United States Laundry and water
How much does it cost to run a washing machine?
A washing machine is rated up to 2,000 watts, but almost all of that is the water heater, which only runs on hot cycles. A 40 degree cold-fill wash on a modern machine uses about 0.5 to 0.8 kWh, a 60 degree wash about 1.2 to 1.5 kWh, and a cold wash under 0.3.
One load of a washing machine uses about 0.70 kWh and costs about 13 cents in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. At 1 load a day that is about 13 cents a day, $3.87 a month and $46.43 a year.
- Prices: EIA, August 2026, every state
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 0.70 kWh a day, 21 kWh a month, at 18.16 cents per kWh (US average).
The dial places the daily cost between a 50 watt fan and a 4.5 kW water heater on 2.5 hours a day.
One load of a washing machine uses about 0.70 kWh and costs about 13 cents in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. At 1 load a day that is about 13 cents a day, $3.87 a month and $46.43 a year.
What this assumes
The default is 0.70 kWh per load, 1 load a day. Published figures for one load run from 0.3 to 1.5 kWh depending on the model and the setting. The energy label on the machine, or its manual, gives the figure for your model.
The price is the average residential rate in each state from the EIA's Electric Power Monthly for August 2026, released 23 October 2026. The next monthly table is due 24 November 2026. A fixed tariff, a time-of-use plan or a different payment method changes the rate, which is why the rate field is editable.
Cost to run a washing machine in every state
Same 0.70 kWh per load, 1 a day, priced at each state's average residential rate for August 2026. Cheapest: Nevada at 12.72 cents per kWh. Dearest: Hawaii at 47.18. Change the numbers above and the table follows.
| State | Rate | Per load | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72c | 8.9 cents | 8.9 cents | $2.71 | $32.52 |
| Louisiana | 12.87c | 9 cents | 9 cents | $2.74 | $32.91 |
| North Dakota | 13.31c | 9.3 cents | 9.3 cents | $2.84 | $34.03 |
| Utah | 13.31c | 9.3 cents | 9.3 cents | $2.84 | $34.03 |
| Idaho | 13.37c | 9.4 cents | 9.4 cents | $2.85 | $34.18 |
| Tennessee | 13.42c | 9.4 cents | 9.4 cents | $2.86 | $34.31 |
| Nebraska | 13.54c | 9.5 cents | 9.5 cents | $2.88 | $34.62 |
| Kentucky | 13.8c | 9.7 cents | 9.7 cents | $2.94 | $35.28 |
| Arkansas | 14.37c | 10 cents | 10 cents | $3.06 | $36.74 |
| Mississippi | 14.43c | 10 cents | 10 cents | $3.07 | $36.89 |
| Wyoming | 14.43c | 10 cents | 10 cents | $3.07 | $36.89 |
| Washington | 14.63c | 10 cents | 10 cents | $3.12 | $37.41 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82c | 10 cents | 10 cents | $3.16 | $37.89 |
| North Carolina | 14.95c | 10 cents | 10 cents | $3.19 | $38.22 |
| Florida | 14.99c | 10 cents | 10 cents | $3.19 | $38.33 |
| Arizona | 15.05c | 11 cents | 11 cents | $3.21 | $38.48 |
| South Dakota | 15.15c | 11 cents | 11 cents | $3.23 | $38.73 |
| Kansas | 15.47c | 11 cents | 11 cents | $3.30 | $39.55 |
| Montana | 15.57c | 11 cents | 11 cents | $3.32 | $39.81 |
| South Carolina | 15.76c | 11 cents | 11 cents | $3.36 | $40.29 |
| Georgia | 15.9c | 11 cents | 11 cents | $3.39 | $40.65 |
| Texas | 15.91c | 11 cents | 11 cents | $3.39 | $40.68 |
| Oregon | 15.92c | 11 cents | 11 cents | $3.39 | $40.70 |
| Missouri | 16.02c | 11 cents | 11 cents | $3.41 | $40.96 |
| West Virginia | 16.31c | 11 cents | 11 cents | $3.48 | $41.70 |
| Alabama | 16.33c | 11 cents | 11 cents | $3.48 | $41.75 |
| New Mexico | 16.51c | 12 cents | 12 cents | $3.52 | $42.21 |
| Indiana | 17.02c | 12 cents | 12 cents | $3.63 | $43.52 |
| Iowa | 17.06c | 12 cents | 12 cents | $3.63 | $43.62 |
| Colorado | 17.17c | 12 cents | 12 cents | $3.66 | $43.90 |
| Minnesota | 17.2c | 12 cents | 12 cents | $3.66 | $43.98 |
| Virginia | 17.64c | 12 cents | 12 cents | $3.76 | $45.10 |
| Delaware | 18.7c | 13 cents | 13 cents | $3.98 | $47.81 |
| Illinois | 19.32c | 14 cents | 14 cents | $4.12 | $49.40 |
| Ohio | 19.38c | 14 cents | 14 cents | $4.13 | $49.55 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41c | 14 cents | 14 cents | $4.14 | $49.63 |
| Maryland | 21.4c | 15 cents | 15 cents | $4.56 | $54.71 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77c | 15 cents | 15 cents | $4.64 | $55.66 |
| Michigan | 22.99c | 16 cents | 16 cents | $4.90 | $58.78 |
| Vermont | 23.84c | 17 cents | 17 cents | $5.08 | $60.95 |
| Connecticut | 24.51c | 17 cents | 17 cents | $5.22 | $62.67 |
| New Jersey | 24.61c | 17 cents | 17 cents | $5.24 | $62.92 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98c | 18 cents | 18 cents | $5.54 | $66.42 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64c | 19 cents | 19 cents | $5.89 | $70.67 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18c | 20 cents | 20 cents | $6.00 | $72.05 |
| New York | 28.65c | 20 cents | 20 cents | $6.10 | $73.25 |
| Alaska | 29.41c | 21 cents | 21 cents | $6.27 | $75.19 |
| California | 29.75c | 21 cents | 21 cents | $6.34 | $76.06 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48c | 21 cents | 21 cents | $6.49 | $77.93 |
| Maine | 32.11c | 22 cents | 22 cents | $6.84 | $82.10 |
| Hawaii | 47.18c | 33 cents | 33 cents | $10.05 | $120.63 |
Rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, residential sector, August 2026, preliminary. All rates with the year-on-year change.
How a washing machine uses electricity
In the UK and Europe the machine heats its own water, so the temperature you pick sets the cost. In the US many machines take hot water from the house supply, which moves the cost to the water heater.
The motor and pump use only 100 to 300 watts. Spin speed changes drying time more than washing cost.
Ways to cut the cost
- Wash at 30 or 40 degrees. Modern detergents work cold.
- Full loads, highest spin you can, then air dry.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to run a washing machine per load?
About 0.7 kWh for a 40 degree wash, which is about 13 cents at 18 cents per kWh or 18p at 26.32p per kWh.
Does a washing machine use a lot of electricity?
Not compared with the tumble dryer. A 40 degree wash is about 0.7 kWh, drying the same load is 2.5 to 4 kWh.
Other laundry and water costs
More in the US
Sources
The electricity price on this page is read from the data file that also lists the release it came from. The wattage range is a published typical range, not a measurement of your appliance.