How much does it cost to run a washing machine?
We've pre-filled a typical washing machine below. Set your electricity rate and adjust the hours to match how you use yours — the cost updates instantly.
The machine itself only uses ~350–1,000W; the real cost is the hot water you wash with.
Running a washing machine at 500W for 1 h a day costs about
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A washing machine's motor is surprisingly cheap to run — a few hundred watts for the wash and spin. The cost people don't see is the hot water: if you wash warm or hot, most of the energy is your water heater heating that water, not the machine itself.
That's why 'wash cold' is the single biggest laundry-saving tip — it sidesteps the water-heating cost almost entirely.
What drives the cost of running a washing machine
- Water temperature dominates — hot washes pull from your (often electric) water heater.
- The machine's own motor draw is small by comparison.
- High-efficiency front-loaders use less water, and so less water heating.
How to cut it
- Wash in cold water — modern detergents are built for it and it cuts most of the cost.
- Run full loads and use the high-spin option to wring out more water before drying.
- Skip 'sanitize'/extra-hot cycles unless you truly need them.
Common questions
How much does it cost to run a washing machine per month?
At a typical 500W and about 1 hour a day, a washing machine costs roughly $2.55 a month at $0.17/kWh. Set your own rate and hours above for an exact figure.
How can I cut the cost of running a washing machine?
Wash in cold water — modern detergents are built for it and it cuts most of the cost.
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