Cost to run a washing machine in every state
For 6 uses a week at 0.5 kWh each, at each state's average residential electricity rate (August 2026, EIA). Click a state for more detail.
| State | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $1.65 | $19.84 |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $1.67 | $20.08 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $1.73 | $20.76 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $1.73 | $20.76 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $1.74 | $20.86 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $1.74 | $20.94 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $1.76 | $21.12 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $1.79 | $21.53 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $1.87 | $22.42 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $1.88 | $22.51 |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $1.88 | $22.51 |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $1.90 | $22.82 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $1.93 | $23.12 |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $1.94 | $23.32 |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $1.95 | $23.38 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $1.96 | $23.48 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $1.97 | $23.63 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $2.01 | $24.13 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $2.02 | $24.29 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $2.05 | $24.59 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $2.07 | $24.80 |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $2.07 | $24.82 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $2.07 | $24.84 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $2.08 | $24.99 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $2.12 | $25.44 |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $2.12 | $25.47 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $2.15 | $25.76 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $2.21 | $26.55 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $2.22 | $26.61 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $2.23 | $26.79 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $2.24 | $26.83 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $2.29 | $27.52 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $2.43 | $29.17 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $2.51 | $30.14 |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $2.52 | $30.23 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $2.52 | $30.28 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $2.78 | $33.38 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $2.83 | $33.96 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $2.99 | $35.86 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $3.10 | $37.19 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $3.19 | $38.24 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $3.20 | $38.39 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $3.38 | $40.53 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $3.59 | $43.12 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $3.66 | $43.96 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $3.72 | $44.69 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $3.82 | $45.88 |
| California | 29.75¢ | $3.87 | $46.41 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $3.96 | $47.55 |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $4.17 | $50.09 |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $6.13 | $73.60 |
How much homes actually use, by region
Average annual electricity used by a washing machine in homes that have one, from the EIA's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), and what that use costs at today's U.S. average rate.
| Region | kWh per year | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 69 | $12.53 |
| New England | 63 | $11.44 |
| Middle Atlantic | 64 | $11.62 |
| East North Central | 68 | $12.35 |
| West North Central | 73 | $13.26 |
| South Atlantic | 68 | $12.35 |
| East South Central | 77 | $13.98 |
| West South Central | 75 | $13.62 |
| Mountain North | 70 | $12.71 |
| Mountain South | 66 | $11.99 |
| Pacific | 63 | $11.44 |
How the cost is calculated
kWh per use × uses per week × 52 ÷ 12 = kWh per month, then multiply by your rate.
How to lower the cost
- Wash in cold water: modern detergents clean well without heat.
- Run full loads and use the high-spin setting so clothes dry faster.
- Front-loaders and ENERGY STAR models use less water and energy.
