Guide · Bathroom and beauty

How long should a hair dryer last in Australia?

A hair dryer bought for around $100 should last about 4 years or more.

A hair dryer that cuts out or smells of burning after a year or so is usually covered. If it sparks, stop using it.

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.

Check yours

Takes a minute. It works out where you stand and what to say.

Is mine still covered?

Our guide to how long a hair dryer 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 $100:

Under 2 years: very likely covered.
2 years to 4 years: borderline, so worth asking.
Over 4 years: harder, but it isn’t a cut-off.

These are guides, not law.

Signs it’s a fault

It cuts out, loses heat or smells of burning
The switch or the cord at the base fails
It sparks or trips the power

What usually isn’t covered

A filter blocked with hair and lint
Damage from a drop or from water
A change of mind, misuse, or a fault you knew about when you bought it.

Safety first. If it overheats, sparks, smells of burning or has hurt someone, stop using it. Then check Product Safety Australia for a recall.

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 a hair dryer 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 a hair dryer

If it sparks, stop using it straight away. Then check the recall list and ask the shop for a replacement.

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.

Check yours

Common questions

How long should a hair dryer last?

By our guide, a hair dryer bought for around $100 should last about 4 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 a hair dryer 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 a hair dryer 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.

Is it worth the bother if a hair dryer was cheap?

Yes. Cheap things are covered too, with no minimum price. A quick, polite ask at the service desk is usually the way to go. You’ll still need proof you bought it. A receipt, a bank or card statement or an order email will do.

More guides

Where this comes from

ACCC: consumer rights and guarantees · Product Safety Australia: recalls