How much does it cost to run a washing machine?
Short answer: A washing machine drawing 500 watts for 45 minutes costs about $0.07 per use at the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Used 5 times a week, that is about $1.49 per month and $17.85 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $1.03 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $3.90.
Washing machine cost calculator
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Minutes per load. The wattage is the average over the cycle for the machine itself; water heated by your water heater is extra.
Uses 8.1 kWh per month. The starting price is the U.S. residential average; choose your state or type the price from your own bill.
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| Appliance | Usage | Per month | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | |||
| Per year |
The washing machine itself is a modest electricity user. Its motor and controls take roughly 0.3 to 0.5 kWh per load. The larger cost is the hot water, which is usually heated by your water heater rather than by the washer.
Cost by size and setting
Costs below use the U.S. average price and 45 minutes per use, 5 times a week.
| Type | Power | Per use | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front-loader, cold wash | 250 W | $0.03 | $0.74 |
| Top-loader, warm wash | 500 W | $0.07 | $1.49 |
| Wash with internal water heater on hot | 1,200 W | $0.16 | $3.57 |
The hidden cost is hot water
ENERGY STAR estimates that heating the water accounts for about 90 percent of the energy a washer uses. A warm or hot wash can therefore cost several times what the machine's own motor does, and that cost lands on whichever fuel heats your water. With an electric water heater it is on this same bill; with gas, it is not.
Front-loading washers use about half the energy and water of traditional top-load agitator machines, according to ENERGY STAR, largely because they tumble clothes through a shallow pool of water instead of filling the tub.
Spin speed and the dryer
The washer's spin cycle affects the next appliance in line. A faster spin leaves less water in the clothes, and removing water by spinning takes far less energy than evaporating it in a dryer. If you tumble dry, the highest spin setting your fabrics tolerate is one of the cheapest savings available.
How to lower the cost
- Wash in cold water. Modern detergents are formulated for it.
- Run full loads rather than several small ones.
- Choose the high-spin option before using a dryer.
- Use the correct amount of detergent; excess suds make the machine work longer.
How a washing machine compares with other appliances
Typical power and use for each appliance, at the U.S. average price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Follow a link for that appliance's own calculator, or compare two side by side.
| Appliance | Power | Typical use | Energy per month | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washing machine | 500 W | 45 minutes per use, 5 times a week | 8.1 kWh | $1.49 |
| Clothes dryer | 3,000 W | 60 minutes per use, 5 times a week | 65.0 kWh | $11.90 |
| Dishwasher | 600 W | 120 minutes per use, 5 times a week | 26.0 kWh | $4.76 |
| Electric water heater | 4,500 W | 3 hours a day, 30 days a month | 405.0 kWh | $74.16 |
| Refrigerator | 150 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 36.0 kWh | $6.59 |
The math behind the numbers
500 watts ÷ 1,000 = 0.5 kW. 0.5 kW × 45 minutes ÷ 60 = 0.375 kWh per use. 0.375 kWh × $0.1831 = $0.07 per use. At 5 uses a week, that is 8.1 kWh and $1.49 a month.
Your own figure will differ if your appliance has a different wattage, if you use it more or less, or if your price per kWh is not the national average. Change any of those in the calculator at the top of this page. Our step-by-step guide explains where to find each number.
Cost to run a washing machine in every state
Based on 500 watts for 45 minutes per use, 5 times a week, at each state's average residential electricity price for July 2026.
| State | Price per kWh | Per use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $0.06 | $1.33 | $15.99 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $0.11 | $2.34 | $28.11 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $0.06 | $1.25 | $15.00 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $0.05 | $1.16 | $13.97 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $0.13 | $2.73 | $32.77 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $0.06 | $1.38 | $16.58 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $0.09 | $1.96 | $23.56 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $0.07 | $1.50 | $18.02 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $0.09 | $2.05 | $24.58 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $0.06 | $1.22 | $14.65 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $0.06 | $1.32 | $15.86 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $0.18 | $3.90 | $46.80 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $0.05 | $1.12 | $13.39 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $0.07 | $1.56 | $18.74 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $0.06 | $1.36 | $16.31 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $0.06 | $1.30 | $15.59 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $0.06 | $1.24 | $14.89 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $0.05 | $1.12 | $13.46 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $0.05 | $1.03 | $12.40 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $0.12 | $2.63 | $31.60 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $0.08 | $1.74 | $20.87 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $0.11 | $2.48 | $29.73 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $0.09 | $1.87 | $22.47 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $0.07 | $1.42 | $17.01 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $0.05 | $1.18 | $14.18 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $0.06 | $1.31 | $15.69 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $0.06 | $1.22 | $14.62 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $0.05 | $1.12 | $13.44 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $0.05 | $1.04 | $12.45 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $0.10 | $2.16 | $25.94 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $0.09 | $2.05 | $24.56 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $0.06 | $1.31 | $15.69 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $0.11 | $2.43 | $29.15 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $0.06 | $1.23 | $14.78 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $0.05 | $1.09 | $13.07 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $0.07 | $1.58 | $18.96 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $0.05 | $1.17 | $13.99 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $0.06 | $1.30 | $15.57 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $0.08 | $1.76 | $21.18 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $0.11 | $2.30 | $27.58 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $0.06 | $1.26 | $15.08 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $0.06 | $1.25 | $14.99 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $0.05 | $1.11 | $13.37 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $0.06 | $1.29 | $15.48 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $0.05 | $1.07 | $12.79 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $0.09 | $1.93 | $23.16 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $0.07 | $1.43 | $17.11 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $0.06 | $1.20 | $14.34 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $0.06 | $1.28 | $15.39 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $0.07 | $1.55 | $18.58 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $0.05 | $1.17 | $14.00 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does one load of laundry cost to wash?
For the machine itself, about $0.07 at the U.S. average electricity price. A hot wash costs more because of the water heating.
Is washing in cold water really cheaper?
Yes. Around 90 percent of a washer's energy use is heating water, so a cold cycle removes most of the cost.
How much does a washing machine add to a bill each month?
About $1.49 a month for five cold loads a week at the U.S. average price, before any hot water.
Sources
- ENERGY STAR: Clothes Washers
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly (state electricity prices)
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Appliances and Electronics
Electricity prices are the EIA figures for July 2026. Wattages are typical values; check the label on your own appliance.