Live Direct Debit rates for UK average since 1 October 2026. Typical 7 kg machine, cottons.
Cost per load and per year
| Temperature | Energy per load | Per load | Per year (4 loads a week) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20°C | about 0.37 kWh | 9.7p | £20.26 |
| 30°C | about 0.6 kWh | 16p | £32.85 |
| 40°C | about 0.97 kWh | 26p | £53.10 |
| 60°C | about 1.2 kWh | 32p | £65.69 |
Which? found an average 7 kg washing machine costs about £53 a year at the October 2026 price cap, washing four 80%-full loads of cottons a week at 40°C. That works out at roughly 0.97 kWh a load. Which? also found that dropping to 30°C cuts the energy used by 38%, and 20°C cuts it by 62%.
Most of the electricity goes on heating the water, not turning the drum. That's why temperature matters so much, and why a hot wash costs more.
Bigger machines cost more
A larger drum heats more water. Which? puts a typical 13 kg machine at about £92 a year, against £53 for a 7 kg model, on the same four washes a week. The cheapest machines it tested cost around £27 a year to run, and the dearest more than £100.
What the energy label tells you
The kWh figure on a washing machine's energy label is for one cycle of its standard eco programme. Labels typically show anything from about 0.75 to 1.5 kWh. Look for the figure on yours and put it into the appliance calculator for your own cost.
Ways to cut washing machine costs
- Wash at 30°C or 20°C. Modern detergents clean well at low temperatures, and you could save around £20.26 a year at four loads a week by going from 40°C to 30°C.
- Use the eco programme. It takes longer but uses less energy, because it heats the water more gently.
- Run full loads. Two half loads use much more energy than one full one.
- Use a fast spin. It costs a little more in the washer but saves far more if you then use a tumble dryer.
- On a time-of-use tariff? Set the timer to run overnight on the cheap rate.
Drying the washing too? See what a tumble dryer, heated airer or dehumidifier costs.
Sources: Which?, Whitegoods Help, Ofgem price cap via Uswitch, Octopus Energy tariff data.