How much does a washing machine cost to run?
$1.28 a month
- A day of use
- $0.07
- An hour of running
- $0.07
- A year
- $15.30
400 W, one 1-hour load, 4 days a week (motor only), at the US average of 18.3¢ per kWh (EIA, June 2026). How we calculate this
Change the watts, hours or rate
What it costs at other usage levels
| Use | A day | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour a day typical | $0.07 | $1.28 | $15.30 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.15 | $2.55 | $30.60 |
| 4 hours a day | $0.29 | $5.10 | $61.20 |
| 8 hours a day | $0.59 | $10.20 | $122.41 |
| 24 hours a day | $1.76 | $30.60 | $367.22 |
Models range from 300 W to 500 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 400 W, the middle of that range.
Ways to spend less
- Wash in cold water; heating the water uses far more energy than the motor, and it is billed on your water heater.
- Wash full loads. Saves about $0.32 a month.
- Use the high-spin setting so clothes need less time in the dryer.
What a washing machine costs to run in every state
| Rank | State | Rate | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | 13.1¢ | $0.91 | $10.94 |
| 2 | Nebraska | 13.3¢ | $0.92 | $11.05 |
| 3 | Utah | 13.4¢ | $0.93 | $11.15 |
| 4 | Louisiana | 13.5¢ | $0.94 | $11.25 |
| 5 | Tennessee | 14.1¢ | $0.98 | $11.74 |
| 6 | Arkansas | 14.1¢ | $0.98 | $11.78 |
| 7 | North Dakota | 14.1¢ | $0.98 | $11.78 |
| 8 | Kentucky | 14.3¢ | $0.99 | $11.90 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 14.3¢ | $1.00 | $11.96 |
| 10 | Idaho | 14.4¢ | $1.00 | $11.99 |
| 11 | North Carolina | 14.7¢ | $1.02 | $12.30 |
| 12 | Mississippi | 14.9¢ | $1.03 | $12.41 |
| 13 | Washington | 14.9¢ | $1.04 | $12.44 |
| 14 | New Mexico | 15.1¢ | $1.05 | $12.56 |
| 15 | Florida | 15.1¢ | $1.05 | $12.60 |
| 16 | Montana | 15.1¢ | $1.05 | $12.63 |
| 17 | Arizona | 15.2¢ | $1.06 | $12.66 |
| 18 | Wyoming | 15.2¢ | $1.06 | $12.71 |
| 19 | South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $1.07 | $12.81 |
| 20 | West Virginia | 15.5¢ | $1.07 | $12.89 |
| 21 | South Carolina | 15.6¢ | $1.08 | $12.97 |
| 22 | Kansas | 15.7¢ | $1.09 | $13.11 |
| 23 | Iowa | 15.9¢ | $1.11 | $13.29 |
| 24 | Texas | 15.9¢ | $1.11 | $13.30 |
| 25 | Missouri | 16.2¢ | $1.13 | $13.53 |
| 26 | Oregon | 16.3¢ | $1.13 | $13.62 |
| 27 | Georgia | 16.4¢ | $1.14 | $13.65 |
| 28 | Alabama | 16.4¢ | $1.14 | $13.68 |
| 29 | Colorado | 17.1¢ | $1.19 | $14.29 |
| 30 | Virginia | 17.2¢ | $1.20 | $14.37 |
| 31 | Indiana | 17.5¢ | $1.22 | $14.61 |
| 32 | Minnesota | 17.5¢ | $1.22 | $14.62 |
| 33 | Ohio | 19.2¢ | $1.33 | $16.01 |
| 34 | Delaware | 19.3¢ | $1.34 | $16.09 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | 19.6¢ | $1.36 | $16.32 |
| 36 | Illinois | 19.9¢ | $1.38 | $16.59 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $1.51 | $18.13 |
| 38 | Maryland | 21.8¢ | $1.52 | $18.22 |
| 39 | Michigan | 23.0¢ | $1.60 | $19.18 |
| 40 | Connecticut | 24.3¢ | $1.69 | $20.29 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | 24.4¢ | $1.70 | $20.35 |
| 42 | Vermont | 24.4¢ | $1.70 | $20.39 |
| 43 | New Jersey | 25.0¢ | $1.73 | $20.82 |
| 44 | New Hampshire | 27.0¢ | $1.88 | $22.53 |
| 45 | Alaska | 28.2¢ | $1.96 | $23.54 |
| 46 | Rhode Island | 29.2¢ | $2.03 | $24.39 |
| 47 | New York | 29.5¢ | $2.05 | $24.60 |
| 48 | Maine | 29.6¢ | $2.06 | $24.69 |
| 49 | Massachusetts | 29.6¢ | $2.06 | $24.70 |
| 50 | California | 34.7¢ | $2.42 | $28.98 |
| 51 | Hawaii | 52.7¢ | $3.67 | $43.98 |
Questions
How much does it cost to run a washing machine per hour?
About $0.07 an hour. A washing machine at 400 W uses 0.400 kWh per hour, and at the US average of 18.3¢ per kWh that comes to $0.07.
How much does a washing machine add to your electric bill?
Used one 1-hour load, 4 days a week (motor only), about $1.28 a month, or $15.30 a year.
How much does it cost to run a washing machine 24 hours a day?
Running nonstop, a washing machine would use 9.60 kWh a day and cost $1.76 a day, or $53.55 over an average month.
How many watts does a washing machine use?
Models range from 300 W to 500 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 400 W, the middle of that range. Check the label on yours: cost scales directly with watts, so a 20% lower wattage means a 20% lower bill.
Which state is cheapest to run a washing machine in?
Nevada, at 13.1¢ per kWh: $0.91 a month. The most expensive is Hawaii at 52.7¢ per kWh: $3.67 a month. Same appliance, same hours; only the rate differs.
Sources
- Virginia Cooperative Extension: Estimating appliance and home electronic energy use (reproduces U.S. Department of Energy sample wattages)
- Penn State EGEE 102: Typical range of power consumption (wattage)
- Southern California Edison: Appliance energy use
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: average price of electricity to ultimate customers, residential, June 2026 Figures transcribed from republications of this table on September 26, 2026; pending direct verification from the EIA API.
Usage assumptions (hours a day, season) are ours and listed on the methodology page. Found an error? Tell us.