How much does a washing machine cost to run?
A 60°C wash costs about 51p including metered water — a 30°C wash about 30p. At 4 washes a week, washing cooler saves roughly £43 a year.
Here's the surprise: on a cool wash, the water can cost more than the electricity. A washing machine uses roughly 50 litres a cycle — about 20p on a water meter — and most of the electricity goes on heating that water, not spinning the drum.
Cost per wash, by temperature
| Cycle | Best for | Per wash |
|---|---|---|
| 60°C wash | Towels, bedding, whites | ~51p |
| 40°C wash | Everyday mixed load | ~38p |
| 30°C wash | Lightly worn clothes | ~30p |
Illustrative examples, not guaranteed figures. Prices combine electricity at 26p/kWh with metered water at roughly 0.4p a litre. Your machine's energy label lists its own cycle figures, and unmetered households pay water differently.
Why temperature is the whole game
Dropping from 60°C to 30°C cuts the electricity by roughly two-thirds, because heating water is the expensive part. Modern detergents are designed to work at 30°C, so for lightly worn clothes you rarely need hotter. Save the hot washes for towels, bedding and anything that needs a proper hygienic clean.
Is it cheaper to wash at night?
Only if you're on a time-of-use tariff like Economy 7 or a smart tariff with cheap overnight hours. On a standard single-rate tariff, electricity costs the same at 2am as at 2pm — so wash whenever suits you. Check your bill: if it shows one unit rate, there's nothing to gain from midnight washing.
Cheaper washing habits
- Wash at 30°C by default. The single biggest saving, and clothes come out just as clean for everyday wear.
- Fill the drum. Two half-loads cost nearly twice one full load — same water, same heat.
- Check the final spin speed. Use the highest setting suitable for the fabric before drying. Save a separate spin for loads that need it, rather than automatically spinning every load twice.
All prices calculated at 26p per kWh plus metered water
See how washing compares with drying, cooking and heating — all priced the same way.
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