How Much Does It Cost to Run a Washer?
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.
The spin speed of the final cycle directly affects dryer costs downstream. Front-loaders spin at 1,000-1,400 RPM, extracting far more water than top-loaders at 600-800 RPM. Clothes from a high-spin washer enter the dryer with 40-50% less moisture, cutting dryer time by 15-25 minutes per load and saving $0.10-0.20 in dryer electricity per load.
The washer motor itself uses relatively little energy—about 500 watts for a front-loader and 300-500 watts for a top-loader during agitation. The overwhelming majority of electricity goes to heating the water. A single hot-water wash cycle can use the same amount of electricity as 8-10 cold-water cycles, which is why water temperature is the single largest lever for reducing laundry energy costs.
High-efficiency (HE) top-loaders without a center agitator use 20-30% less water than traditional agitator models while providing comparable cleaning. These impeller-style washers fill only partway and tumble clothes through the water rather than submerging them fully. They also tend to be gentler on fabrics, reducing wear and extending clothing life.
Running the washer during off-peak electricity hours can save 20-40% per load if your utility offers time-of-use pricing. Peak rates often run $0.25-0.45/kWh during afternoon hours, while off-peak rates between 9 PM and 6 AM may drop to $0.08-0.12/kWh. Scheduling laundry for evenings or early mornings is one of the simplest ways to reduce per-load electricity costs without changing any settings.
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.