Laundry cost calculator
Compare washing or drying programmes using measured kWh per cycle.
Reference: Ofgem GB average Direct Debit rate, 1 October–31 December 2026: 26.32p/kWh. Checked 8 November 2026. Use your own bill; regional and payment-method rates differ, and Northern Ireland has a separate market. Annual costs hold the entered rate constant; they are not a forecast. Standing charges are excluded. For time-of-use tariffs, calculate each rate's consumption separately and add the costs.
Your estimated running cost
255.5 kWh per year · 26.32p per kWh
Annual difference: £48.03. A costs less.
An estimate, not a meter reading. Actual use varies with settings, load and thermostat cycling.
Uses your browser print dialog. Choose Save as PDF where available. Includes your current inputs and assumptions; nothing is uploaded.
Home Cost Wise - User-entered estimate, not a bill or product test. Rates and usage can change. Source and method: www.homecostwise.co.uk/methodology/
Worked example: One wash and a year of washing
These fixed teaching inputs are separate from the editable calculator above and are not current tariff or product claims.
- Inputs
- 0.5kWh per corresponding wash programme; four cycles per week.
- The working
- One cycle: 0.5 × 25p = 12.5p before display rounding. Annual cycles: 4 × 365 ÷ 7.
- The result
- Annual electricity: £26.07. Water, detergent and other programmes are separate; 0.5kWh is hypothetical, not a measured average.
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How this calculator works
Annual kWh = energy per cycle × cycles per week × 365 ÷ 7. Use the same programme and load as your energy-label or meter measurement. Eco-programme figures do not describe every wash.
Cost in pounds = energy in kWh × electricity rate in pence ÷ 100. Monthly costs are annual costs divided by 12; daily costs are divided by 365. These are averages over a year. Calculations retain precision until display rounding.
Get a more useful estimate
Read our step-by-step guide to measuring appliance electricity before treating a nameplate rating as a measured average.
Start with the rate on your bill and energy information for your exact model. A plug-in energy monitor can help measure suitable plug-in appliances; follow its safety instructions and power limits. Do not apply full-power wattage for 24 hours to a cycling fridge or freezer.
What is excluded?
The day/night comparison includes the standing charges you enter; appliance-only tools exclude them. Gas, water, detergent, maintenance, discounts and purchase costs are excluded unless the tool explicitly asks for a purchase premium. Usage and tariffs can change. The reference tariff covers Great Britain and does not represent Northern Ireland or every contract.
Read our sources and assumptions →Common questions
How much does one wash or tumble-dryer cycle cost?
Multiply the complete cycle energy in kWh by your electricity price in pounds per kWh. An assumed 0.5kWh cycle at 25p/kWh costs 12.5p before display rounding. Use energy for your chosen programme and load, rather than treating that example as an average.
What if my label gives energy per 100 cycles?
Divide the stated kWh by 100 before entering it here. A hypothetical 50kWh per 100 cycles is 0.5kWh per corresponding test cycle. Other programmes and loads can differ. Water, detergent and maintenance are outside this electricity calculation.