👕 Laundry
How Many kWh Does a Washing Machine Use?
Washing Machine energy cost calculator — see your exact daily, monthly, and yearly electricity cost.
Rate — APRIL 2026
⚡ 500W typical
$
US national average. Edit for your local rate.
Daily Energy Use
0.50
kWh / day
Monthly Cost
$2.82
Yearly Cost
$34.36
Washing Machine — Cost Breakdown
| Period | kWh Used | Cost ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Per Hour | 0.5000 | $0.0941 |
| Per Day | 0.50 | $0.09 |
| Per Month (30 days) | 15.00 | $2.82 |
| Per Year (365 days) | 182.50 | $34.36 |
⚡ Real-World Comparison
Running one load of laundry uses about the same energy as watching TV for 6 hours.
3 Ways to Cut Your Washing Machine Energy Bill
- 🌱
Wash with cold water — about 90% of a washing machine's energy goes to heating the water, not running the motor.
- 💡
Use high-spin speed for the final spin cycle to extract more water, reducing dryer time and energy significantly.
- ⚡
Wait for full loads instead of running partial ones — the machine uses nearly the same energy either way.
Startup Surge Information
The motor surges briefly to about 1,000–1,500W during the start of the spin cycle before settling to its running wattage.