Every appliance call starts with the same question from the customer: is it worth fixing? Your price has to answer it. A clear diagnostic fee, a flat repair price and a straight comparison with replacement is what turns a service call into a paid repair.
- Charge a diagnostic or service fee, and say whether it is credited to the repair.
- Fixr lists most appliance repairs at $100 to $300, about $200 on average.
- Refrigerator service calls run $70 to $120 in Fixr's guide, and dryer repair $100 to $200.
- Quote repairs as flat prices built from parts plus your average time.
Setting your labor rate
Start with the wage. The closest group the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes is home appliance repairers. In its May 2025 wage survey, that group's national mean wage was $26.94 an hour and the median was $24.51 (BLS OEWS 49-9031).
Add your labor burden on top: payroll taxes, workers' comp and any paid time off. If burden in your state comes to 20% of wages, a $27 an hour tech costs you $32.40 an hour. That loaded number is what goes into the job cost.
Fixr lists technician labor at $100 to $250 per hour for refrigerator repair (Fixr) and around $50 to $100 per hour for dryer repair (Fixr). The gap is the appliance and the skill, so price your own.
Published appliance repair prices
| Repair | Published price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Appliance repair, most jobs | $100 to $300, about $200 | Fixr |
| Microwave fuse or disposal jam | About $70 | Fixr |
| Refrigerator control panel | About $500 | Fixr |
| Refrigerator repair, typical | $350 to $500, about $400 | Fixr |
| Refrigerator service call | $70 to $120 | Fixr |
| Dryer repair, typical | $100 to $200, about $150 | Fixr |
Set a diagnostic fee
Your diagnostic fee should cover the drive and the time to find the fault at your rate. Many techs credit it to the repair if the customer goes ahead, which removes the main objection. Fixr notes a refrigerator service call is normally applied to the first hour of labor.
A worked example: a dryer heating element
Every input is an assumption for the example.
- Time: 1 hour on site plus 0.5 hours of drive = 1.5 hours
- Loaded labor: 1.5 x $32.40 = $48.60
- Heating element at your cost: $42, plus 30% markup = $54.60
- Drive: 18 miles x $0.76 = $13.68
- Direct cost with parts markup: $48.60 + $54.60 + $13.68 = $116.88
- Overhead plus profit on labor and drive: divide those by 0.60
- Price: ($48.60 + $13.68) / 0.60 + $54.60 = $158
Fixr lists dryer repair at $100 to $200, with about $150 for a common repair, so $158 sits inside it. Here the parts markup covers stocking and warranty, and the margin is applied to labor and drive.
Repair or replace, as two options
Show both: the repair at your flat price, and a replacement with install and haul-away if you offer it. Koira's estimates send up to three options from your price list, so the customer decides on the spot. The invoice goes out when you tap done, and they can pay at the door.
Calls come in all day. On Grow, the AI receptionist answers on your Koira number and books the visit into your day.
Common appliance repair pricing mistakes
- Free diagnostics. Finding the fault is the skill. Charge for it.
- Parts at cost. Ordering, returns and warranty cost money.
- Second trips not priced. If you have to come back with the part, count the drive.
Questions contractors ask
How much should I charge for an appliance service call?
Enough to cover the drive and diagnosis at your rate. Fixr lists refrigerator service calls at $70 to $120.
What does appliance repair usually cost?
Fixr puts most appliance repairs at $100 to $300, with about $200 on average.
How much does refrigerator repair cost?
Fixr lists $350 to $500, about $400 for a broken ice maker with one new part.
Should I mark up parts?
Yes. Stocking, ordering and warranty returns take time and money.
