Guide · Phones, tech and TVs
How long should headphones or earbuds last in Australia?
Headphones or earbuds bought for around $300 should last about 4 years or more.
Even a $300 pair of headphones should last years. One side dying, a battery that won’t hold charge or a snapped band is usually a fault.
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 headphones or earbuds should last, by price:
| Price paid | Should last about |
|---|---|
| Up to $150 | 3 years |
| $150 to $500 | 4 years |
| Over $500 | 5 years |
For one bought around $300:
- 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
- One ear goes quiet or crackles
- The battery or the case stops charging properly
- The band cracks, the hinge fails or the pairing keeps dropping
What usually isn’t covered
- Sweat, water or a wash when the maker says no
- Cushions and tips wearing out
- 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 headphones or earbuds 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 headphones or earbuds
Take both buds and the case. They’re sold as a pair, so it helps to have the whole set.
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 headphones or earbuds last?
By our guide, headphones or earbuds bought for around $300 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 headphones or earbuds 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 headphones or earbuds 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 headphones or earbuds 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.
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