Data through June 2026
Cost to run · California · 34.7¢/kWh residential average
How much does it cost to run a clothes washer in California?
$38/yr · median certified model
At 34.7¢/kWh, California ranks among the priciest states for power. The typical certified clothes washer runs about $38 annually here, which makes choosing an efficient model worth actual dollars, not rounding error.
Only 1 jurisdiction costs more: California ranks 50 of 51 for running a clothes washer. At local rates, certified models span $14 (Hisense WF5S2845BB) to $108 (Maytag MVWB965H) per year — $94 of annual headroom that depends entirely on which unit you buy. For reference, the national extremes are Nevada (13.1¢/kWh) and Hawaii (52.7¢/kWh); the same median clothes washer would cost $14 and $58 a year there.
The cheapest clothes washers to run at California rates
| # | Model | kWh/yr | $/yr in CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hisense WF5S2845BB | 39 | $14 |
| 2 | Hisense WF5S2845BT | 39 | $14 |
| 3 | Hisense WF5S2845BW | 39 | $14 |
| 4 | Premium Levella PWMF280HB | 39 | $14 |
| 5 | Premium Levella PWMF280HT | 39 | $14 |
| 6 | Premium Levella PWMF280HW | 39 | $14 |
| 7 | Premium Levella PWMF286HS | 39 | $14 |
| 8 | Premium Levella PWMF287HB | 39 | $14 |
| 9 | Electrolux ELFW7337 | 50 | $17 |
| 10 | Electrolux ELTE7300 | 50 | $17 |
Price any model at California rates
Your rate, your numbers
- Per day
- 10¢
- Per month
- $3.18
- Per year
- $38
110 kWh/yr × 34.7¢/kWh = $38/yr
Prefilled with the median certified clothes washer (110 kWh/yr). Every model page on this site carries its exact certified figure.
Questions, answered with the data
- How much does it cost to run a clothes washer in California?
- About $38 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified clothes washer, at California's average residential rate of 34.7¢/kWh — that's $3.18 a month.
- Is electricity expensive in California?
- California's residential average of 34.7¢/kWh is 89% above the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 50 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
- What's the cheapest clothes washer to run in California?
- Among currently certified models, the Hisense WF5S2845BB costs the least at about $14 a year at California rates (39 kWh/yr).
- How does California compare with other states?
- The same median clothes washer costs $14 a year in Nevada (the cheapest state) and $58 in Hawaii (the priciest). California sits at $38.
Keep digging
- All certified clothes washers compared
- Clothes Washers costs in Maine (rank 48 of 51)
- Clothes Washers costs in Massachusetts (rank 49 of 51)
- Clothes Washers costs in Hawaii (rank 51 of 51)
- Running an air purifier in California
- Running a clothes dryer in California
- Running a computer monitor in California
- Running a dehumidifier in California
Rate source: US EIA, average residential price of electricity, see methodology.