How Often Should You Replace a Life Jacket? September 2026

How often should you replace a life jacket? After testing dozens of PFDs and reviewing guidance from the U.S. Coast Guard, Transport Canada, and major manufacturers over the past decade, I can give you a clear answer: most life jackets last 8 to 10 years with proper care, but the exact replacement timeline depends on whether yours is foam or inflatable. Inflate PFDs require stricter component swaps every 2-3 years even if the vest itself still looks fine. This guide walks through what I've learned about foam degradation, CO2 cylinder swaps, and the warning signs that mean "replace now" rather than "replace next season."

If you're new to the world of personal flotation devices, start with our Life Jacket vs Buoyancy Aid vs PFD guide to understand the terminology. Then come back here to learn when each type needs to retire.

Do Life Jackets Actually Expire?

Here's the short truth: life jackets don't have a stamped expiration date the way a milk carton does. There is no law that says a PFD becomes invalid on a specific calendar day. What we have instead is an industry consensus built on real-world testing.

Most manufacturers, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Transport Canada agree that a well-maintained PFD will reliably perform for roughly 10 years from the date of manufacture. After that point, the foam inside a foam jacket starts losing buoyancy, and the inflation mechanisms in an inflatable PFD become too unpredictable to trust with your life.

I've seen 15-year-old foam vests that still float a test weight. I've also seen 4-year-old vests fail because the owner left them in a damp garage. Age matters, but condition matters more.

Foam vs Inflatable Life Jackets: Lifespan Differences

The two main categories of life jackets wear out at very different rates, and I treat them as separate maintenance jobs entirely.

Foam (Inherently Buoyant) PFDs

Foam life jackets use closed-cell foam that physically displaces water to keep you afloat. They have no moving parts, no gas cylinders, and no trigger mechanisms. The foam itself is the entire flotation system. Because of that simplicity, a foam PFD typically lasts 8 to 10 years if you store it properly.

The enemies of foam are UV radiation, compression, mildew, and petroleum-based chemicals. Leave a foam vest in direct sunlight for a few summers and the outer shell will stiffen while the inner foam turns yellow and crumbly. Sit on it as a car cushion for one season and you'll permanently flatten the foam panels in the seat-of-the-pants area. Both situations can reduce buoyancy well below the rated threshold.

If you're shopping for a new foam vest for an adult paddler, see our roundup of tested inflatable life jackets (many manufacturers make both types) and our picks for the 10 best infant life jackets if you're outfitting a little one.

Inflatable PFDs

Inflatable life jackets look like a comfortable harness until you pull the cord or hit the water, at which point a CO2 cartridge inflates the vest in under 3 seconds. Because of that complexity, inflatable PFDs come with a stricter maintenance schedule even though the outer bladder can physically last up to 10 years.

The components inside an inflatable PFD wear out on their own clock. The CO2 cylinder loses small amounts of gas through the seal over time. The water-soluble bobbin (the little white pill that triggers automatic inflation) degrades even in dry storage. The oral inflation valve's O-rings stiffen with age.

That's why I tell people: an inflatable PFD is a 10-year product only if you replace the consumables on schedule.

Signs It's Time to Replace Your Life Jacket

Beyond the calendar, there are physical signs that any PFD - foam or inflatable - has reached the end of its service life. Run through this checklist before every season opener.

• Visible foam damage: crumbling, hardening, or permanent compression marks
• Torn outer shell, broken seams, or frayed webbing straps
• Persistent mildew smell or staining that won't wash out
• Buckles, zippers, or D-rings that no longer fasten securely
• USCG approval label that is illegible, peeling, or missing entirely
• A failed buoyancy test (more on that below)
• Any PFD that has absorbed oil, gasoline, or solvent contamination

Any one of these on its own is grounds for replacement. Two or more means the jacket should never go on the water again.

How to Test Your Life Jacket's Buoyancy

Don't just eyeball it. A proper buoyancy test takes 30 minutes and tells you definitively whether your PFD still meets its rated performance.

Foam PFD Test

Start by soaking the foam jacket in water for 24 hours. This simulates a long day on the water and reveals whether the foam is absorbing water (a sign the cells have broken down). After the soak, put the vest on over a heavy shirt or light wetsuit - the added bulk mimics being worn in real conditions. Then enter chest-deep water and relax.

A properly functioning foam vest will keep your chin well above water with no treading effort. If your mouth is at water level or you have to actively swim to keep your face clear, the foam has lost too much buoyancy and the jacket needs replacement.

Inflatable PFD Test

For inflatable PFDs, perform an oral inflation test once per season. Remove the CO2 cylinder and the auto-inflation bobbin first (per the manufacturer's instructions). Then blow into the oral tube and inflate the vest fully. Let it sit overnight. In the morning, the bladder should still feel firm. Any noticeable softness means a slow leak, and that means a trip to the manufacturer or a full replacement.

While you're at it, check the green status indicator on the inflator. If it's red instead of green, the auto-inflation system has fired or been compromised and needs service before you trust it again.

CO2 Cartridge and Component Replacement Schedule

If you own an inflatable PFD, this is the section you'll bookmark. Here's the consumables schedule I follow:

• CO2 cylinder: replace every 3 years, or immediately after any deployment
• Auto-inflation bobbin (the dissolving pill): replace every 2 years
• Full inflator service: annually, per manufacturer specs
• Oral inflation valve O-rings: inspect annually, replace as needed

The 3-year cylinder rule is non-negotiable in my book. CO2 slowly leaks past the cylinder seal even when the jacket is never worn, and a half-empty cartridge will not fully inflate the bladder. You can find the manufacture date stamped on the cylinder itself. If you can't read it, the cylinder is too old to use.

The 2-year pill schedule is just as strict. The bobbin is designed to dissolve in water to fire the inflator - that's literally its job. But that same material slowly degrades in humid storage, which means your PFD might auto-inflate in the rain at the wrong moment, or fail to inflate when you actually need it.

Storage and Maintenance Tips to Extend Lifespan

How you treat your PFD between uses determines whether you get 4 years or 14 years out of it. Follow these rules and you'll be at the longer end of that range.

Store your life jacket in a dry, ventilated spot out of direct sunlight. A garage hook near the door is fine. The bottom of a damp boat locker is not.

Never use your PFD as a seat cushion, knee pad, or backrest. The foam compresses permanently under body weight, and that compressed section becomes a dead spot in the water.

After any saltwater trip, rinse the jacket thoroughly with fresh water and let it air dry completely before putting it away. Salt crystals and moisture are what cause the mildew smell that signals the end for many vests.

Keep PFDs away from petroleum products. Gasoline, oil, and many sunscreen chemicals break down the nylon shell and can degrade foam. If you spill fuel on a vest, that vest is now a piece of trash.

Regional Safety Regulations: USCG vs Transport Canada

Both the U.S. Coast Guard and Transport Canada require that every recreational boat carry a properly sized, Coast Guard-approved (or Transport Canada-approved) PFD for each person on board. Neither agency sets a hard expiration date, but both expect you to maintain the PFD so it actually does its job.

In the U.S., the relevant categories are Type I (offshore, best flotation), Type II (nearshore, designed to turn an unconscious wearer face-up), Type III (flotation aid, must be worn to count), and Type V (special use). Inflatable PFDs are typically Type III or Type V depending on the model.

In Canada, the categories use similar numbering, but Transport Canada also requires that inflatable PFDs have current bobbins and CO2 cylinders at all times - this is enforced during vessel safety inspections.

State and provincial laws add another layer. Some U.S. states require children under a certain age to wear a PFD at all times on any vessel. A few provinces require the same. None of these laws change the 10-year service life, but they do change when you are legally required to be wearing one.

When to Retire and How to Dispose of Old Life Jackets

Once a PFD fails inspection or reaches 10 years of service, retire it. Do not pass it down to a friend or sell it at a garage sale. A life jacket that won't save you is just expensive flotation for a swimming pool toy.

If the jacket is still functional and just past its comfortable service life, some sailing schools, kayaking clubs, and youth programs accept used PFDs - call ahead to confirm they want it. Many foam jackets can be recycled through specialty marine recycling programs, though options vary by region.

For inflatable PFDs, do not throw the CO2 cylinder into regular trash until it has been fully discharged (fire the inflator in a safe outdoor area or slowly release the gas through the valve). A pressurized cylinder in a trash bag is a hazard for waste handlers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict on Life Jacket Replacement

The short answer to how often you should replace a life jacket is this: every 10 years for both foam and inflatable PFDs, but inflatable models need their CO2 cartridges swapped every 3 years and auto-inflation bobbins every 2 years along the way. If your jacket shows visible damage, fails a buoyancy test, or has been exposed to fuel or chemicals, retire it immediately rather than waiting for the 10-year mark.

Mark the manufacture date on your PFD with a permanent marker the day you buy it, set a calendar reminder for the consumable replacements, and run the buoyancy test every spring. That short routine is what separates paddlers who trust their gear from paddlers who just hope for the best.