Calculators · Cost to run
How much does it cost to run a washing machine?
The washing machine's motor uses little energy — most of a load's cost is heating the water, not turning the drum. So a cold-water load is cheap (well under a dime); a hot load costs far more, mostly through your water heater.
Higher if it heats its own water.
per hour
6¢
per day
$0.06
per month
$1.90
per year
$22.74
Running a 500W washing machine 1 hours a day costs about $0.06/day or $1.90/month at 12.46¢/kWh.
Runs entirely in your browser — nothing you type is sent anywhere. Estimates only; your actual bill depends on your usage and includes delivery charges on top of the supply rate.
What it costs per load, at real rates
Based on the machine on a cold cycle; hot water adds a lot via the water heater (~0.5 kWh), priced at three of the utilities we track:
| Utility | Rate | Cost per load |
|---|---|---|
| PECO (PA) | 10.789¢/kWh | 5¢ |
| BGE (MD) | 14.609¢/kWh | 7¢ |
| ComEd (IL) | 10.399¢/kWh | 5¢ |
Supply rate only; delivery charges are extra. Use the calculator above for your own utility and usage.
Energy per load by water temperature
| Cycle | Approx. energy/load | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cold wash | ~0.3 kWh | Just the machine — cheapest by far |
| Warm wash | ~0.9 kWh | Adds some water heating |
| Hot wash | ~2.0–2.3 kWh | Most of it is the water heater |
Figures include the water-heating energy on warm/hot cycles. An efficient (ENERGY STAR) machine uses less and spins drier.
How to cut the cost
- 1
Wash cold
Modern detergents work fine in cold water, and it's the single biggest saving — cold cuts most of a load's energy because you skip the water heating.
- 2
Run full loads
A half-empty machine uses nearly the same water and energy as a full one. Wait for a full load.
- 3
Use the high-spin setting
A faster final spin wrings out more water, so the dryer — the real energy hog — runs less. The washer's small extra spin energy is paid back many times over at the dryer.
- 4
Skip 'sanitize' / extra-hot unless needed
High-heat cycles lean hard on the water heater. Reserve them for genuinely dirty or allergen loads.
Common questions
- How much does it cost to run a washing machine per load?
- A cold-water load is about 0.3 kWh — only a few cents. A hot load can be 2+ kWh once you count the water heating, so 25–40¢ or more. Washing cold is where the savings are.
- Does a washing machine use a lot of electricity?
- The machine itself doesn't — the motor is modest. The energy that matters is heating the wash water, which is why cold washing is so much cheaper.
- Is it the washer or the dryer that costs more?
- The dryer, by a wide margin — drying uses roughly 3 kWh a load versus a fraction of that for a cold wash. A high washer spin speed cuts the dryer's work.
- How much does a washing machine cost per month?
- For a cold-washing household doing ~5 loads a week, often under $5 a month for the washer. Hot washes and the dryer are where laundry costs add up.
If your bill jumped more than your usage explains, your rate may have risen too.