Estimate the electricity cost per cycle, week, month, and year of running a washing machine, from its power and cycle length or a known kWh-per-cycle figure.
📂 Energy & Home CalculatorsEnter your washing machine's power in watts and roughly how long a full cycle takes, plus how many cycles you run per week. If you already know the exact energy use per cycle from the machine's manual or energy label, open the advanced section and enter that kWh figure directly instead — it will override the power and cycle length. Tick the eco-mode box if that's your regular setting, then press Calculate.
This tool estimates a washing machine's running cost the same simple way as any other appliance — power multiplied by time in use — while also accommodating people who already know their machine's exact energy consumption per cycle from its official rating. The optional eco-mode adjustment reflects that most modern machines' economy or eco settings use noticeably less energy, mainly by reducing water heating and cycle intensity, at the cost of a longer wash time.
A washing machine's own motor uses relatively little electricity — most of a wash cycle's energy use, especially for a hot or warm wash, goes toward heating the water rather than spinning the drum. This is exactly why wash temperature is one of the biggest levers for reducing a washing machine's running cost: a cold-water cycle can use a small fraction of the electricity of a hot one for otherwise similar laundry.
Eco or economy modes, now standard on most washing machines, typically reduce energy use by roughly 20–40% compared to a standard cycle of the same type, usually by lowering the water heating target and extending the wash time to compensate with a gentler, longer soak. This calculator applies a representative 30% reduction when the eco-mode option is ticked, which is a reasonable middle-of-the-range estimate rather than an exact figure for every specific machine model.
If your washing machine's manual or official energy label lists a kWh-per-cycle figure directly, that number already reflects your specific model's real efficiency — entering it in the advanced section will generally be more accurate than estimating from wattage and cycle time, since it accounts for the machine's actual water heating element size and insulation, not just a generic average.
Heating the water uses far more electricity than spinning the drum — a hot wash can cost several times more than a cold wash of the same load, mainly because of the water-heating energy involved.
Roughly 20–40% less energy than a standard cycle is typical, mainly from lower water-heating targets and a longer, gentler cycle. This calculator uses about 30% as a representative estimate.
If your machine's manual or energy label states an exact kWh-per-cycle figure, that's usually the more accurate choice — enter it in the advanced section rather than estimating from wattage and cycle length.