How much does a washing machine cost to run?
About 21p a run on a standard tariff, or around £44 a year at 4 times a week. Less at the right time on a time-of-use tariff.
Today's cost where you live
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A washing machine uses most of its electricity heating the water, so the temperature you pick matters far more than how long the cycle lasts. A 40°C cotton wash on a modern machine uses under a unit; a 60°C wash can use twice that.
How we work it out
A typical washing machine uses about 0.8kWh for 40°c cotton wash, taking around 2 hours. Electricity on a standard variable tariff costs about 26p a unit across Great Britain at the moment (it varies a little by region), so one run comes to about 21p. Your own model may use more or less: the energy label, or a plug-in energy monitor, will tell you.
If you're on a tariff where the price changes through the day, such as Agile Octopus, Economy 7 or an electric car tariff, the same run can cost much less at the right time. The Cheap Watts tool finds that time for you on your own tariff.
How to spend less
- Wash at 30°C or 40°C unless something really needs hotter. Most modern detergents are made for it.
- Fill the drum. A half load uses nearly as much electricity as a full one.
- Skip the pre-wash unless clothes are heavily soiled.
- A faster spin costs very little and gets clothes drier, which saves far more if you tumble dry.
Worth a look
- Smart plug with energy monitoring (Amazon, opens in a new tab)
Measure what your own appliance really uses per run, instead of the typical figure.
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