How much does it cost to run a washing machine?
A washing machine drawing 500 watts, used about 30 minutes a day, uses about 0.25 kWh per day and costs about $0.05 per day, $1.48 per month, and $17.71 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.4¢/kWh. Enter your own wattage, hours, and state below for an exact figure.
Estimates only — based on typical wattages and average state rates, not your actual bill.
What drives the cost
The machine's motor uses relatively little power; most of a wash cycle's energy goes into heating water, which is why wash temperature matters far more than machine wattage. Cold washes cost a small fraction of hot ones.
Cost at different daily usage
Same washing machine at 500 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 min/day | 0.12 kWh | $0.02 | $0.74 | $8.86 |
| 30 min/day | 0.25 kWh | $0.05 | $1.48 | $17.71 |
| 1 h/day | 0.50 kWh | $0.10 | $2.95 | $35.42 |
| 2 h/day | 1.00 kWh | $0.19 | $5.91 | $70.85 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 30 min/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 300 W | 0.15 kWh | $0.03 | $0.89 |
| Typical | 500 W | 0.25 kWh | $0.05 | $1.48 |
| High-draw model | 1,000 W | 0.50 kWh | $0.10 | $2.95 |
Cost by state
A washing machine at 500 W for 30 min/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $0.04 | $1.28 | $15.30 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $0.07 | $2.15 | $25.76 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $0.04 | $1.16 | $13.90 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $0.04 | $1.09 | $13.10 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $0.08 | $2.53 | $30.34 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $0.04 | $1.23 | $14.75 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $0.07 | $2.08 | $24.98 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $0.05 | $1.47 | $17.68 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $0.06 | $1.93 | $23.18 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $0.04 | $1.15 | $13.84 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $0.04 | $1.21 | $14.45 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $0.13 | $3.96 | $47.45 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $0.03 | $0.94 | $11.27 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $0.06 | $1.81 | $21.76 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $0.05 | $1.38 | $16.56 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.04 | $1.08 | $12.90 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $0.04 | $1.15 | $13.81 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $0.04 | $1.14 | $13.67 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $0.04 | $1.08 | $12.91 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $0.07 | $2.18 | $26.12 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $0.05 | $1.66 | $19.87 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $0.07 | $2.19 | $26.30 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $0.06 | $1.67 | $20.08 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $0.04 | $1.29 | $15.47 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $0.04 | $1.23 | $14.75 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $0.03 | $1.04 | $12.48 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $0.04 | $1.12 | $13.39 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $0.03 | $1.03 | $12.40 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $0.03 | $1.03 | $12.41 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $0.07 | $2.08 | $24.94 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $0.06 | $1.77 | $21.23 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $0.04 | $1.07 | $12.88 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.07 | $2.28 | $27.31 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $0.04 | $1.15 | $13.77 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $0.03 | $1.04 | $12.42 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.05 | $1.49 | $17.81 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $0.03 | $1.02 | $12.21 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $0.04 | $1.24 | $14.85 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $0.05 | $1.64 | $19.66 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $0.07 | $2.24 | $26.88 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $0.04 | $1.23 | $14.76 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $0.04 | $1.20 | $14.35 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $0.04 | $1.10 | $13.20 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $0.04 | $1.25 | $15.00 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $0.03 | $0.99 | $11.83 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $0.06 | $1.89 | $22.71 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.04 | $1.34 | $16.07 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $0.04 | $1.14 | $13.64 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $0.04 | $1.28 | $15.33 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $0.05 | $1.50 | $18.01 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $0.04 | $1.13 | $13.51 |
How to cut the cost
- Wash cold — modern detergents are formulated for it, and it eliminates most of the cycle's energy use.
- Run full loads rather than frequent small ones.
- Use a high spin speed so the dryer has less water to remove.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
Does washing clothes in cold water save money?
Substantially. Water heating dominates a wash cycle's energy, so switching from hot to cold cuts most of it.
How do you calculate what a washing machine costs to run?
Multiply its wattage by the hours it runs per day, divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your electricity rate. For a washing machine: 500 W × 0.5 h ÷ 1,000 = 0.25 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $0.05 per day.
How many watts does a washing machine use?
Typically 500 watts, with most models falling between 300 and 1,000 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.