Washing-machine cost calculator
Estimate washing-machine running cost using programme kWh/cycle from your label, or average power and cycle duration if that is unavailable.
Result
Cost per year
Cost per cycle
How to use this tool
- Enter the programme's kWh per cycle from the energy label/manual if available; otherwise leave it at 0 and enter average power and cycle duration.
- Enter how many cycles you run per week.
- Enter your electricity price per kWh.
- Read the cost per cycle and per year.
Assumptions
- The prefilled watts, duration and rate are illustrative. Your entered electricity price is used as a GBP (£/kWh) rate; no live tariff lookup or currency conversion is applied. In fallback mode, the calculation assumes average power is maintained for the entered cycle duration; programme temperature and load can change actual use. Water, detergent and other non-electric costs are excluded.
Technical details: what the fields mean
- Energy per cycle from label (0 = estimate below)
energyPerCycleKwh - Programme energy per cycle from the appliance label/manual; if greater than 0, this direct value is used instead of a power-duration estimate.
- Average power during cycle
powerWatts - Average power across the full cycle, used when energy per cycle is left at 0. A peak heater rating is not an average.
- Hours per cycle
hoursPerUse - Cycle duration, used with average power when no direct kWh-per-cycle value is entered.
- Cycles per week
usesPerWeek - How many wash loads you run per week.
- Electricity price
pricePerKwh - Your electricity price per kWh.
Methodology
Energy per cycle = the entered label value when greater than 0; otherwise it is average power (kW) × cycle duration. Cost per cycle = energy × price per kWh; annual cost = cycle cost × weekly cycles × 52.
Worked example
Illustrative fallback: 700W average, 1.5-hour cycle, 5 cycles/week at £0.27/kWh
Inputs: Energy per cycle from label (0 = estimate below): 0 kWh, Average power during cycle: 700 W, Hours per cycle: 1.5 hours, Cycles per week: 5, Electricity price: £0.27/kWh
Result: 1.05 kWh/cycle × £0.27 = £0.28/cycle; £72.80/year. Use the label's per-cycle energy when available.
Practical guidance
- Use the same programme and load basis when comparing cycle costs; different temperatures, cycle choices and loads can use different energy.
- The direct kWh-per-cycle label value is preferred when it matches the programme you use.
Common mistakes
- Using a peak or heater-only wattage as the average for the whole cycle, or comparing an energy-label value from a different programme.
FAQs
How much does a washing-machine cycle cost?
Multiply the selected programme's kWh-per-cycle label value by your electricity price per kWh. If you do not have a label value, the calculator estimates cycle energy from average power and duration. The displayed cost is in GBP (£); programme, temperature and load affect actual use, and the yearly result also depends on cycles per week.
Which input should I use when the label lists kWh per cycle?
Enter that programme value directly. Use average watts and hours only as a fallback when per-cycle energy is not available.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-11
No live appliance lookup is performed. Cycle energy depends on model, programme, load and temperature; water and detergent costs are excluded.
This tool provides an indicative estimate, based on the assumptions stated above.
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