Appliances · SOC 49-9031

Refrigerator Repair cost

Refrigerator repair — that’s the everyday name. On Fairange it’s a published hours band (1.0/2.0/3.5) plus a materials band, run through BLS OEWS May 2025 wages for Home Appliance Repairers (SOC 49-9031).

Looking up refrigerator repair cost? Start here: national mid planning estimate $281 before you type a ZIP, built from OEWS 49-9031 wages and the assumptions below — not lead-gen marketplace price tables.

Last updated from data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · PPI construction materials 2026-09

What this estimate can’t tell you. Roof pitch, an old house or code upgrades, tough access, permits, emergency or after-hours calls, and brand tier can push a real quote outside this range.
Hours (low / mid / high)
1.0 / 2.0 / 3.5
Materials band
$50 – $400
U.S. mid (before ZIP)
$281

typical sealed-system-adjacent visit for thermostat, evaporator fan, start device, or control — not a full compressor sealed-system rebuild. National OEWS mean wage used on this page: $26.94/hr (SOC 49-9031).

How the national mid is built

Before you enter a ZIP we use the U.S. OEWS mean wage for Home Appliance Repairers (SOC 49-9031): $26.94/hr (BLS OEWS May 2025). Mid estimate ≈ 2.0 hours × $26.94 × 2.25× markup + materials mid $160 (with a small regional materials factor). Low uses p10 wages × 2.0×; high uses p90 × 2.5×. National planning band: $85 – $281 – $739.

Full algebra: methodology. Markup schedule is Fairange’s published assumption, not a BLS figure.

Materials band

Published materials low / mid / high: $50 / $160 / $400 (typical sealed-system-adjacent visit for thermostat, evaporator fan, start device, or control — not a full compressor sealed-system rebuild). Baselines are Fairange editorial figures tied to public retail when we have a SKU basket; full source notes live in DATA_SOURCES and the methodology page. We dampen materials with a regional factor (about 0.88–1.18) so wages — not a fake local parts market — do most of the geography.

What usually moves the number

What’s in the planning band

Delivery/install or diagnostic labor in the hours band, plus the unit or parts band above.

Ask about before you sign

Run this job on your ZIP Appliances trade hub

Also: calculator · methodology · city guides · metro ranking report · all job guides · DATA_SOURCES.

Refrigerator Repair FAQ

How much does refrigerator repair cost?

National mid planning estimate is about $281 before you enter a ZIP — labor from BLS OEWS May 2025 Home Appliance Repairers (SOC 49-9031, national mean $26.94/hr) × published hours, plus materials. Local OEWS wages move the band once you type a ZIP.

What hours, materials, and markup do you assume?

Hours 1.0 / 2.0 / 3.5. Materials band $50 / $160 / $400 (typical sealed-system-adjacent visit for thermostat, evaporator fan, start device, or control — not a full compressor sealed-system rebuild), documented in DATA_SOURCES / methodology — not lead-gen marketplace price tables. Labor markup 2.0× / 2.25× / 2.5× (Fairange methodology).

Is this a bid?

No. It’s an educational planning range. Collect at least three written scopes from licensed pros and compare exclusions — permits, haul-away, patching, and code upgrades.

Any rebates or tax credits?

Repairs aren’t rebate-eligible. Recycling rebates sometimes apply when you replace the unit — check your utility.

Where does this job cost the most?

See our metro ranking built on the same job assumptions: /reports/appliance-repair-vs-replace/ (OEWS local wages, same hours/materials/markup).

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