How much does it cost to run a washing machine?
EIA data · June 2026About $1.20 a month at the U.S. average price of 18.34¢ per kilowatt-hour — but that figure moves a long way depending on where you live. Set your state below.
6.5 kWh a month at the U.S. average, 18.34¢/kWh for June 2026. Excludes fixed charges, taxes and time-of-use rates, which vary by utility and are on your bill.
Typical 250–1,200 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.
Each load is assumed to take 1 hour.
60% duty cycle applied — it draws power for part of that time.
A washing machine sits mid-table at #67 of 88, which means something else in the house costs more. See whether laundry or something else drives your bill.
Published figures for this appliance disagree by a wide margin. Why other sites price a washing machine so differently.
How many watts a washing machine uses
The motor and pump of a washer draw only about 250–500 W. The high end of the range applies to machines with an internal water heater running a hot or sanitize cycle.
- Low
- 250 W
- Typical
- 500 W
- High
- 1,200 W
What it costs across the country
Same appliance, same usage, different electricity price. Annual cost at 500 W and the default usage above.
| State | ¢/kWh | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 52.72 | $41.23 |
| California | 34.74 | $27.17 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $23.16 |
| New York | 29.49 | $23.07 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $15.01 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $12.47 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $11.81 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $10.46 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $10.36 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $10.25 |
Worth knowing
- The washing machine itself is cheap to run. What costs money is hot water, and that cost shows up on your water heater rather than the washer.
- Washing in cold water removes nearly all the energy cost of a load, because no water needs heating.
- A faster spin cycle costs a little more at the washer but saves considerably more at the dryer, since less water is left in the clothes.
Other appliances
- Electric clothes dryer
- Clothes iron
- Clothes steamer
- Space heater
- Central air conditioner
- Window air conditioner
- Electric water heater
- Refrigerator
Prices are statewide residential averages for June 2026 from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. They exclude fixed monthly charges, taxes and time-of-use rates. See how these figures are calculated.