EXCLUSIVE! Experts Say Buy These Appliances Now Before Tariffs Make Them Cost a Fortune

If you’ve turned on the news this year, you’ve heard about the tariffs that just seem to get bigger every day. Some are as high as 245% and the experts we interviewed are telling consumers to buy select home appliances like double French door refrigerators and self-cleaning air fryers, before tariffs send prices through the roof.

“A few items shoppers should consider buying include refrigerators, washer and dryers, which can be found at steep discounts right now,” says retail expert Jeanel Alvarado, founder and CEO of Retailboss. “…Small appliances like microwaves, toaster ovens, and air fryers are also expected to face price increases, due to steel and aluminum tariffs.”

Finance expert and founder/CEO of Intellectia, Fei Chen, adds, “Relatively few people expect it—and comparably few expect it to be that substantial. But based on history, the logic is quite reasonable. Buying before tariffs hit can save families hundreds, even thousands, depending on their purchase.”

Buying before tariffs hit can save families hundreds, even thousands.

Refrigerators Will Be Hit By Both Materials and Appliance Tariffs

The more expensive the appliance, the more prices are going to go up. A 30% increase on a $10 item only makes it $13. A 30% increase on a $1,600 fridge makes it $2,080. Yikes. But unlike cars, where prices are already going up, there are still a few deals on major appliances if you look hard enough.

1. Classic and Affordable: Not everyone wants, or can afford, a high tech fridge. You still can get a simple, dependable, 27-inch top freezer Black & Decker for $700, with free delivery to most addresses. FOr that you get a full-sized frost-free freezer, glass shelves, dual and full-width door bins. There are lots of size and color options if you need something bigger.
2. Double French Doors: If you have the room, French doors make getting in and out of your refrigerator so much easier, and you can save $1,801 on Frigidaire’s Gallery 22 right now, bringing the price down to less than $2,000. It’s actually $50 LESS than that if you get it with a year’s supply of water filter cartridges.
3. Custom Temp Drawer: We’d opt for Frigidaire’s Gallery 26, just for the Custom-Flex Temp Drawer alone. Chill some wine, deli meat, seafood or use it as another freezer. You can also access the rest of the fridge and freezer through four French doors. It’s $1,948 right now, which is a deal you won’t want to miss.
4. For Apartments: Save 10% and pay just $188 for a 3.6-cubic-foot apartment and dorm refrigerator. Choose between black or white, and take advantage of the compact freezer on top. There are larger sizes up to 4.8 cu.ft., which is still only $270.
5. Energy-Star: If you have a big family (or one hungry teen), you’ll appreciate the room and low electricity use of Frigidaire’s 28-cubic-foot Energy-Star fridge. We really like the auto-close doors, so you’ll never have to yell at anyone for leaving it open.

Buy Small Appliances Like Toaster Ovens Now

As Alvarado mentioned, tariffs will impact appliances like toasters due to aluminum shortages. Toasters don’t cost that much, so why wait and pay more than you have to?

1. Retro-Chic: Get the vibe of a Smeg, sans the expense with a fun retro smart toaster, which combines five bright colors, stainless construction, a chunky knob and a slick touchscreen. It even has a special low power mode for defrosting bagels (and pop-tarts).
2. Stainless Steel: Keep things low maintenance with Cuisinart’s stainless steel toaster oven. It can hold four slices and has a slide-out crumb tray to make cleaning easy. Right now it’s 21% off, which brings down the price to just $55.
3. Flip and Reverse it: Ninja’s 8-inch high low-profile compact toaster oven is the only one we’ve ever seen with a party trick: Place it upright as a traditional toaster, or on its side and it’s a small toaster oven with a swing-out door.
4. Production Line: If you feed a big family; or do group meals for a community event, you’ll thank yourself for getting a commercial conveyor toaster. You just pop your bread product in one end, and it comes toasted out the other, up to seven slices a minute!
5. Easy Bake: Brentwood’s mini toaster oven isn’t more than eight inches on any side and won’t hold more than a half a bagel. Tuck it in any corner of your kitchen for a slice on the go in the morning.

Experts Say Prices on Microwaves Are Going Up

Jeanel Alvarado says microwaves will be one of the small appliances impacted by tariffs, because they’re also made with aluminum.

1. Vintage Vibes: We’ve never seen a retro microwave before and now we can’t get enough. It’s small but mighty with 900 watts and comes in two different retro styles and four colors…and they start at $79.
2. Built-In: Save $71 on Frigidaire’s over-the-counter built-in model. It’s compact for a 30-inch built-in but still holds a full-size 16.5-inch glass turntable. With 1,100 watts it will heat fast and look good in easy-care stainless steel.
3. Over-the-Range Air Fryer: Take $151 off Frigidaire’s over-the-range microwave. This is the professional model with a three-speed range fan, easy change filter, and air-fryer mode.
4. Best Affordable: You can get a small, 700 watt Black + Decker digital microwave for just $90. If you need more space and power, there’s a 900W 0.9 cu.ft. unit with air frying, and $130, 1,000W 1.1 cu.ft. option as well.

Air Fryers Will Get More Expensive

The other small appliance likely t be impacted by tariffs is air fryers. The best models do a great job making healthy, crispy foods without using much oil.

1. Family-Sized: Go for a 10 quart, family-sized air fryer if you’re cooking for a crowd. This well-reviewed Chefman is on sale for $90 as of writing, which is a steal.
2. Colorful and Cute: Drew Barrymore’s Beautiful line offers consistently high quality at very low prices, including an air fryer. The pink and cream colors are $5 off at just $35, and there are lots of other colors at $40.
3. Budget: If you want something a little smaller and a lot more modern looking, you can get a smaller Belaco air fryer for just $34.
4. Big and Convenient: The Dome 2 air fryer is not just big, it’s smart — and on sale. It’ll do everything a high-end toaster oven does, plus top-rated air frying in a size big enough to fit a 12-inch pizza, or a party-pleasing 32 wings. You’ll find it can replace your conventional oven for a lot of needs, and there are two stacking discounts on it right now.
5. Dual Baskets: Whether you’re cooking for a family or simply looking to kill two birds with one stone, Ninja’s Foodi dual basket air fryer can get the job done.

Washing Machines May Go Up 20%

Large appliances and specifically washing machines went up almost 20% during the last round of tariffs.

1. Now Washer? No Problem: Portable washing machines are a great option for apartments and homes that don’t have one. Black & Decker has six different sizes starting at $250 depending on your space and needs, but anything is better than living at the laundromat.
2. Top Load Convenience: Front loaders are great, but the floor-level loading is a real problem for some people. If you prefer a top loader, the best in the game is a Whirlpool Smart Top Load Washer. It has a stain pre-treater dual-temperature faucet and automatic presoak option, and it’s $451 off.
3. Does It All: GE’s Capacity Washer is Energy-Star certified, its SmartDispense holds enough detergent for 32 loads and Smart Wash promises cleaner results. Also, it’s sapphire blue! Save $470 right now (just $879) thanks to a sale from the brand.
4. Front Load With Steam: Kenmore’s stackable front load washer is super spacious and features steam and sanitize options, which help remove stains gently and efficiently. It’s 15% off for a limited time deal.

Get a Dryer Before We Have To Go Back to Clotheslines

Just like washing machines, dryers are looking at a 20% and up rise in prices over the next few months. Smart products, especially, will be hit by skyrocketing prices on chips.

1. Budget: Once again, Black & Decker comes through with a very affordable quality smaller appliance. This one plugs into a wall outlet, making it perfect to pair with the portable washer. With sales, that’s an entire compact laundry for $530! That’s like one year of going to the laundromat, without taking hours out of your day.
2. Best Gas: Electric dryers need special wiring, so dany homeowners opt for gas dryers, and Maytag’s smart gas dryer is a longtime favorite. It comes in two finishes (white and grey) and has advanced moisture sensing to ensure each load is truly dry. Take $271 off if you buy through Home Depot now.
3. Best Electric: If you are set up for an electric dryer, you can save some space with LG’s smart stackable dryer. It has a TurboSteam feature which reduces wrinkles and odor; and built-in intelligence that selects optimal dry motions. It comes in two colors, and thanks to an ongoing sale, it’s $351 off at Home Depot.
4. Best Top Load: Whirlpool’s top load moisture-sensing dryer helps prevent over-drying. It prevents wrinkles from setting, thanks to its continuous tumbling. And it’s top load, so it can hold a larger capacity. Save $251 at Home Depot if you buy it now.
5. Best Front Load: One of Home Depot’s best-selling front load dryers is Amana’s big, affordable electric dryer. It measures at 6.5 cubic-feet, which means it handles large loads. Plus, it can monitor temperature and control time, to prevent over-drying.