Guide · Clothes, shoes and bags
How long should jeans or everyday clothes last in Australia?
Jeans or everyday clothes bought for around $100 should last about 18 months or more.
Clothes are covered too. A seam, zip or fabric that fails in the first months is a fault, not wear.
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 jeans or everyday clothes should last, by price:
| Price paid | Should last about |
|---|---|
| Up to $80 | 6 months |
| $80 to $300 | 18 months |
| Over $300 | 3 years |
For one bought around $100:
- Under 11 months: very likely covered.
- 11 months to 18 months: borderline, so worth asking.
- Over 18 months: harder, but it isn’t a cut-off.
These are guides, not law.
Signs it’s a fault
- Seams split or the fabric tears in normal use
- A zip or button fails soon after purchase
- Dye runs, or the fabric pills and thins far too fast
What usually isn’t covered
- Wear on knees and hems after years of use
- Washing it against the care label
- 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 jeans or everyday clothes 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 jeans or everyday clothes
Keep the care label. If you followed it and the clothes still failed, that helps your case.
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 jeans or everyday clothes last?
By our guide, jeans or everyday clothes bought for around $100 should last about 18 months 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 jeans or everyday clothes 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 jeans or everyday clothes 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 jeans or everyday clothes 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
- How long should shoes or boots last?
- How long should a jacket or coat last?
- How long should a bra last?
- How long should a handbag or backpack last?
- See all guides