How much does it cost to run a washing machine in the UK?
Price updated 9 July 2026 · Q3 2026 (Jul–Sep)
A typical washing machine (700 W) used 1.2 hours a day, 4 days a week costs about £3.81 a month (£45.74 a year) at 26.11p/kWh.
Nearly all of a washing machine's electricity is spent heating water — the motor and pump use very little. That's why washing at 30°C instead of 40°C or 60°C is the biggest lever on cost: a cold or cool wash can halve the energy of a hot one. A typical cool cycle uses around 0.5–1 kWh. Eco programmes save energy by using less water and lower temperatures over a longer time, even though the cycle looks slower.
Work out your own cost
About £3.81 a month · £45.74 a year
Uses about 175 kWh a year. Prefilled with the Ofgem cap of 26.11p/kWh — edit any box for your own figures.
Cost by model power
The same washing machine can vary a lot between models, so here is the range from a low-power to a high-power example.
| Model | Power | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-power model | 400 W | 10p | 13p | £2.18 | £26.14 |
| Typical model | 700 W | 18p | 22p | £3.81 | £45.74 |
| High-power model | 1,200 W | 31p | 38p | £6.53 | £78.42 |
What changes the cost
- Wash temperature (by far the biggest factor)
- Eco vs quick-wash programme
- Load size — full loads are more efficient
- Spin speed affects later drying cost, not the wash much
Common questions
Does washing at 30 degrees really save money?
Yes, noticeably. Heating water is where almost all the energy goes, so dropping from 40°C to 30°C can cut a cycle's electricity use significantly.
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