What companies charge to come out
| Appliance or situation | Visit or diagnostic charge | Fixr notes |
|---|---|---|
| Any appliance (general guide) | $50–$100 | a small fee for coming out to assess |
| Refrigerator | $70–$120 | normally applied to the first hour of labor |
| Ice maker | $50–$100 | a call-out fee that may be waived if you hire them |
| Washer | $50–$100 | usually waived if they do the repair |
| Dishwasher | $50–$75 diagnostic; some quote $35–$100 | most deduct it from the bill if they repair |
| Dryer | $50–$80 | charged to come out and diagnose |
| Freezer | $45–$150, plus a possible $50–$100 diagnostic | two charges in some areas |
| Oven | a deposit around $50 | about $2 a mile outside the service area |
| Gas stove | a $50–$100 deposit | rural travel fees of $60–$75 |
Fixr national guides, updated January to August 2025.
What the fee actually pays for
The appliance service call cost, often called a trip charge, pays for real work: driving to you, getting at the appliance, and testing parts with a meter until the fault is found. A technician may spend half an hour or more on that before any repair begins, and some of that time goes to parts that turn out to be fine. The fee is how companies are paid for diagnosis when the customer then decides the repair is not worth it, which is also why a price over the phone can only ever be a range.
When it counts toward the repair
Many companies credit the visit charge against the repair if you go ahead on the same visit. Fixr's washing machine guide says the diagnosis fee is usually waived when you use the company for the repair. Others roll a first block of labor into the fee, or charge a flat rate per job that already includes the visit. Whatever it is called, compare the total service call cost, not the headline fee. None of these is better by default; what matters is the total you pay. Ask for the total in writing.
Extra charges to ask about
- Distance. Travel outside a company's normal area can add $25 to $100, or a per-mile rate.
- After hours and holidays. Fixr reports after-hours calls about 50 percent higher ($40 to $110) and holiday calls sometimes double ($50 to $150).
- Return trips. If a part has to be ordered, ask whether the second visit carries another charge.
- Access. Stacked laundry, built-in ovens and freezers in tight spaces can take longer to reach.
Questions to ask when you book
- What is the visit charge, and does it include testing?
- Is it credited toward the repair if I go ahead today?
- Do you charge by the hour or a flat price for the job?
- What does a second visit cost if you need to order the part?
- What warranty comes with the part and the labor?
- Do you work on my brand and model? Have the model number ready.
Save the trip when you can
A few problems are not repairs: a tripped breaker, a closed water tap, a child lock, a delay-start setting, a lint screen coated with dryer-sheet film. The checklists on the washer repair, dryer repair and oven repair pages cover those first. If they don't solve it, the fee buys a real diagnosis.
Questions people ask next
Can I decline the repair after the diagnosis?
Yes. You pay the visit charge and nothing more. That is the point of a separate fee: the company is paid for the drive and the testing whether or not you go ahead.
Is a service call the same thing as a diagnostic fee?
Often, but not always. Fixr’s freezer guide describes a service call of $45 to $150 plus a possible separate diagnostic fee of $50 to $100. Ask whether the price you are quoted covers both the trip and the testing.
Do I still pay the fee if the fix takes five minutes?
Generally yes. The fee pays for the trip and the expertise to find the five-minute fix. Some companies fold it into a flat repair price instead, so the two approaches can come out close.
Sources
- How much does it cost to repair an appliance?, Fixr, updated January 30, 2025.
- How much does it cost to repair a refrigerator?, Fixr, updated August 29, 2025.
- How much does it cost to repair an ice maker?, Fixr, updated August 29, 2025.
- How much does it cost to repair a washing machine?, Fixr, updated January 31, 2025.
- How much does it cost to repair a dryer?, Fixr, updated January 31, 2025.
- How much does it cost to repair a dishwasher?, Fixr, updated January 31, 2025.
- How much does it cost to repair an oven?, Fixr, updated August 29, 2025.
- How much does it cost to repair a gas stove?, Fixr, updated January 31, 2025.
- How much does it cost to repair a freezer?, Fixr, updated August 29, 2025.
Reviewed October 1, 2026. Spotted an error? Write to admin@compareappliancerepair.com.