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How many watts does a washing machine use? (500 W)
A washing machine uses about 500 W
Typical range 350–1,000 watts, plus ~1 W on standby.
Typical range 350–1,000 watts, plus ~1 W on standby.
Running cost calculator
Per hour—
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A washing machine's power depends almost entirely on water temperature - the motor sips power, but heating the water does not.
Washing machine power specs
| Typical running power | 500 W |
| Typical range | 350–1,000 W |
| Startup surge | 1,400 W |
| Standby draw | 1 W |
| Energy use | 0.50 kWh/day · 15.0 kWh/mo |
What affects the wattage
- Model size, age and energy rating.
- Settings and how hard it works (heat, speed, load).
- How many hours a day you run it.
Running cost at $0.17/kWh
| Electricity rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.10/kWh | $0.05 | $1.50 | $18.25 |
| $0.15/kWh | $0.08 | $2.25 | $27.38 |
| $0.20/kWh | $0.10 | $3.00 | $36.50 |
| $0.25/kWh | $0.13 | $3.75 | $45.63 |
| $0.30/kWh | $0.15 | $4.50 | $54.75 |
| $0.40/kWh | $0.20 | $6.00 | $73.00 |
See the full breakdown of what it costs to run a washing machine, or what size power station runs a washing machine.
FAQ
How many watts does a washing machine use?
About 350-1000 watts per cycle, mostly for heating water on warm and hot washes.
How do I lower washer running costs?
Wash in cold water and run full loads - heating is where almost all the energy goes.
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