Washing Machine electricity cost calculator
In this example, a washing machine at 500W and 40% duty cycle costs $0.036 per scheduled hour. At 1.00 hour per day, that is $1.11 per 30.44 use days, using the August 2026 US average of 18.16¢/kWh. Adjust the calculator for your appliance and electricity bill.
Washing Machine electricity cost calculator
Use watts and running time, or enter energy from a label, meter or completed load. Your inputs stay on this device.
Enter a number within each field’s limits to calculate your cost.
Your estimated energy cost
73 kWh across 365 use days per year
Power mode includes your selected duty cycle. The monthly figure assumes 30.44 use days; the annual total uses your selected use days. These are estimates at the entered rate.
Energy charges only. Fixed utility fees, purchase, installation and maintenance are excluded. See the calculation method and sources.
Running cost at different usage times
These examples hold 500W, 40% duty cycle and 18.16¢/kWh constant. They illustrate the arithmetic, not recommended schedules. Follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions.
| Hours per use day | kWh per day | Cost per day | 30.44 use days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 0.100 kWh | $0.02 | $0.55 |
| 1 | 0.200 kWh | $0.04 | $1.11 |
| 4 | 0.800 kWh | $0.15 | $4.42 |
| 8 | 1.600 kWh | $0.29 | $8.84 |
How to estimate your washing machine electricity use
Washing-machine electricity depends on the cycle and on where the hot water is heated. A machine-only estimate can exclude electricity used by a separate water heater, while some energy-label figures use broader test assumptions.
Water and sewer costs are excluded. EnergyGuide use assumptions may differ from your chosen cycle and loads per week.
- Use measured kWh for a representative wash cycle when available, then multiply by your price and number of loads.
- Check whether the specification includes internal water heating, standby and externally heated water. Keep the same boundary when comparing machines.
- If you calculate a separate water-heater load, avoid counting hot-water energy twice.
- For a watts-based estimate, use average cycle input or account for the different wash, spin and heating stages. Nameplate maximum is not cycle-average power.
Calculation and data sources
Daily kWh = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × duty cycle ÷ 100. Multiply kWh by your rate in dollars per kWh to get cost. The wattage, hours and duty cycle above are editable example assumptions, not EIA measurements of this appliance.
The US and state average prices come from the EIA for August 2026. A state average is a starting point; your bill is the better source for your tariff.
Electricity running cost by state
Sorted by average electricity price. These reference figures use 1.00 hours per day at 40% duty cycle, for 30.44 days per month and 365 days per year. Seasonal use will cost less than this year-round scenario. Click a state to load its rate.
| State | Rate /kWh | Per month | Per year | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $0.77 | $9.29 | |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $0.78 | $9.40 | |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $0.81 | $9.72 | |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $0.81 | $9.72 | |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $0.81 | $9.76 | |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $0.82 | $9.80 | |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $0.82 | $9.88 | |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $0.84 | $10.07 | |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $0.87 | $10.49 | |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $0.88 | $10.53 | |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $0.88 | $10.53 | |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $0.89 | $10.68 | |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $0.90 | $10.82 | |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $0.91 | $10.91 | |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $0.91 | $10.94 | |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $0.92 | $10.99 | |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $0.92 | $11.06 | |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $0.94 | $11.29 | |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $0.95 | $11.37 | |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $0.96 | $11.50 | |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $0.97 | $11.61 | |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $0.97 | $11.61 | |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $0.97 | $11.62 | |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $0.98 | $11.69 | |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $0.99 | $11.91 | |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $0.99 | $11.92 | |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $1.01 | $12.05 | |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $1.04 | $12.42 | |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $1.04 | $12.45 | |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $1.05 | $12.53 | |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $1.05 | $12.56 | |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $1.07 | $12.88 | |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $1.14 | $13.65 | |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $1.18 | $14.10 | |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $1.18 | $14.15 | |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $1.18 | $14.17 | |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $1.30 | $15.62 | |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $1.33 | $15.89 | |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $1.40 | $16.78 | |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $1.45 | $17.40 | |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $1.49 | $17.89 | |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $1.50 | $17.97 | |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $1.58 | $18.97 | |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $1.68 | $20.18 | |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $1.72 | $20.57 | |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $1.74 | $20.91 | |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $1.79 | $21.47 | |
| California | 29.75¢ | $1.81 | $21.72 | |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $1.86 | $22.25 | |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $1.95 | $23.44 | |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $2.87 | $34.44 |
Common questions
How much electricity does a washing machine use?
In this example, 500 watts at a 40% duty cycle uses 0.200 kWh per scheduled hour. At 1.00 hours per day, that is 0.200 kWh per use day. Your model and operating conditions can differ.
How much does it cost to run a washing machine for an hour?
The default example costs $0.036 per scheduled hour at the US average of 18.16¢/kWh for August 2026. This includes the selected duty cycle. Enter your watts, duty cycle and electricity price for your own estimate.
Does the annual cost assume I use it every day?
The reference tables use 365 days at the stated daily hours; monthly figures use 30.44 days. These are comparison scenarios, not forecasts. For a heater used on 90 days, enter 90 use days per year in the calculator.
Why does electricity running cost vary by state?
For August 2026, the EIA state averages range from 12.72¢/kWh in Nevada to 47.18¢/kWh in Hawaii. Equal electricity use costs more at a higher rate. Your utility tariff can differ from the state average.
Should I enter rated watts or average watts?
Use the input that matches your measurement. Rated watts can represent maximum draw. If you know the average watts over the selected hours, enter that average and set duty cycle to 100%; do not reduce it again for cycling.
Does this include the purchase price?
No. This calculator estimates electricity at the entered usage-based rate. Purchase, installation, maintenance and fixed monthly utility charges are separate.
How do I estimate occasional use?
In watts-and-hours mode, enter the hours used on an active day, then select the number of use-days per year. The monthly figure remains a 30.44-day equivalent at that daily use; the annual figure uses your selected days.