How Much Does It Cost to Run a Washing Machine?

About 0.2 to 0.3 kWh for the machine on a cold cycle, which is a few cents at any US rate. Add 0.5 to 2 kWh for water heating on a warm or hot cycle, depending on the machine's water use.

Yes. It uses less water, so less hot water on warm cycles, and it spins faster, which cuts dryer time. Over a year the combined washer and dryer saving is usually more than the washer's own electricity bill.

Only if you are on a time-of-use rate plan. On a flat rate, the time does not matter. On time-of-use, overnight rates can be half the afternoon peak, and a washer plus dryer load is easy to shift.

A front loader motor draws about 300 to 500 W while washing and spinning, and up to about 1,500 W for a moment when the spin starts. Old top loaders with large agitators draw more.

About $1.17 a month for one cold load a day: 500 W x 0.75 hours x 0.6 duty cycle = 0.225 kWh a load, 6.75 kWh a month, times $0.173. That is about 82 kWh or $14 a year, not counting hot water.

The machine itself does not. A cold load uses about 0.225 kWh, about 4 cents at the national average rate (0.225 x $0.173). The cost comes from heating water on warm and hot cycles.

Yes, by a wide margin. ENERGY STAR estimates that about 90 percent of the energy a washer uses goes to heating water. A top loader filling with 20 gallons of hot water uses about 2 kWh of water heating, about 35 cents a load at 17.3 cents per kWh, against about 4 cents for the machine on a cold cycle.

Yes. A washer needs about 500 W running and up to about 1,500 W at spin start, so a power station or generator rated for that surge will run it. At about 0.225 kWh per cold load, a 1,000 Wh power station handles roughly three to four loads after inverter losses (1,000 x 0.85 / 225).

Yes. ENERGY STAR certified washers use about 20 percent less energy and about 30 percent less water than standard models. Most of the saving comes from heating less water, and their faster spin also cuts dryer time.

Wash in cold water, since most of the energy goes to the water heater. Run full loads, because a half load uses nearly as much as a full one, use the highest spin speed the fabric allows to shorten the dryer cycle, and skip the extra rinse unless you need it.