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Washing MachineCost: Purchase Price & Running Cost
A washing machine uses about 400–500 watts per cycle. However, if you use hot water, most of the energy cost is from the water heater, not the washer.
Average Purchase Price
$500–$1,500
Top-load to high-efficiency front-load
watts
hrs/day
$/kWh
Daily Cost
$0.08
0.5 kWh
Monthly Cost
$2.40
15.0 kWh
Yearly Cost
$29.20
182.5 kWh
For perspective...
At $29.20/year, that's about $2 per month — roughly 6 gallons of gas per year.
Energy-Saving Tips for Your Washing Machine
- Wash with cold water — 90% of the energy goes to heating water
- Front-load washers use about 40% less water and energy than top-loaders
- Full loads are more efficient than multiple small loads