AED Buyer’s Guide: Comparing 5, 10, and 15-Year Maintenance Costs
When you buy an AED, the price of the unit is only part of the story. The real cost shows up over time through replacement pads, batteries, cabinets, signage, and the work of keeping the device ready to use.
For a business, school, church, gym, or property manager, this matters. Two AEDs may look close in price at checkout, but the long-term cost can be very different. Some models have pads that expire sooner. Others have more expensive batteries. A lower upfront price does not always mean the AED will be cheaper to own.
That is why it helps to look at the total cost of ownership. Below is a simple breakdown of what several common AED models may cost over 5, 10, and 15 years.
| AED Model | 5-Year Cost | 10-Year Cost | 15-Year Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| HeartSine Samaritan PAD | $2,024 | $2,266 | $2,508 |
| Avive Connect AED | $2,100 | $2,400 | $2,600 |
| Defibtech Lifeline AED | $1,907 | $2,365 | $2,749 |
| Philips HeartStart OnSite | $1,992 | $2,464 | $2,847 |
| ZOLL AED Plus | $2,404 | $2,726 | $3,048 |
| Stryker / LIFEPAK CR2 | $2,177 | $2,703 | $3,229 |
| Cardiac Science Powerheart G5 | $2,828 | $3,587 | $4,258 |
Click any column heading to sort the table. Costs are estimates and may vary by package, distributor, replacement supply pricing, taxes, and shipping.
For many organizations, the long-term cost is smaller than it first appears. When the 15-year ownership cost is divided across employees, members, students, or regular visitors, the yearly cost per person can be very low.
That does not mean the purchase is unimportant. It simply means the budget should be viewed over the full life of the AED, not only on the day it is purchased.
AED Cost Per Employee Calculator
Enter the number of people at your location to see how a typical AED ownership cost breaks down over 15 years.
