Guide · Phones, tech and TVs
How long should a TV last in Australia?
A TV bought for around $900 should last about 8 years or more.
A TV is bought to last years, not months. Lines, a dead backlight or a panel that fails early are usually covered.
That’s our guide, and plenty last longer. CHOICE’s lifespan research puts it at about 7 years.
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 TV should last, by price:
| Price paid | Should last about |
|---|---|
| Up to $700 | 5 years |
| $700 to $2,000 | 8 years |
| Over $2,000 | 10 years |
For one bought around $900:
- Under 5 years: very likely covered.
- 5 years to 8 years: borderline, so worth asking.
- Over 8 years: harder, but it isn’t a cut-off.
If it failed before the typical lifespan CHOICE gives, say so when you ask.
These are guides, not law.
Signs it’s a fault
- Lines, dark patches or a dim picture
- It won’t turn on, keeps restarting or loses sound
- An HDMI port, remote sensor or Wi-Fi fails by itself
What usually isn’t covered
- A cracked screen from a knock or a move
- Damage from a spill or from wrong wall-mounting
- 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 TV 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 TV
Film the fault while it’s happening. Faults that come and go are hard to prove later.
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 TV last?
By our guide, a TV bought for around $900 should last about 8 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 TV 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 TV 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 TV 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 laptop last?
- How long should a mobile phone last?
- How long should a tablet last?
- How long should headphones or earbuds last?
- See all guides
Where this comes from
ACCC: consumer rights and guarantees · CHOICE: how long should your appliances last