WattCost

Data through June 2026

Category · 344 certified models

Clothes Washers: what they cost to run

A clothes washer's cost accrues per load, so the DOE certification bakes in a standard year of cycles (234). On that basis the 344 certified models here cost between $7.15 and $57 a year at the U.S. average rate — median $20.

Front-loaders extract more water per spin and use less hot water than top-loaders — the IMEF figure (higher is better) captures exactly this. Every figure on this page comes from ENERGY STAR's certified test data — the 39–311 kWh/yr range you see is measured, not estimated.

Median cost
$20/yr
Cheapest model
$7.15/yr
Priciest model
$57/yr
39 kWh311 kWh
Distribution of certified annual kWh across 344 clothes washers

The 20 most efficient to run

Lowest certified annual kWh among all clothes washers
#ModelkWh/yr$/yr (US avg)
1Hisense WF5S2845BB39$7.15
2Hisense WF5S2845BT39$7.15
3Hisense WF5S2845BW39$7.15
4Premium Levella PWMF280HB39$7.15
5Premium Levella PWMF280HT39$7.15
6Premium Levella PWMF280HW39$7.15
7Premium Levella PWMF286HS39$7.15
8Premium Levella PWMF287HB39$7.15
9Electrolux ELFW733750$9.17
10Electrolux ELTE730050$9.17
11Electrolux ELTG730050$9.17
12Frigidaire FWFX22D4EW50$9.17
13Speed Queen LWN6ZR**116T60$11
14Speed Queen LWN6ZR**119T60$11
15Midea MLH25N7BWW65$12
16Midea MLH27N4AWWC65$12
17Bosch WGA1240070$13
18Beko BWM242300SWWmost efficient73$13
19Blomberg BLWM242300SWGmost efficient73$13
20Electrolux ELFW7738most efficient74$14

See the full ranking →

Typical cost by state

Median certified clothes washer (110 kWh/yr) at each state's average residential rate
StateRate ¢/kWhMedian $/yrRelative cost
Alabama16.4¢$18
Alaska28.2¢$31
Arizona15.2¢$17
Arkansas14.1¢$16
California34.7¢$38
Colorado17.1¢$19
Connecticut24.3¢$27
Delaware19.3¢$21
District of Columbia24.4¢$27
Florida15.1¢$17
Georgia16.4¢$18
Hawaiipriciest52.7¢$58
Idaho14.4¢$16
Illinois19.9¢$22
Indiana17.5¢$19
Iowa15.9¢$18
Kansas15.7¢$17
Kentucky14.3¢$16
Louisiana13.5¢$15
Maine29.6¢$33
Maryland21.8¢$24
Massachusetts29.6¢$33
Michigan23.0¢$25
Minnesota17.5¢$19
Mississippi14.9¢$16
Missouri16.2¢$18
Montana15.1¢$17
Nebraska13.3¢$15
Nevadacheapest13.1¢$14
New Hampshire27.0¢$30
New Jersey24.9¢$27
New Mexico15.1¢$17
New York29.5¢$32
North Carolina14.7¢$16
North Dakota14.1¢$16
Ohio19.2¢$21
Oklahoma14.3¢$16
Oregon16.3¢$18
Pennsylvania21.7¢$24
Rhode Island29.2¢$32
South Carolina15.6¢$17
South Dakota15.4¢$17
Tennessee14.1¢$15
Texas15.9¢$18
Utah13.4¢$15
Vermont24.4¢$27
Virginia17.2¢$19
Washington14.9¢$16
West Virginia15.4¢$17
Wisconsin19.6¢$22
Wyoming15.2¢$17

How to read these numbers

The certified annual kWh assumes 234 wash cycles per year (the DOE standard, about 4–5 loads a week) and includes water-heating energy. Full methodology and limitations →

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Browse Clothes Washers by Efficiency

Questions, answered with the data

How much does a clothes washer cost to run per year?
The median ENERGY STAR certified clothes washer costs about $20 a year at the U.S. average rate (18.3¢/kWh). Across all 344 certified models, costs range from $7.15 to $57.
How much electricity does a clothes washer use?
Certified models use between 39 and 311 kWh per year (median 110). The certified annual kWh assumes 234 wash cycles per year (the DOE standard, about 4–5 loads a week) and includes water-heating energy.
Where is a clothes washer cheapest and most expensive to run?
Nevada has the lowest residential rate (13.1¢/kWh), putting the median clothes washer at $14 a year; Hawaii (52.7¢/kWh) is the most expensive at $58.
What makes one clothes washer cheaper to run than another?
Front-loaders extract more water per spin and use less hot water than top-loaders — the IMEF figure (higher is better) captures exactly this.

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