Compare the years, not just the price tags.
Quick answer
Enter each option’s purchase and setup costs, expected years of use, annual running costs and estimated resale value. The calculator compares annual costs under those assumptions. Change uncertain values to see how the decision moves; it does not forecast product lifespan or future resale prices.
Make it yours
Compare used and new over time
Use your own estimates. The result compares those assumptions; it does not predict how long either item will last.
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Use the same job for both options
Compare products that can do what you need. A cheaper item that cannot connect to your equipment, fit the room or support the required function is not an equivalent alternative.
Enter setup and delivery costs for both options. A new product may include accessories, a return policy or services that the used listing does not. Record those differences separately even when you cannot sensibly give them a monetary value.
What the calculator compares
For each option:
Total cost over your chosen period = purchase + setup + annual running cost × years − estimated resale value.
Annual cost = total cost ÷ years.
The break-even figure asks how many years the used option would need, using the entered running cost and resale assumption, to match the new option’s calculated annual cost.
The tool does not apply financing, inflation or a discount rate. It is a practical household comparison, not a prediction of future market value.
An illustrative example
Suppose a used item costs $250 plus $30 setup, lasts three years in your scenario, costs $20 a year to run and has no assumed resale value. Its total is $340, or about $113.33 a year.
A new alternative costs $600 plus $30 setup, lasts six years in your scenario, costs $20 a year to run and also has no assumed resale. Its total is $750, or $125 a year.
The used option looks cheaper under those assumptions. If it lasts only two years, the calculation changes to $160 a year. The useful conclusion is that the expected period of use matters.
Vary the assumption you know least about
Run a cautious case as well as an optimistic one. For an older appliance, uncertain repair needs may matter more than a small difference in energy use. For a chair, comfort and adjustment range may matter more than resale.
Use actual quotes where available. Do not assume an unknown fault will be a cheap repair. The for-parts buying guide helps distinguish an inexpensive missing part from an undiagnosed failure.
Bring the decision back to the item
A low annual cost does not settle condition, authenticity, ownership or suitability. Use the relevant buying guide, then compare the specific listings you would be willing to inspect.
If you only need today’s cash outlay, the total purchase-cost calculator is the simpler starting point.