter usually fixes it, far cheaper than the $800–2,000 a new oven costs. Our guides on an oven that will not heat and a gas oven that clicks but will not light point you to the right part.
What it costs to replace: plan on $800–2,000 installed ($2,000–4,000 for double wall ovens). 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.
OnOtto tracks your oven upkeep age and service history, and warns you before end of life instead of after the flood.
Track your home's systems, free for 30 daysFrequently asked questions
Why is my oven not reaching the right temperature?
The likeliest cause is a worn heating element or a weak igniter, not a dead oven. On an electric oven, a bake element that has lost its glow or blistered heats poorly; on a gas oven, an aging igniter draws too little current to open the gas valve fully, so the burner runs weak or intermittently. A drifting-but-working oven can also just need recalibration. A faulty temperature sensor is the other common culprit. Our guide on an oven that will not heat walks through diagnosing each.
Is the self-clean function really that hard on an oven?
Yes, and it is a leading reason ovens fail early. Self-clean locks the door and heats the cavity to about 900°F to reduce spills to ash, and that heat stresses the control board, the temperature sensor, the door-lock motor, and on gas models the igniter. A large share of oven failures show up in the day or two after a self-clean run. Use it sparingly, two or three times a year, keep the kitchen ventilated during the cycle, and never run it right before a big cooking day.
Should I repair or replace an oven that stops heating?
Repair, in most cases, because the common failures are cheap. An electric bake or broil element is $30–60 and swaps out in minutes on many models; a gas bake igniter runs $150–250 installed. Both are worth doing at almost any age. Replacement makes more sense when the control board fails on an older oven, since a board plus labor can approach the $800–2,000 price of a new one, or when the oven is past 15 and problems are stacking up. Match the fix to the fault before deciding.
How long does a gas oven last compared to electric?
A gas oven typically lasts 15–18 years, a few years longer than an electric oven's 13–15. Gas ovens rely on an igniter and a burner, both serviceable parts, while electric ovens depend on elements that burn out and, on both types, a control board that ages with the appliance. The gap is real but modest, and maintenance moves the number more than fuel type does. An oven that is cleaned, rarely self-cleaned, and kept in calibration will outlast a neglected one of either kind.