How much does it cost to run a washing machine?

Want to know how much does it cost to run a washing machine in a bid to keep your energy bills under control? We’ve crunched the numbers to find out

Many people will be wondering how much does it cost to run a washing machine and how can you lower the cost, especially with energy bills set to remain high for the foreseeable future.

Millions of families have been worried about how much their energy bills will cost for most of 2022, especially since the energy price cap rose by 54% in April 2022. At the end of August it was announced that the cap would increase again, by a staggering 80% from 1 October. But thankfully, the Government has intervened and introduced the Energy Price Guarantee. This is effectively an energy bill freeze and it will remain at its current level of £2,500 per year until the end of June 2023. After this, energy prices are predicted to fall below the price guarantee.

Even if there are no more hikes on the horizon, energy bills are still more expensive than in 2021, so it's important to understand how to save energy in homes and keep your bills as low as possible. Money saving expert Martin Lewis also issued a washing machine plea to help avoid rolling power cuts this winter.

Goodto.com's Money Editor Sarah Handley says: "Your washing machine is one of those appliances where with a couple of small changes you could significantly reduce how much energy you use, reducing your bill in the process."

A washing machine costs between 16p and 31p to run per load. That works out as between £33.32 and £64.60 per year. This is based on a 8kg drum washing machine (suitable for medium-sized families) with an energy rating of between A and D that's used an average of four times per week.

Your exact running costs will depend on the model of your washing machine, its energy rating and how often you use it.

Below we have looked at examples of 8kg washing machines with different energy ratings to see how the costs compare.

Appliances, like washing machines, are categorised by energy efficiency ratings from A to G, with A being the most energy efficient and G being the least efficient.

The better rated washing machines use less energy to do their job which means they don't cost as much to run. Lower rated washing machines use more energy and so cost more to run. But higher rated washing machines cost more to buy.

Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: "More efficient washing machines may be more costly, so you need to weigh up whether the savings from lower running costs are worth the extra expense.

"Work out your budget and see what rating you can go for. If a C rating or D rating is in your budget, then that's a lot better than an E of F rating."

The above figures only take electricity costs into consideration, but there are also water costs to think about. Research by website In The Wash, shows that the average washing machine uses 46.28 litres of water per cycle, and the average cost of water per litre in the UK is 0.3p. This means the average washing machine uses 14p of water per use, taking your total costs to between 30p and 45p per cycle, depending on the efficiency of the machine.

Compare how much your most-used appliances cost to run with our handy tool:

The cheapest time to run your washing machine will depend on the type of energy tariff you’re on.

A spokesperson for home appliance brand Beko told us: "If your tariff is not charged at a flat rate, running your washing machine at times when electricity is cheaper, such as early in the morning or late in the evening, is a great way to reduce costs."

However, to benefit from this you will need to have an Economy 7 or Economy 10 electricity meter. These give you cheaper electricity for seven or 10 hours a day, usually at night. But the day time rates then tend to be more expensive.

For those who are not on one of these tariffs (which is most households), a flat rate of electricity will usually be charged, so it won't matter what time of day or night you use your washing machine.

There are many ways to cut the running costs of your washing machine, from cutting down on the number of washes you do and making sure you only wash full loads to using your machine's eco mode or choosing a lower temperature.

Energy expert at Property Rescue, Callum Woodstock says: "We’re all doing our best at the moment to cut down on costs and, while most of us can't manage without our washing machines, there are a few things you can do to minimise the cost of doing your laundry."

Washing small loads multiple times a week is an expensive way to use your washing machine. It uses the same amount of energy (and water), and therefore costs the same, to run a half-full washing machine than it does to run the appliance with a full load.

If you can, wait until you have a full load before you put the washing on to keep costs as low as possible (unless your washing machine has a half-load setting). You might even find you can reduce the number of washes you need to do per week. This not only reduces your energy consumption and keeps your bills as low as they can be, but also reduces wear and tear on your washing machine, which means it's likely to last longer before it needs to be replaced.

But it is important not to overload your machine, and that could cause damage to the drum and make it less efficient.

Washing your clothes at a lower temperature can help you cut back on energy costs. Lower temperatures use less energy and while older models are likely to have an option to wash at 30°C, a 20°C option has been a compulsory design feature on newer models since 2013 thanks to the European Union's Ecodesign initiative.

The Energy Saving Trust says that washing at lower temperatures is particularly worth considering with clothing that is not heavily soiled.

You'll also find that many laundry detergents are now much more effective at cleaning clothes at lower temperatures, so there's no need to worry about your clothes not being clean enough. You might also find that liquid detergents are more effective when washing at lower temperatures rather than powder alternatives.

According to Which? making that switch from 40°C to 30°C will cut your energy usage by 38% a year, while going from 30°C to 20°C will cut your energy usage by 62%.

If you live in a hard water area, you might find it harder to get clothes clean in the washing machine.

Home water treatment expert at BOS, Gene Fitzgerald explains "This can, unfortunately, increase your bills as you will tend to use more detergent and wash your laundry at a hotter temperature.

"Investing in a hard water filter and using special hard water laundry detergent can help you to get the best out of your wash without flushing your cash away."

Using your washing machine's eco mode can be a really useful way to cut your running costs.

A Beko spokesperson says: "The eco programme is the most energy and water efficient programme to use on a washing machine. By selecting the eco programme as often as possible, you can save a significant amount of energy and water for a standard load; whilst maintaining excellent cleaning results."

According to Currys, 90% of a washing machine's energy consumption comes from heating up the water for washing. But while an eco mode might use less water and wash at a lower temperature, it tends to be a longer cycle to clean your clothes effectively. So while the eco mode might not save time, it will save energy.

But if you are trying to remove some really tough stains, it's worth doing those on a regular cycle for the most effective clean.

Even if you only use the eco mode occasionally, rather than for every wash, it'll have a positive effect on the amount of energy you use.

Laundry balls are designed to replace the use of laundry detergent when you use your washing machine. As well as being more cost-effective compared to detergent, they are also better for the environment.

Laundry balls are usually made from plastic or rubber and contain tiny bio-ceramic balls which wash your clothes naturally, without the need to use detergent. They can last for up to 1,000 washes and can cost between £5 and £20, depending on the brand.

ecoegg | View at ecoegg , Amazon , Tesco , Wilko , Robert Dyas , Sainsbury's , Lakeland

RRP: from £9.99 for 70 washes | Scents: Fresh Linen, Spring Blossom, Unfragranced

Suitable for sensitive skin, the ecoegg is an environmentally-friendly alternative to laundry detergent and fabric softener. The smallest ecoegg will last for 70 washes, meaning it costs around 14p per wash (10p per wash if you buy refill pellets).

Maintaining your machine is key to keep it working at its most efficient level. And there are various points to keep an eye on:

Some clothes do not need to be washed every time you wear them so try to be mindful about only washing items when necessary.

Laundry detergent brand Persil advises you should wash a pair of jeans after four to five wears, unless they look or smell dirty.

When it comes to towels, bath towels can be washed once a week, while hand towels should be washed every two to three days. Face and tea towels should be washed after each use.

Bedsheets should be washed every week or at least every two weeks.

It's likely that most clothing doesn't need to be washed after each wear, so trying airing items instead. But if anything looks or smells dirty, then it's destined for the laundry basket.

If you need to buy a new washing machine, then it makes sense to buy the most energy efficient model you can afford to keep running costs as low as possible.

"Most electrical appliances come with an energy rating between A-G. When shopping for a new washing machine, opt for something closer to an A rating as this will be much more energy efficient when in use," says Paul Newman at Housetastic.co.uk.

When buying a new washing machine, it's important to look at what modes it offers. Make sure it suits your needs well, as well as being energy efficient. Some good ones to look out for are eco mode and quick wash, which can wash loads in around 30 minutes. If you need to wash delicates, a hand wash feature would be useful to look out for.

Choose a drum size that suits the size of your household. A 6kg drum is usually sufficient for someone who lives alone, 7kg-9kg drums are great for couples and medium-sized families, while a 10kg drum size or more is better suited to large families.

You might also be interested in our other appliance running cost articles:

Sarah is Goodto.com's Money Editor. After segueing into the world of personal finance from the Homes sector, and acting as launch editor of Goodto's sister brand TheMoneyEdit.com, Sarah now focuses on family finance. She is passionate about cutting through confusing jargon to help people make sound financial decisions, avoid overspending and set themselves and their families up for a financially-stable future.

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