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How much does it cost to run a washer?

A typical washer uses 103–150 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a year, at about 25 loads a month.

What do you run?

Tap a row to edit it.

  • Type
    kWh a year
    How manyHow many

    103 kWh a year ÷ 12 = 8.58 kWh · 8.58 kWh × 18.0¢ US average = $1.54 a month

    A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is 1,000 watts for one hour. It’s what your bill counts.

$2a month

$2 a month

About $19 a year, or 5.1¢ a day.

Estimate my billSee prices by state

How much power does each kind of washer use?

A top-load washer uses about 46% more than a front-load one.

  • Front-load0.282 kWh a day · 12 W on average$1.54
  • Top-load0.411 kWh a day · 17 W on average$2.25

ENERGY STAR · certified models · pulled Nov 3, 2026

Each row is the middle (median) ENERGY STAR model of its type.

What does a washer cost to run in each state?

The same washer costs more than three times as much in Hawaii as in North Dakota.

  1. Hawaii$3.80 · 44.3¢
  2. California$2.77 · 32.3¢
  3. Massachusetts$2.61 · 30.4¢
  4. Maine$2.54 · 29.6¢
  5. Rhode Island$2.52 · 29.4¢
  6. US average$1.54 · 18.0¢
  7. Idaho$1.10 · 12.8¢
  8. Nebraska$1.09 · 12.7¢
  9. North Dakota$1.06 · 12.3¢
See prices by state

A front-load washer (103 kWh a year) at each state’s average price.

State averages · last 12 months · US government data (EIA)

More in the laundry room

FAQ

Questions about washer power

The middle ENERGY STAR front-load washer uses about 103 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a year, or 0.282 kWh a day. Across types, the middle models use 103–150 kWh a year.

Information as of Nov 2, 2026.

Our numbers come from US government data (EIA) and ENERGY STAR.

Washer figures: ENERGY STAR Certified Residential Clothes Washers (opens data.energystar.gov in a new tab) (pulled Nov 3, 2026); DOE test procedure, 10 CFR 430.23(j)(1)(ii)(A) (opens www.ecfr.gov in a new tab).

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