Show the formula and working
This washing machine running cost calculator works out what each load of laundry costs in electricity, and what that adds up to each week and year, for households in the UK, Ireland and Europe. Enter the figure from your energy label or a plug-in energy monitor, how often you wash and your unit rate, in pounds or euros, and it shows the result with the working.
Quick answer: A washing machine running cost calculator multiplies the kWh per wash by your unit rate. A machine rated 55 kWh per 100 cycles uses 0.55 kWh a wash, which costs 14.48p at the October to December 2026 price cap rate of 26.32p per kWh. Four washes a week cost about £30 a year.
What Is a Washing Machine Running Cost Calculator?
A washing machine running cost calculator is a tool that turns the energy a washing machine uses per cycle into a cost per wash, per week and per year. In plain words: energy per wash in kWh multiplied by your unit rate gives the cost per wash, then the cost per wash multiplied by washes per week and by 52 weeks gives the yearly cost.
The energy per wash comes from the energy label, which shows the weighted energy use in kWh per 100 cycles of the Eco 40 to 60 programme, so you divide it by 100. If you know the wattage and running time instead, the general formula is watts multiplied by hours, divided by 1,000, multiplied by the price per kWh, which is how the electricity cost calculator works for any appliance. A washing machine does not draw its full wattage for the whole cycle, because the heater only runs while the water warms up, so a label or meter figure is more accurate than the wattage.
How Do You Use the Washing Machine Running Cost Calculator?
- Enter the Energy label kWh per 100 cycles from your machine’s label or product sheet, for example 55.
- If you have measured a real wash with a plug-in energy monitor, enter it in Measured kWh per wash. It replaces the label figure.
- Enter your Washes per week.
- Check the Electricity unit rate. It starts at the Ofgem price cap rate, so replace it with the rate on your bill, in pence or cents, and pick pounds or euros with the currency switch.
- If your water is metered, enter the Water per wash from the label and the Water and sewerage price per cubic metre from your water bill. Leave the price at 0 to skip it.
- Read the cost per wash and the yearly cost, then open “Show the formula and working” to see each step with your numbers.
How Much Does One Washing Machine Cycle Cost?
One washing machine cycle on the Eco 40 to 60 programme costs between about 10p and 26p at 26.32p per kWh, for machines rated 40 to 100 kWh per 100 cycles. The exact figure depends on your machine’s label, the programme and your tariff. A hot wash at 60 °C or a long cotton programme uses more energy than the label figure, because most of the electricity in a wash goes into heating the water.
Where Do You Find a Washing Machine’s kWh per Cycle?
The kWh figure is printed on the energy label as weighted energy consumption per 100 cycles, so divide it by 100 to get the kWh per wash. The rescaled labels used since March 2021 show this for the Eco 40 to 60 programme, along with water use per cycle, load capacity and programme time, as the Bosch energy label guide explains. If the label is lost, search the model number for the product information sheet, or plug the machine into an energy monitor for one wash and read the kWh at the end.
Does Washing at 30 Degrees Save Money?
Yes, washing at 30 °C saves money because less electricity goes into heating the water. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that washing at 30 °C and doing one fewer wash a week together save about £26 a year in Great Britain. Running full loads also means fewer washes overall. To see the saving on your own figures, measure a 30 °C wash and a 40 °C wash with a plug-in monitor and enter each in Measured kWh per wash.
Is It Cheaper to Run a Washing Machine at Night?
Running a washing machine at night is only cheaper if your tariff has a lower night rate, such as Economy 7 or a smart time of use tariff. On a standard single rate tariff every kWh costs the same at any hour. If you have a cheaper overnight rate, enter that rate in the Electricity unit rate field, or compare day and night usage with the Economy 7 calculator. Never leave a machine running unattended overnight if the manual advises against it.
Washing Machine Cost per Wash Table
| Energy label (kWh per 100 cycles) | kWh per wash | Cost per wash | Cost per year at 4 washes a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 0.40 | 10.53p | £21.90 |
| 50 | 0.50 | 13.16p | £27.37 |
| 60 | 0.60 | 15.79p | £32.85 |
| 70 | 0.70 | 18.42p | £38.32 |
| 80 | 0.80 | 21.06p | £43.80 |
| 100 | 1.00 | 26.32p | £54.75 |
Costs use 26.32p per kWh, the Ofgem price cap average for October to December 2026, and 52 weeks a year. Electricity only, water not included.
Worked Example: Four Washes a Week
Example: a washing machine label shows 55 kWh per 100 cycles, with 4 washes a week at 26.32p per kWh. Enter 55 in Energy label kWh per 100 cycles, leave Measured kWh per wash at 0, enter 4 Washes per week and keep the unit rate. The calculator works out 55 / 100 = 0.55 kWh per wash, then 0.55 x 26.32p = 14.48p per wash. Over a year that is 208 washes and 114.4 kWh, so 14.48p x 4 x 52 = £30.11, or about £2.51 a month.
A household in Ireland has the same machine and enters a tariff of 30 cents per kWh with the currency set to euros. Each wash then costs 0.55 x 30c = 16.5c, and four washes a week cost €34.32 a year. To see how laundry fits into your whole bill, try the electricity bill calculator or the other energy bill calculators.
Washing Machine Running Cost Calculator FAQs
How many kWh does a washing machine use per wash?
Divide the energy label figure by 100. A machine rated 55 kWh per 100 cycles uses 0.55 kWh per wash on the Eco 40 to 60 programme. Hotter and longer programmes use more, so measure them with a plug-in monitor for an exact figure.
How much does a washing machine cost to run per year?
Multiply the cost per wash by washes per week and by 52. At 26.32p per kWh, a machine using 0.55 kWh a wash costs about £30 a year at 4 washes a week, or about £45 a year at 6 washes a week.
Why is my washing machine’s wattage not used for the cost?
The wattage on the rating plate is the maximum draw, mainly from the heater. The heater runs only while the water warms, and the motor uses far less, so wattage multiplied by programme time would overstate the cost by a wide margin.
Does a quick wash use less electricity?
Not always. A quick wash is shorter, but the energy mostly depends on how much water is heated and to what temperature. The Eco 40 to 60 programme is long because it saves energy by heating less. Measure both to compare.
Does the calculator include water costs?
Yes, if your water is metered. Enter the water per wash from the label and your water and sewerage price per cubic metre from your bill. The calculator adds water to the electricity cost per wash and per year.
Can I use this for a washer dryer?
Yes. A washer dryer label shows energy for a full wash and dry cycle and for washing alone. If the label gives the figure per 100 cycles, enter it in the label field; otherwise enter the kWh per cycle in Measured kWh per wash, or measure one full cycle with an energy monitor.
Checked October 2026. Sources: Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (Ofgem), Quick tips to save energy (Energy Saving Trust), Energy label information (Bosch).