How many watts does a washing machine use? Clean data

Updated: Feb 04, 2025
Created: Feb 29, 2024
7 min

Julia ZaraevaAuthor

Have you ever considered the energy and financial costs hidden in your laundry routine? Let's explore how much electricity a washing machine uses and see whether it's possible to save money on your power bill through efficient operation.

Key takeaways

The average washing machine's electricity consumption varies significantly based on its capacity, efficiency rating, and settings. The type of wash cycle, voltage requirements, and household electricity rate all factor into the total cost of running your appliance.
Power usage varies dramatically by cycle phase. Key insight: Using cold water can reduce energy consumption by 80%.
Real costs are lower than most people think. Annual operating cost of a washing machine is below $50 for typical usage.
Single changes can significantly reduce energy use. Using cold water is the single biggest energy saver. Running full loads (but not overloaded) optimizes efficiency. Regular maintenance (like filter cleaning) maintains efficiency.

Washing machine average power consumption and energy usage

Whether you're running a washer-dryer combo or a standalone washer, understanding your machine's energy usage and wattage can help reduce your monthly electricity bill. Let's dive into the factors that affect your washing machine's power consumption and how to calculate its operating costs.

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The power consumption and wattage of a washing machine primarily depend on its capacity, model features, and wash cycle settings. The voltage and amps of a washing machine affect its overall power draw, with most household models requiring standard 120V connections. Energy Star rated machines generally demand less power to handle larger loads. Older models, pre-dating energy efficiency standards, tend to consume more electricity than their modern counterparts. Hot water wash cycles and intense settings naturally require more kilowatt-hours than cooler ones.

Wash Cycle Stage	Power Consumption (W)
Main washing phase	50 W
Spin cycle	200 W
Water heating	2,000 W
Average energy per run	400 Wh to 1,400 Wh

How much electricity a washing machine uses changes with each stage of the wash cycle. During the main washing phase, it consumes about 50W, when running the spin cycle — about 200W. Heating water consumes about 2,000W, but only for a couple of minutes. The average energy consumption per run ranges from an economical 400Wh to a tangible 1,400Wh based on your chosen settings.

Do washing machines use a lot of electricity compared to other appliances?

Washing machines are moderate energy users compared to other household appliances: They use less energy than dryers, water heaters, and air conditioners. Most energy consumption comes from heating water during cycles. Modern Energy Star-rated machines use about 25% less energy than older models. Cold water washing can reduce energy consumption by up to 80% compared to hot water cycles

But these are just average power ratings. How do you know how much your washer or the machine you want to buy consumes? To calculate this, look at the yellow Energy Star label.

Running costs of a washing machine based on electricity rate

An example of a washing machine’s EnergyGuide label. Source: US FTC

5 tips to save money on laundry

While the savings on individual wash cycles may seem modest, optimizing your washing machine's energy efficiency contributes to an energy-efficient home. Here are five ways to reduce power usage and save money on laundry:

Use cold water settings: Most modern washing machines feature special cold wash cycles designed for today's detergents, making them just as effective while consuming 80% less electricity compared to hot water wash cycles at 140°F.
Monitor load capacity: Running your washer with proper load sizes helps optimize energy usage. Overloading forces the machine to consume more power, reducing cleaning effectiveness. Choose efficiency settings based on your load size.
Skip pre-wash cycle types: Unless dealing with heavily soiled clothes, the pre-wash feature unnecessarily increases energy consumption and water usage. Most wash cycles clean effectively without this extra step.
Maintain filter efficiency: Regular cleaning of your washing machine's filter helps reduce power consumption. A clean filter ensures optimal performance and prevents increased electricity usage from strain on the motor.
Air dry versus machine dry: For washer-dryer combinations, consider simply skipping the dryer cycle when possible. Air drying requires no electricity and helps your clothes last longer.

In the 1990s in California, a resourceful young man named Steven Robert Comistar began putting ads in national magazines selling a "solar-powered clothes dryer" for $49.95. But instead of solar equipment, customers received just an ordinary clothesline in the mail.

Using solar panels to power your washing machine

For a more sustainable approach to running your washer, consider calculating how many solar panels you need based on your machine's power requirements. Let's determine the system capacity needed to run a washing machine.

To calculate the required solar panel wattage, we start with peak power consumption during water heating at 2,000W. Adding 25% for DC to AC conversion losses means your solar system should generate 2,500W. Using 500W panels, you'd need five panels to handle maximum energy usage.

For cold water wash cycles, peak consumption during the spin cycle reduces to about 200W. In this case, a single 500W solar panel could power multiple washing machines running simultaneously.