Guide · Garden, tools and outdoors
How long should a power drill last in Australia?
A power drill bought for around $150 should last about 2 years or more.
A power drill should last years of home use. A chuck, motor or battery that fails early is usually covered.
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 a power drill should last, by price:
| Price paid | Should last about |
|---|---|
| Up to $200 | 2 years |
| $200 to $800 | 4 years |
| Over $800 | 6 years |
For one bought around $150:
- Under 14 months: very likely covered.
- 14 months to 2 years: borderline, so worth asking.
- Over 2 years: harder, but it isn’t a cut-off.
These are guides, not law.
Signs it’s a fault
- The motor or trigger fails or smells burnt
- The chuck won’t hold a bit or slips
- The battery or charger fails early
What usually isn’t covered
- A drill sold as a home model and used for heavy trade work
- Bits and other parts that wear 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 a power drill 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 power drill
Be honest about how you used it. If you bought it for home use and used it at home, say so.
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 a power drill last?
By our guide, a power drill bought for around $150 should last about 2 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 power drill 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 power drill 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 a power drill 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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