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Warranty rules in Switzerland: what you're actually entitled to

General information, not legal advice. Published 21 October 2026.

Swiss warranty law is shorter and weaker than most people think. The rules are in the Swiss Code of Obligations (CO, in German OR), Articles 197 to 210. Here's what they say in plain words.

How long is the warranty in Switzerland?

Two years from delivery. Under Art. 210 para. 1 CO, a claim for defects expires two years after the item was delivered to you, even if you only find the defect later. The seller can give you longer, but not by default.

For buildings, the period is five years where a part built into the building caused the defect (Art. 210 para. 2 CO).

Can a shop shorten the 2-year warranty?

Not if you are a consumer buying new goods from a business. Art. 210 para. 4 CO makes any agreement that cuts the period below two years void when:

For second-hand goods, the seller can shorten it, but to no less than one year.

Can a shop exclude the warranty completely?

This is the catch. The time limit can't be cut, but the rest of the warranty rules are not binding. The Federal Consumer Affairs Bureau says the seller can change your rights through its general terms and conditions (AGB / CGV). If the terms clearly say you only get a repair, that is what you get. Only fraud is off limits: an exclusion is void if the seller hid the defect from you on purpose (Art. 199 CO).

The ch.ch federal portal puts it bluntly: sellers can't shorten the periods, but they can exclude any warranty. The Consumer Affairs Bureau adds that a seller who excludes the warranty completely risks breaching the Unfair Competition Act (Art. 8 UWG). So read the terms before you buy anything expensive.

What can I ask for if something is faulty?

If the terms don't say otherwise, the law gives you these options:

Notice what's missing. The law itself gives you no right to a repair. Repair usually comes from the seller's terms, and many terms offer repair only.

Is the seller or the manufacturer responsible?

The seller. The legal warranty is a claim against the shop you bought from, not against the brand. A "manufacturer's guarantee" (Herstellergarantie) is a separate, voluntary promise. Its length and conditions are whatever the manufacturer writes in it. It can sit on top of the seller's warranty, but it isn't the same thing.

Do I have to report a defect quickly?

Yes. Art. 201 CO says you must check the item as soon as is reasonable and tell the seller without delay if you find a defect. If you don't, the item can count as accepted, except for defects you couldn't have spotted in a normal check. For those, you must complain as soon as you find them. Do it in writing so you can prove it. Under Art. 210 para. 5 CO, if you notified the seller within the two years, you can still raise the defect as a defence later.

What should I keep?

How StuffWatch helps

Snap a photo of the receipt and StuffWatch reads the purchase date and sets the warranty end date. You can edit it if the seller gave you longer. While the item has a date, the daily reminder email warns you 60, 30 and 7 days before the warranty ends, and the purchase details read from the receipt stay with the item. The photo itself isn't stored. StuffWatch also checks what you own against official recalls from the CPSC, Health Canada, UK OPSS and EU Safety Gate. It doesn't tell you whether a claim will succeed. That depends on the seller's terms and the facts.

Start free at stuffwatch.app

Sources

All opened 21 Oct 2026