Washing machines are one of the most important appliances at your home. WHile modern washing machines are increasingly efficient in their energy usage, it is useful to understand how much each your washing machine costs in terms of electricity usage and how you can optimize your usage to ensure your overall energy costs are in control. Lets look at the typical electricity costs of running a washing machine and what you can expect to pay in a month and over the course of a year of using your washing machine.
What is the electricity cost of a Washing Machine?
The electricity cost of using a washing machine depends upon the wattage of the washing machine which is mostly dictated by the size of the machine. The wattage of most household washing machines is between 300 – 1500 Watts depending on the model of washing machine that you are using.
If you have a typical washing machine (800 Watts) and you run it 3 times a week, then you can expect to pay about $18 per year in electricity costs. We have assumed that each cycle of the washing machine runs for about 1.5 hours in this calculation.
More generally, a washing machine will cost you between $1.0 – $3.5 every month in electricity costs.
So based on your washing machine model, expect to pay between $1 – $3.5 a month in electricity costs.
How many watts does a washing machine use?
Wattage of washing machines is a common question that is encountered when thinking about the electricity cost of washing machines. With washing machines however, the maximum wattage of the machine is not typically what is consumed by the machine.
So while the maximum wattage of the washing machine may be 800 Watts, the average consumption during an entire wash cycle might be closer to 300 Watts. This is because the maximum wattage is used only in small portions of the cycle like spinning. At most other times during the wash cycle, the machine runs at a lower wattage compared to its maximum.
To summarize, the maximum wattage of most washing machines will be between 300 – 1500 Watts. However, the actual energy consumption during a wash cycle will typically be around 40% of the maximum wattage.
How do I find the most energy efficient washing machine?
A great way to find the most energy efficient washing machine for your home is to look at the Energy Star website. This website has lists of all sorts of household appliances that are tested and verified by US government labs for their energy efficiency.
Do washing machines use a lot of electricity
Compared to other household appliances, washing machines do not use a lot of electricity. Below is a list of different household appliances and their electricity consumption in Watts. You can see that a typical washing machine is only around 300 watts, about 100 watts higher than a refrigerator. However, a refrigerator operates continuously through the day while your washing machine will be used for only about 16 hours in a week making its electricity cost much lower than the fridge.
- Washing Machine – 300 Watts
- 85 inch LED TV – 150 Watts
- Double Door refrigerator – 200 Watts
- Tumble Dryer – 3000 Watts
- Laptop Computer – 50 Watts
- Playstation Console – 200 Watts
- Space heater – 1000 Watts
What is the monthly electricity cost of washing machines?
The monthly electricity cost of running a washing machine is between 0.6$ – 3.5$ in the United States.
What is the annual electricity cost of washing machines?
The annual electricity cost of running a washing machine is between 7.2$ – 42$ in the United States.
What is the hourly cost of using a washing machine?
The hourly electricity cost of using a washing machine is between 1 cent – 7 cents.