How much does it cost to run a washing machine? (2026–27)
At typical draw · official state tariffs
Typical household use (4 loads a week at 0.7 kWh per load) runs $40–$61 a year depending on your state's tariff.
Wattage basis: Running draw 400–1,400 W; cold-wash energy ~0.3–0.7 kWh/cycle, warm wash roughly doubles it.
| State | Model | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales33.1c/kWh · Ausgrid | Efficient (400 W) | $0.13 | $0.53 | $16.12 | $194 |
| Typical (700 W) | $0.23 | $0.93 | $28.21 | $339 | |
| High (1,400 W) | $0.46 | $1.86 | $56.41 | $677 | |
| Victoria27.5c/kWh · Jemena | Efficient (400 W) | $0.11 | $0.44 | $13.36 | $160 |
| Typical (700 W) | $0.19 | $0.77 | $23.38 | $281 | |
| High (1,400 W) | $0.38 | $1.54 | $46.76 | $561 | |
| Queensland28.0c/kWh · Energex | Efficient (400 W) | $0.11 | $0.45 | $13.61 | $163 |
| Typical (700 W) | $0.20 | $0.78 | $23.81 | $286 | |
| High (1,400 W) | $0.39 | $1.57 | $47.62 | $572 | |
| South Australia41.9c/kWh · SA Power Networks | Efficient (400 W) | $0.17 | $0.67 | $20.39 | $245 |
| Typical (700 W) | $0.29 | $1.17 | $35.67 | $428 | |
| High (1,400 W) | $0.59 | $2.35 | $71.35 | $857 | |
| Western Australia33.3c/kWh · Western Power (SWIS) | Efficient (400 W) | $0.13 | $0.53 | $16.18 | $194 |
| Typical (700 W) | $0.23 | $0.93 | $28.31 | $340 | |
| High (1,400 W) | $0.47 | $1.86 | $56.63 | $680 | |
| Tasmania28.0c/kWh · TasNetworks | Efficient (400 W) | $0.11 | $0.45 | $13.60 | $163 |
| Typical (700 W) | $0.20 | $0.78 | $23.79 | $286 | |
| High (1,400 W) | $0.39 | $1.57 | $47.59 | $571 | |
| Australian Capital Territory37.0c/kWh · Evoenergy | Efficient (400 W) | $0.15 | $0.59 | $17.97 | $216 |
| Typical (700 W) | $0.26 | $1.03 | $31.45 | $378 | |
| High (1,400 W) | $0.52 | $2.07 | $62.91 | $755 | |
| Northern Territory31.7c/kWh · Power and Water | Efficient (400 W) | $0.13 | $0.51 | $15.41 | $185 |
| Typical (700 W) | $0.22 | $0.89 | $26.96 | $324 | |
| High (1,400 W) | $0.44 | $1.77 | $53.93 | $648 |
This table costs a constant draw at 4 h a day. The typical-use yearly figures below use the appliance's measured energy per use (0.7 kWh per cycle (cold wash)) instead.
Where a washing machine costs more
- South Australia is the dearest state to run one: $0.29 an hour at 700 W on its 41.9c/kWh rate, against $0.19 in Victoria. Over a year of typical use that gap is $21 (52.6% more).
- By yearly running cost at typical use it ranks 21st of the 26 appliances costed on this site (1st costs the most): $48 a year at the NSW rate.
- At the 1 July 2026 price reset, typical-use cost fell $3 in VIC (Jemena usage rate 29.7c to 27.5c/kWh) and rose $1 in WA (Western Power (SWIS) usage rate 32.4c to 33.3c/kWh).
| Rank | State | Usage rate | Typical year | Above the cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victoria | 27.5c | $40 | — |
| 2 | Tasmania | 28.0c | $41 | +$1 |
| 3 | Queensland | 28.0c | $41 | +$1 |
| 4 | Northern Territory | 31.7c | $46 | +$6 |
| 5 | New South Wales | 33.1c | $48 | +$8 |
| 6 | Western Australia | 33.3c | $48 | +$8 |
| 7 | Australian Capital Territory | 37.0c | $54 | +$14 |
| 8 | South Australia | 41.9c | $61 | +$21 |
Rates by state (each state's capital-city network): NSW: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); VIC: ESC Victorian Default Offer 2026–27; QLD: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); SA: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); WA: WA Government Standard Electricity Prices 2026–27 (Synergy Home Plan A1); TAS: OTTER-approved Aurora Energy Standing Offer 2026–27 (approved 25 June 2026) — Tariff 31; ACT: ICRC retail electricity price recalibration 2026–27 (ActewAGL standing offer); NT: NT Electricity Pricing Order 2026–27 (Jacana Energy standard residential). All effective 1 July 2026.
Appliance running-cost calculator
NSWWashing machine: 400–1,400 W typical range.
A cycle runs 1–2 h; 3–5 loads a week is typical. A warm/hot wash uses 1.0–2.0 kWh because water heating dominates.
- Per day (4 h)
- $0.93
- Per month
- $28.21
- Per year (365 days)
- $338.66
Tariff: 33.1c/kWh — AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8) for the Ausgrid network, effective 1 July 2026. Wattage basis: EcoFlow AU — washing machine power consumption. Full washing machine costs in NSW →
Cutting the cost
Most of a wash's energy goes into heating water, so choose a cold or cool cycle for everyday loads; modern detergents cope fine. Run full loads rather than half-empty ones, use the eco setting, and let a high spin speed wring out more water so the dryer has less to do. Front-loaders generally use less water and power than top-loaders for the same wash.
Frequently asked questions
- How is the running cost calculated?
- Watts ÷ 1,000 × the electricity rate = cost per hour. A washing machine drawing 700 W on NSW's 33.1c/kWh rate costs $0.23 an hour; the calculator below lets you change every input. For this appliance the yearly figure uses its measured energy per use rather than a constant draw.
- Does a higher star rating cut the cost?
- Yes. The star rating compresses the power draw or energy per use, which scales these figures directly. The low–high band in the table (400–1,400 W) roughly spans efficient to inefficient models.
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- All appliances
- Appliance calculator
- EcoFlow AU — washing machine power consumption
- State reference tariffs (per-zone determinations)verified
Costs use each state's representative-zone reference usage rate, effective 1 July 2026. A cycle runs 1–2 h; 3–5 loads a week is typical. A warm/hot wash uses 1.0–2.0 kWh because water heating dominates.