How Much Electricity Does a Washing Machine Use?

Most of the energy goes into heating water

A washing machine's motor and electronics typically draw 400 to 700 watts during a cycle. However, if the machine heats its own water or uses the household hot water supply for warm or hot settings, the water-heating load can be much larger than the machine's own electrical draw.

Switching from hot to cold water can reduce per-load energy by 50 percent or more, because heating water for a single load can use 4 to 6 kWh depending on the water heater type and temperature rise.

Machine power alone is small

Without water heating, a 500-watt washing machine running for 45 minutes uses about 0.38 kWh. At 18 cents per kWh, the machine's own electricity cost per load is under 7 cents. The water heater's share for a hot wash can easily triple or quadruple that figure.

• Use cold water for most loads to avoid the water heating cost.
• Run full loads to get the most value from each cycle's energy use.
• High-efficiency washers use less water, which reduces both machine and water heating energy.

Monthly estimate for a typical household

A household running 5 cold-water loads per week at 500 watts for 45 minutes each uses about 1.9 kWh per week in machine power, or about 8.2 kWh per month. At 18 cents per kWh, that is roughly $1.48 per month for the washer alone. Hot water loads would add the water heater's consumption separately.