Washing Machine Cost Per Load Calculator
Enter how many loads you wash a week and whether you use hot water, and get the cost per load, month and year in your state.
Washing machine cost
A11Scenario A
Sets the electricity rate. Pick US average if you're not sure.
From EIA for US average. Use the rate on your bill if you know it.
Rate used: 18.4¢/kWh · US average · EIA reference 2025–26 (data as of 2026-09-26) ·
Estimated cost per month
Estimate. Formula and sources are under “How it works”. Change any input; the result updates as you type.
Formula
How it works
- kWh per load = 0.4 (the machine) + 2.0 if washing hot
- kWh per month = kWh per load × loads per week × 52 ÷ 12
- Cost per load = kWh per load × rate
The washer itself (motor, pump, controls) uses about 0.3–0.5 kWh a cycle. A hot wash pulls about 25 gallons of hot water from the water heater; with an electric water heater and a 70 °F temperature rise, that adds about 2 kWh. That's why washing in cold water removes most of the cost.
Sources: +2 kWh per hot load (25 gal × 70 °F rise, same physics as our water heater calculator). Electricity rate: EIA Electric Power Monthly table 5.6.A.
Worked example
A worked example
A hot-water load uses 0.4 + 2.0 = 2.40 kWh. At the Texas rate of 15.5¢/kWh that's $0.37 a load. Five loads a week comes to $8.06 a month and $96.72 a year.
Reference
Reference table
Washer cost per month at 18.4¢/kWh (US average)
| 3 a week | 5 a week | 8 a week | 12 a week | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wash | $0.96 | $1.59 | $2.55 | $3.83 |
| Hot wash | $5.74 | $9.57 | $15.31 | $22.96 |
Questions
FAQ
How much does a hot wash cost compared with a cold wash?
At the US average rate of 18.4¢/kWh, a cold load costs an estimated $0.07 and a hot load about $0.44, more than six times as much. Nearly all the difference is heating the water.
How much does one load of laundry cost?
In electricity, $0.07 for a cold load at the US average rate, or $0.13 in California at 32.0¢/kWh. Add the dryer if you use one: that's $0.55 a load for electric at the US average rate.
Do front-load washers use less electricity than top-loaders?
The machine's own electricity is small either way, 0.3–0.5 kWh a cycle. The bigger difference is how much hot water each design uses; check the EnergyGuide label for the model's yearly kWh.
Does this include water and sewer costs?
No. This page estimates electricity only. Water and sewer charges come from your water utility.
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