Laundry Cost Per Load Calculator
Add up the electricity, water and detergent behind one load of laundry — and what your weekly wash habit costs over a year.
How it works
Per load = (washer + dryer kWh) × rate + gallons × water cost + detergent · Annual = per load × loads/week × 52
A load of laundry has three costs: the electricity to run the washer and dryer, the water (plus sewer) it consumes, and the detergent and supplies. The dryer usually dominates the energy bill because heating air is far more demanding than tumbling a drum, so line-drying or a heat-pump dryer moves the number most. Washing in cold water and running full loads spreads those fixed costs over more clothes.
Worked example
Washer 0.5 kWh + dryer 3 kWh = 3.5 kWh × $0.17 = $0.595 of electricity. Add 20 gal × $0.015 = $0.30 of water and $0.25 of detergent for $1.145 a load. Five loads a week is $1.145 × 5 × 52 = about $298 a year.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the dryer the biggest cost?
Electric resistance dryers pull about 3–4 kWh per load to generate heat, while a modern washer uses well under 1 kWh. Line-drying eliminates that, and a heat-pump dryer roughly halves it, so the dryer is the first place to cut laundry energy cost.
How do I find my water cost per gallon?
Divide a water-and-sewer bill by the gallons used on it (bills often list usage in gallons or hundred-cubic-feet — 1 HCF = 748 gallons). Include sewer charges, since water you run down the drain is billed twice in many areas.
Does cold water really save money?
Yes. Heating the wash water can be the largest single energy component of a hot wash; switching to cold or warm removes most of it, and modern detergents are formulated to clean well in cold water.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.