How Much Does It Cost to Run a Washer?

Calculate washing machine electricity and water costs. Each load costs about $0.10-0.30 in electricity plus $0.15-0.50 for water.

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Quick Answer

Running a washing machine costs about $0.10-0.30 per load in electricity, plus $0.15-0.50 for water and sewer. Total cost per load is $0.25-0.80. Energy Star washers use 25% less energy and 45% less water. See also: dryer costs.

Key Takeaways

Front-load washers use 2-3 kWh per load; top-loaders use 3-5 kWh including water heating.
Cold water detergents work well and dramatically cut energy costs.
Always run full loads—partial loads waste water and energy.

Explanation

Front-load washers use 2-3 kWh per load; top-loaders use 3-5 kWh including water heating. At $0.16/kWh, electricity per load is $0.30-0.80. Cold water cycles dramatically reduce energy use.

Hot water heating is the biggest energy cost. A hot water load uses 4-5x more energy than cold. Warm water uses about half. Washing in cold water can reduce energy cost by 75-90%.

Water costs add $0.15-0.50 per load depending on local rates. High-efficiency front-loaders use 15-30 gallons vs 30-45 gallons for traditional top-loaders.

Things to Know

Cold water detergents work well and dramatically cut energy costs.
Always run full loads—partial loads waste water and energy.
Gas water heaters cost less to run than electric for hot water loads.