How much does a washing machine cost to run?
Updated August 2026 · average residential rates
Quick answer: a washing machine (400–1,400 W (cold wash uses far less)) costs about 8.4¢ per hour to run at the US average rate. With one ~45-min cycle/day, that's 6.3¢/day, $1.93/month and $23.13/year — using ~0.4 kWh a day. Your state's rate can move this from $1.28 to $4.80 monthly.
Run your own numbers
400–1,400 W (cold wash uses far less) · default assumes one ~45-min cycle/day
Uses about 0.4 kWh/day at 15.6¢/kWh (Texas). National average would be $1.93/month.
Washing Machine cost by state
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15.6¢/kWh | 7.8¢ | $1.78 |
| Alaska | 24.9¢/kWh | 12.4¢ | $2.84 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢/kWh | 7.6¢ | $1.73 |
| Arkansas | 12.7¢/kWh | 6.3¢ | $1.45 |
| California | 31.8¢/kWh | 15.9¢ | $3.63 |
| Colorado | 15.3¢/kWh | 7.6¢ | $1.74 |
| Connecticut | 32.3¢/kWh | 16.1¢ | $3.68 |
| Delaware | 16.8¢/kWh | 8.4¢ | $1.92 |
| District of Columbia | 17.6¢/kWh | 8.8¢ | $2.01 |
| Florida | 15.1¢/kWh | 7.5¢ | $1.72 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢/kWh | 7.1¢ | $1.62 |
| Hawaii | 42.1¢/kWh | 21.1¢ | $4.80 |
| Idaho | 11.6¢/kWh | 5.8¢ | $1.32 |
| Illinois | 16.4¢/kWh | 8.2¢ | $1.87 |
| Indiana | 15.7¢/kWh | 7.8¢ | $1.79 |
| Iowa | 13.7¢/kWh | 6.8¢ | $1.56 |
| Kansas | 14.3¢/kWh | 7.2¢ | $1.63 |
| Kentucky | 13.1¢/kWh | 6.6¢ | $1.49 |
| Louisiana | 12.1¢/kWh | 6.0¢ | $1.38 |
| Maine | 25.6¢/kWh | 12.8¢ | $2.92 |
| Maryland | 18.1¢/kWh | 9.1¢ | $2.06 |
| Massachusetts | 31.2¢/kWh | 15.6¢ | $3.56 |
| Michigan | 19.4¢/kWh | 9.7¢ | $2.21 |
| Minnesota | 15.1¢/kWh | 7.5¢ | $1.72 |
| Mississippi | 13.6¢/kWh | 6.8¢ | $1.55 |
| Missouri | 12.6¢/kWh | 6.3¢ | $1.44 |
| Montana | 12.8¢/kWh | 6.4¢ | $1.46 |
| Nebraska | 12.1¢/kWh | 6.0¢ | $1.38 |
| Nevada | 15.4¢/kWh | 7.7¢ | $1.76 |
| New Hampshire | 25.2¢/kWh | 12.6¢ | $2.87 |
| New Jersey | 19.6¢/kWh | 9.8¢ | $2.23 |
| New Mexico | 14.6¢/kWh | 7.3¢ | $1.66 |
| New York | 24.6¢/kWh | 12.3¢ | $2.80 |
| North Carolina | 14.1¢/kWh | 7.0¢ | $1.61 |
| North Dakota | 11.2¢/kWh | 5.6¢ | $1.28 |
| Ohio | 16.3¢/kWh | 8.2¢ | $1.86 |
| Oklahoma | 12.2¢/kWh | 6.1¢ | $1.39 |
| Oregon | 14.8¢/kWh | 7.4¢ | $1.69 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.4¢/kWh | 9.2¢ | $2.10 |
| Rhode Island | 30.4¢/kWh | 15.2¢ | $3.47 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢/kWh | 7.3¢ | $1.68 |
| South Dakota | 12.6¢/kWh | 6.3¢ | $1.44 |
| Tennessee | 13.2¢/kWh | 6.6¢ | $1.50 |
| Texas | 15.6¢/kWh | 7.8¢ | $1.78 |
| Utah | 11.7¢/kWh | 5.8¢ | $1.33 |
| Vermont | 21.6¢/kWh | 10.8¢ | $2.46 |
| Virginia | 14.6¢/kWh | 7.3¢ | $1.66 |
| Washington | 12.3¢/kWh | 6.2¢ | $1.40 |
| West Virginia | 14.8¢/kWh | 7.4¢ | $1.69 |
| Wisconsin | 17.2¢/kWh | 8.6¢ | $1.96 |
| Wyoming | 11.8¢/kWh | 5.9¢ | $1.35 |
FAQ
How much electricity does a washing machine use?+
A typical washing machine draws 400–1,400 W (cold wash uses far less). At one ~45-min cycle/day, that's about 0.4 kWh per day.
How much does a washing machine cost to run per month?+
About $1.93 per month at the US average residential rate of 16.9¢/kWh — ranging from roughly $1.28 in North Dakota to $4.80 in Hawaii.
Is it expensive to leave a washing machine on?+
Running it costs about 8.4¢ per hour at average rates. Multiply by your actual hours — and check your state's rate above, since electricity prices vary almost 4× across the US.