Guide · Bathroom and beauty
How long should an electric toothbrush last in Australia?
An electric toothbrush bought for around $150 should last about 5 years or more.
A battery that stops holding charge after a year or two on a $150 toothbrush is worth raising with the shop.
That’s our guide, and plenty last longer.
The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid. If it fails sooner through no fault of yours, the shop that sold it has to put it right, even when the maker’s warranty has run out.
Takes a minute. It works out where you stand and what to say.
Is mine still covered?
Our guide to how long an electric toothbrush should last, by price:
| Price paid | Should last about |
|---|---|
| Up to $40 | 2 years |
| $40 to $100 | 4 years |
| $100 to $250 | 5 years |
| $250 to $500 | 7 years |
| Over $500 | 8 years |
For one bought around $150:
- Under 3 years: very likely covered.
- 3 years to 5 years: borderline, so worth asking.
- Over 5 years: harder, but it isn’t a cut-off.
These are guides, not law.
Signs it’s a fault
- The battery stops holding a charge long before you’d expect
- It won’t charge on its base, or the base fails
- The motor stalls or the handle leaks
What usually isn’t covered
- Replacement heads wearing out
- Water damage from leaving it on a wet base
- A change of mind, misuse, or a fault you knew about when you bought it.
What to do
- Find your proof of purchase. The receipt is best. A bank or card statement, an order email or a warranty registration also works.
- Go back to the shop you bought it from. Not the maker. The shop is responsible, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
- Say what’s wrong and what you want. For a minor problem, the shop can choose to repair it first. For a major one (it’s unsafe, or you wouldn’t have bought it if you’d known), you choose a refund or a replacement.
- If they say no, go up a step. Ask again politely, in writing if you can, and keep copies. Then contact your state or territory consumer protection agency. If you need to, your state tribunal is the next step.
What to say at the counter
“I bought an electric toothbrush here on [date]. [What’s wrong.] It hasn’t lasted as long as I’d reasonably expect for what I paid, so it isn’t of acceptable quality under the Australian Consumer Law. I’d like it repaired, replaced or refunded.”
A tip for an electric toothbrush
Heads wear out, but the handle and charger shouldn’t. Say which part has failed when you ask.
Check yours
It's Stuffed works out where you stand, helps you find your proof of purchase and writes what to say. It also keeps your receipts and warranties in one place, so you’re not hunting for them next time.
Common questions
How long should an electric toothbrush last?
By our guide, an electric toothbrush bought for around $150 should last about 5 years or more, and plenty last longer. The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid.
Does the consumer guarantee still apply to an electric toothbrush after the warranty ends?
Yes. They’re separate from the maker’s warranty and from any extended warranty, and they don’t have an end date. What matters is whether it lasted as long as a reasonable person would expect for what it was and what it cost.
Who do I go to if an electric toothbrush fails, the shop or the maker?
The shop that sold it. The shop is responsible for putting it right under the consumer guarantees, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
Do I need the receipt to take an electric toothbrush back?
You need proof of purchase, but not the original receipt. A bank or card statement, an order email or a warranty registration can do the job.
More guides
- How long should a shaver or trimmer last?
- How long should a hair dryer last?
- How long should a hair straightener last?
- How long should a watch or fitness tracker last?
- See all guides