Cost to run a washing machine
This page gives a quick running-cost estimate for common household appliances. It is useful when users want to compare a dryer with a heated airer, a shower with a short wash, or a background-load appliance against the cost of keeping it on.
How tariff changes affect this appliance
The same appliance becomes more or less expensive as the unit rate changes. Use the tariff comparison to judge the effect of a cheaper or more expensive electricity plan before switching supplier.
- 20p/kWh
- £0.42 per use
- 25p/kWh
- £0.53 per use
- 27p/kWh
- £0.57 per use
- 30p/kWh
- £0.63 per use
- 35p/kWh
- £0.73 per use
What changes this appliance’s cost?
The useful question is whether an eco cycle saves enough to justify the longer runtime. Drum loading, water temperature and spin choice all move the number.
laundry appliance is the right mental model here because the runtime pattern matters as much as the wattage.
This page is for laundry decisions: drying speed, cycle choice and whether the cheaper option still handles the same load.
At the illustration above, one use consumes 2.10 kWh. Five uses would cost about £2.84 and twenty uses about £11.34 at 27p/kWh. Your unit rate and measured consumption produce the most useful estimate.
Worked example
A laundry cycle for 60 minutes at 2100W consumes about 2.10 kWh. At 27p/kWh that works out at roughly £0.57 per use, before adding any standing charge. Repeating the same routine five times would cost about £2.84 on the same tariff.
What this calculator does
This page estimates the incremental electricity cost of a single appliance use. It does not include the standing charge, buying price, repairs, detergent or installation. The most accurate input is a measured wall-plug reading or the unit’s energy label rather than the nameplate maximum.
For laundry and dishwashing, the right comparison is eco cycle versus convenience cycle, because duration and temperature move the result more than the headline wattage.
An eco wash often costs less than a hotter, shorter cycle, but the cheaper option is only useful if the load gets clean enough.
For a washing machine, wash temperature and spin choice can change the cost more than the drum size headline.
How this example is calculated
Energy equals watts ÷ 1,000 × hours used. The headline uses 27p/kWh and excludes the daily standing charge.
Last reviewed: 1 September 2026 · Ofgem: Energy price cap ↗
Results are estimates for planning and are not personal financial advice.
Why results differ
Programmatic pages use fixed example assumptions, so a different salary, rate, term, tariff or property value changes the output. Fees, eligibility checks, product rules and legal thresholds may not be fully modelled on this example page. Use the main calculator and official source links if you need a result for a decision.
Why the result can differ
Programmatic pages use fixed example assumptions, so a different salary, rate, term, tariff or property value changes the output.
Fees, eligibility checks, product rules and legal thresholds may not be fully modelled on this example page.
Use the main calculator and official source links if you need a result for a decision.
Frequently asked questions
Will every model cost the same?
No. Rated power, cycle length and efficiency differ by model and programme.
Is the standing charge included?
No. This example measures the appliance's incremental unit-rate cost.