How much does it cost to run a washing machine?
Work out what any appliance costs to run per use, per month and per year on your own electricity rate — including what it draws on standby.
Using the Portuguese average of 24.35c/kWh — Eurostat, the second half of 2025.
Almost all of it is heating the water, which is why a 30°C wash costs roughly half of a 60°C one.
Common cases
What drives the cost
Almost all of a wash cycle's electricity heats the water, not turns the drum. That single fact is why the temperature dial matters far more than the programme length: a 30°C wash costs roughly half a 60°C one, and a cold wash costs a fraction of either.
It is also why eco programmes are long. They compensate for a lower temperature by soaking for longer, trading time — which is free — for heat, which is not. A two-and-a-half hour eco cycle usually costs less than a one-hour cycle at a higher temperature, despite running for far longer.
How this is worked out
Electricity is billed per kilowatt hour. An appliance's kilowatt hours are its power in kilowatts multiplied by the hours it runs — so a 2,000 W appliance running for 30 minutes uses 1 kWh. Multiply that by your unit rate and you have the cost. The standing charge is not included here because you pay it whether or not you switch anything on.
What this assumes
- The appliance draws its rated power for the whole time it is on. Anything thermostatically controlled — ovens, heaters, fridges — cycles on and off, so the real figure is lower.
- Your unit rate stays flat all day. On a time-of-use tariff the same appliance costs materially different amounts depending on when you run it.
- A year is 52 weeks of identical use, which overstates seasonal appliances and understates ones you use in bursts.
- The rate filled in for you is an average that spreads fixed charges across a year's usage, so it sits above what one extra unit really costs. Entering the unit rate from your own bill gives a closer answer.
Questions
Why does the eco cycle take longer but cost less?
Because it substitutes time for temperature. Heating water is the expensive part, so soaking clothes for longer at a lower temperature gets a similar result for less energy. The machine is on for longer but the element is doing far less work.
Does washing at 30°C actually get clothes clean?
For everyday laundry, yes — modern detergents are formulated for it. The usual exceptions are heavily soiled items, towels and bedding after illness, where a hotter wash is doing hygiene work rather than cleaning work.
Does this include the standing charge?
No, and deliberately. The standing charge is a fixed daily fee for being connected at all, so it does not change when you run an appliance more or less. Including it would make every appliance look more expensive than it is.
Where do I find the wattage?
On the rating plate — usually a sticker on the back, base or inside the door — or in the manual. It is written as W or kW. If it only quotes amps, multiply amps by 230 to get watts.
Why is my bill higher than the total this gives?
Because this prices one appliance. Heating, hot water and the constant background draw of everything left plugged in usually make up more of a bill than the appliances people think to check.
Sources
- Ofgem — price cap unit rates — checked 2026-08-21
- Energy Saving Trust — quick tips to save energy — checked 2026-08-21
Rates from Eurostat for the second half of 2025. Last reviewed 3 September 2026.