2026
9
UK Major Domestic Appliances Market Report 2026
2026-05-26T12:01:08+00:00
REPF99E6B78_854B_486A_9E6B_78854BA86A1A
2995
193637
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Report
en_GB
The market for major domestic appliances (MDA) is largely driven by necessity, with 60% of consumers buying a new item only when their old one breaks. Most appliances have a…
UK
Electrical Goods Retail
simple

UK Major Domestic Appliances Market Report 2026

"While longer product lifespans will likely reduce purchasing frequency, it's also a chance to build lasting customer relationships and create recurring value."

Sam Nguyen, Senior Retail Analyst

Sam Nguyen, Senior Retail Analyst

The market for major domestic appliances (MDA) is largely driven by necessity, with 60% of consumers buying a new item only when their old one breaks. Most appliances have a lifespan of up to ten years, indicating a window for when consumers are likely to re-enter the market.

The biggest threat comes from extended product lifespans reducing the need for new purchases, supported by Right to Repair regulations improving access to spare parts and consumers’ persistent cautious mentality. Meanwhile, broader receptiveness to pre-owned products can make its way into the MDA market over time, directing some sales away from it.

There is a clear opportunity to shift from one-off product sales to ongoing care and support, from integrating remote diagnostic features into appliances to offering dedicated service packages. Beyond the point of sale, physical stores can position themselves as trusted advisory hubs, guiding consumers through repair decisions in a market where reliable service is still difficult to find.

This Report Looks at the Following Areas:

  • The current size and five-year forecast of the UK major domestic appliance market
  • The major domestic appliance buying landscape, including products, their formats (built-in or freestanding), costs and brands
  • How to break out from distress buying, and opportunities for appliances with shorter replacement cycles
  • The interplay of online and in-store in major domestic appliance purchasing
  • Opportunities for circular models in major domestic appliances, with a focus on repair and refurbishment

Market Definitions

For the purposes of this Report, Mintel has used the following definitions:

  • fitted and freestanding
  • dishwasher
  • refrigeration appliances, ie fridges, fridge-freezers and freezers including wine coolers
  • cooking appliances, ie ovens, hobs, cookers using gas and/or electricity
  • laundry appliances, ie washing machines, tumble dryers and washer-dryers
  • microwave ovens

The definition excludes:

  • major domestic appliances sold via the trade or as part of a housing transaction
  • small kitchen appliances such as kettles, table-top cookers, food processors, coffee machines
  • vacuum cleaners and other electrical floor-cleaning equipment
  • irons
  • cooker hoods and extractor fans
  • other fitted electrical appliances for kitchens such as grinders, boiling water taps

Collapse All
  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for major domestic appliances – UK
    • Opportunities
    • Longer appliance lifespans present challenges, but also opportunities to capture lifetime loyalty
    • Service-focused loyalty scheme
    • Turn distress purchases into opportunities for smart upgrades
    • Stores still matter in an online-first category
  2. THE MARKET

    • Snapshot – market size and forecast
    • Improved UK housing market provides a much-needed boost to demand for home items, but uncertainty lies ahead
    • Graph 1: number of property transactions with a value over £40,000 completed in the UK, 2019-25
    • AI becomes more deeply embedded in the MDA sector
    • Energy price uncertainty continues
    • MDA prices continue to fall
    • Graph 2: CPI inflation rate, 2023-26
    • Market growth is back, but headwinds persist
    • Market size and forecast of major domestic appliances
    • Graph 3: market value forecast for major domestic appliances, 2019-30
    • Refrigeration anchors market value as premium features drive spend
    • Graph 4: estimated market segmentation for major domestic appliances, 2025
    • Over half of total spending comes from specialists
    • Graph 5: channels to market, 2024 and 2025
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • Appliance purchasing landscape
    • Two thirds have bought appliances in the past three years, with freestanding still dominating
    • Refrigeration is the priority purchase, while dishwashers are poised for premiumisation
    • Graph 6: appliances bought in the last three years, by time lived in current home, 2026
    • Cooking is at the centre of investment
    • Graph 7: spending on most recent appliance purchase, 2026
    • Bosch is winning the built-in space, while LG emerges as the overall favourite
    • Graph 8: appliance brands purchased, by appliance format, 2026
    • Graph 9: appliance brands purchased, by appliance category, 2026
    • Home moves trigger multi-category purchases, but renters cap spend
    • Opportunities to break out from distress buying
    • Most appliances are bought out of necessity
    • Distress-led replacements push consumers to trade down on value
    • Graph 10: triggers to purchase, by spending on appliances, 2026
    • Boost the desirability of laundry appliances
    • Graph 11: triggers to purchase, by appliance category, 2026
    • Most appliances last for up to ten years
    • Capitalise on microwaves’ shorter replacement cycle
    • Graph 12: lifespan of previous appliance before most recent appliance purchase, by most recent appliance purchase, 2026
    • Provide reassurance and joy in the appliance buying journey
    • Online is the primary purchase channel…
    • …but stores are crucial even for online purchases
    • Bricks-and-mortar stores are crucial to drive trade up
    • Graph 13: viewing appliances in-person before buying in the last three years, by spending on most recent appliance purchase, 2026
    • Opportunities for circular models
    • Expand repair access to build loyalty and recurring service income
    • Graph 14: “I struggle to find reliable repair services for my appliances”, by age, 2026
    • Lower entry with refurbished appliances
    • Graph 15: “I am open to buying refurbished appliances”, by housing situation, 2026
  4. INNOVATION AND MARKETING

    • AO continues to see success with subscription models
    • Raising the bar for convenience in online shopping
    • AI elevates daily lives…
    • …and customer service support
    • A greater focus on circular models
    • MDAs score more screen time
  5. APPENDIX

    • Market definition
    • The market
    • Forecast methodology
    • Forecast methodology – fan chart
    • Market size and forecast: underlying data
    • Market forecast and prediction intervals
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Repertoire analysis methodology
    • Other data source methodologies
    • Mintel Spark
    • Abbreviations

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