Running costs · price cap 1 July to 30 September 2026
How much does a washing machine cost to run?
At the current price cap of 26.11p per kWh, each wash in a washing machine costs about 31p. Used 4 times a week, that is £5.29 a month or £63.49 a year. The figures are based on Which? lab tests, which found an average of about 1.17 kWh per wash.
Prices checked against Ofgem on .
Per wash
31p
1.17 kWh
Per week
£1.22
4 washs
per year
£63.49
243 kWh
Unit rate
26.11p
per kWh, price cap
Washing machine running cost by how often you use it
At 26.11p per kWh and about 1.17 kWh per wash.
| Usage | Per week | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 wash a week | 31p | £1.32 | £15.87 |
| 2 washs a week | 61p | £2.65 | £31.74 |
| 3 washs a week | 92p | £3.97 | £47.62 |
| 4 washs a week | £1.22 | £5.29 | £63.49 |
| 5 washs a week | £1.53 | £6.61 | £79.36 |
| 7 washs a week | £2.14 | £9.26 | £111.11 |
| 10 washs a week | £3.05 | £13.23 | £158.72 |
| 14 washs a week | £4.27 | £18.52 | £222.21 |
Washing machine running cost by electricity price
Monthly and yearly cost at the same usage. Fixed deals vary, so check the unit rate on your bill.
| Tariff | Unit rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July to 30 September 2026 price cap | 26.11p | £5.29 | £63.49 |
| 1 October to 31 December 2026 price cap | 26.32p | £5.33 | £64.00 |
| A 20p per kWh fixed deal | 20p | £4.05 | £48.63 |
| A 24p per kWh fixed deal | 24p | £4.86 | £58.36 |
| A 30p per kWh fixed deal | 30p | £6.08 | £72.95 |
Each extra wash
One more wash a week adds about £15.87 to your yearly bill. Running fuller loads less often is the simplest way to cut the cost.
From 1 October
The price cap changes to 26.32p per kWh from 1 October to 31 December 2026. At the usage above, a washing machine would cost £64.00 a year, 51p more than now.
Guides and definitions
- Energy price cap explained: rates from 1 October 2026 and your bill (Guide)
- Is Economy 7 worth it? Hours, price cap and the night-use break-even (Guide)
- Standing charge vs unit rate: which energy tariff is cheaper for you? (Guide)
- Economy 7 (Economy 7 is an electricity tariff with seven cheaper off-peak hours, usually overnight, and a dearer daytime rate; Ofgem assumes 42% of use falls off-peak.)
- Typical domestic consumption values (TDCVs) (Typical domestic consumption values are Ofgem's yearly usage figures for a typical home, 2,500 kWh electricity and 9,500 kWh gas from 1 July 2026.)
- Energy price cap (The energy price cap is Ofgem’s limit on unit rates and standing charges for default tariffs; typical bill £1,723 from 1 October 2026.)
- Standing charge (A standing charge is the fixed daily amount on an energy bill, paid whatever you use; the capped average is 54.83p a day for electricity.)
Other appliances
- Dishwasher (running costs)
- Tumble dryer (running costs)
- Electric oven (running costs)
- Air fryer (running costs)
- Kettle (running costs)
- Fridge freezer (running costs)
- TV (running costs)
- Electric shower (running costs)
- Immersion heater (running costs)
- Electric heater (running costs)
Appliance running cost calculator · Use your own wattage and unit rate
Common questions
How much does it cost to run a washing machine per wash?
About 31p at 26.11p per kWh, using around 1.17 kWh.
How much does a washing machine cost to run a year?
About £63.49 if you use it 4 times a week, which is the usage Which? assumes for an average household.
How many kWh does a washing machine use?
Around 1.17 kWh per wash on average, or 243 kWh a year at 4 washs a week. Efficient models use less.
Sources and assumptions
- Prices use the Ofgem price cap for 1 July to 30 September 2026: 26.11p per kWh, the average for Direct Debit customers in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is not covered by the cap.
- Energy use comes from Which? lab tests of typical models. Your own model may use more or less.
- The daily standing charge (57.19p a day) is paid whatever you use, so it is not included.
- Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges
- Which?: how much your appliances cost to run (26 August 2026)
These are estimates. Your bill depends on your tariff, your region and how you use the appliance.