---
title: "How long does a games console last?"
description: "A games console lasts 5–10 yr. How that compares to other things, and where the number comes from."
url: https://atoneplace.net/how-long/game-console/
site: "At One Place"
---

# How long does a games console last?

**Typical lifespan: 5–10 yr**

A computer built for playing video games on a television or a built-in screen.

> Roughly the length of a hardware generation.

## How that compares

*Games console against things of a similar time.*

- Mattress: 6–12 yr
- Television: 6–12 yr
- Gray wolf: 6–16 yr
- Vacuum cleaner: 5–12 yr
- Games console: 5–10 yr
- Toaster: 4–12 yr
- Honey badger: 5–24 yr
- Sailfish: 4–15 yr

## What that means over time

*Assuming the typical lifespan above and immediate replacement.*

| Period | How many you would buy |
| --- | --- |
| Per year | 0.143 replacements |
| Over 10 years | 1.4 of them |
| Over a 30-year mortgage | 4.3 of them |

> Lifespans are medians under ordinary use, not guarantees. Maintenance, how hard it is used, and build quality move individual examples a long way in both directions — which is why the range above is as wide as it is.

## More about a games console

- [How much does a games console weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/game-console/) — 0.4–4.6 kg
- [How much does a games console cost?](https://atoneplace.net/cost/game-console/) — 200–700 $
- [Games console vs Laptop](https://atoneplace.net/vs/game-console-vs-laptop/) — Side by side
- [Games console vs Computer monitor](https://atoneplace.net/vs/computer-monitor-vs-game-console/) — Side by side
- [Games console vs Projector](https://atoneplace.net/vs/game-console-vs-projector/) — Side by side
- [Games console vs Desktop computer](https://atoneplace.net/vs/desktop-computer-vs-game-console/) — Side by side

## Common questions

### How long does a games console last?

A games console lasts 5–10 yr. Roughly the length of a hardware generation.

## Related pages

- [How much does a games console weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/game-console/)
- [How much does a games console cost?](https://atoneplace.net/cost/game-console/)
- [How long does a smartphone last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/smartphone/)
- [How long does a television last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/television/)
- [How long does a laptop last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/laptop/)
- [How long does a desktop computer last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/desktop-computer/)
- [How long does a printer last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/printer/)
- [How long does a tablet last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/tablet/)
- [How long does a computer monitor last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/computer-monitor/)
- [Games console vs Laptop](https://atoneplace.net/vs/game-console-vs-laptop/)
- [Games console vs Computer monitor](https://atoneplace.net/vs/computer-monitor-vs-game-console/)
- [Games console vs Projector](https://atoneplace.net/vs/game-console-vs-projector/)
- [Games console vs Desktop computer](https://atoneplace.net/vs/desktop-computer-vs-game-console/)

## Sources

- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)