About the Laundry Cost Calculator
This laundry cost calculator shows what each load of washing really costs. At home that is the electricity for the washer and dryer, the water, detergent and extras such as dryer sheets, plus — if you want a fair comparison — a share of what the machines cost to buy. At a laundromat it is the price of the washer and dryer cycles plus the same supplies.
Use it to decide whether buying a washer and dryer pays off compared with the laundromat, to see how much air-drying saves, or simply to budget for laundry. Enter the number of loads you do each week and the calculator gives the cost per load, per week and per year for both options, the annual difference and how many months it takes the machines to pay for themselves.
The default energy figures are rough estimates for a mostly cold wash and an electric dryer. Most of a washer’s energy goes into heating water, so a warm or hot wash heated by an electric water heater can add 1–2 kWh per load; your machines’ EnergyGuide labels or a plug-in energy meter give exact numbers. Water is entered per 1,000 gallons, the unit most US utility bills use — add your sewer charge if it is billed on water use.
With the default inputs, the cost per load at home is $1.50. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the laundry cost calculator
- 1Enter how many loads you wash per week and how many you machine-dry.
- 2Enter your electricity price and water-plus-sewer price from your bills.
- 3Adjust washer and dryer energy if you know your machines’ figures.
- 4Add detergent, extras and the price and lifespan of your machines.
- 5Enter your local laundromat prices to compare cost per load and per year.
Formula and method
At home, each load uses energy for the washer (mostly heating water) and the dryer, multiplied by your electricity price, plus the water and sewer charge for the gallons used and the detergent and extras. To compare fairly with a laundromat, the purchase price of the machines is spread over every load they will wash in their lifetime (lifespan × loads per week × 52).
The laundromat cost is the wash price plus the dry price for the share of loads you machine-dry, plus the same supplies. The payback period ignores the machine cost on the home side and asks how many months of running-cost savings it takes to recover the purchase price. Gas dryers and heat-pump dryers cost less to run; enter their equivalent cost in kWh terms or lower the dryer energy.
- E_wash, E_dry
- Energy per load for washer and dryer (kWh)
- d
- Share of loads machine-dried
- rate
- Electricity price per kWh
Worked examples
Five loads a week, typical machines
Energy is (0.6 + 3) kWh × $0.17 = $0.61, water 20 gal × $10 ÷ 1,000 = $0.20, and supplies $0.30, for $1.11 of running cost. The $1,200 machines spread over 12 years × 260 loads add $0.38, so a load costs about $1.50 at home against $6.80 at the laundromat — about $1,379 a year saved, and the machines pay back in about 10 months.
Air-drying half the loads
Machine-drying only half the loads halves the dryer energy to $0.255 per load, bringing the home cost to about $1.24. At the laundromat you would pay for half as many dryer cycles, $5.55 per load on average.
Ignoring machine cost, cheaper power
With electricity at $0.12/kWh, energy is 3.6 × 0.12 = $0.432 per load; adding $0.20 water and $0.30 supplies gives $0.932. Three loads a week is 156 loads a year, or about $145.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to do a load of laundry at home?+
With a mostly cold wash and an electric dryer, running costs are typically around $1 to $1.50 per load including energy, water and detergent; hot washes with an electric water heater cost more. Spreading the cost of the machines over their life adds roughly $0.25 to $0.50.
How much electricity does a dryer use per load?+
A standard electric dryer typically uses about 2 to 4 kWh per load depending on load size, moisture and settings. Heat-pump dryers use roughly half as much, and gas dryers use mostly gas with a little electricity.
Is it cheaper to buy a washer and dryer or use a laundromat?+
For most households doing several loads a week, owning machines is far cheaper: a laundromat often costs $5 to $8 per load washed and dried, so a $1,000–$1,500 pair typically pays for itself within one to two years.
Does washing in cold water save money?+
Yes. Most of a washer’s energy goes into heating water, so switching from warm or hot to cold can cut washer energy by well over half. Lower the washer energy figure to see the effect.
How do I find my water price per 1,000 gallons?+
Check your water bill for the volumetric rate. Many US utilities bill per 1,000 gallons or per CCF (748 gallons). Add the sewer rate if it is charged on water use, as it usually is.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.