How Much Does It Cost to Run a Washing Machine for 1 Hour in Australia?

Here’s the quick answer: Running a standard front-loading washing machine in Australia costs anywhere from $0.30 to $1.00 per hour, depending on your electricity rate, water usage, and the energy efficiency of your machine.

But that’s just the surface. If you’ve ever stood in front of your humming washer wondering whether a trip to the laundromat would be cheaper—or whether that extra hot wash is secretly burning dollars—you're not alone. Let’s dig into the true costs of running a washing machine for an hour and whether alternatives like your local laundromat near me might actually save you money.

What affects the cost of running a washing machine?

The hourly cost of using your washing machine isn’t fixed—it shifts based on:

• Electricity usage (measured in kilowatt-hours or kWh)

• Your electricity tariff (usually 25–45 cents per kWh in Australia)

• Water consumption and whether you use hot or cold

• Machine efficiency (older machines often use more power and water)

• Wash cycle type (quick, eco, heavy-duty, etc.)

Let’s take a closer look at these moving parts.

How much electricity does a washing machine use?

Most modern front-load washers use between 0.6 to 2.0 kWh per cycle. That’s not nothing.

If you’re on a $0.35/kWh plan (a common rate in 2025), then:

• A 0.6 kWh quick wash = $0.21

• A 1.0 kWh normal cycle = $0.35

• A 2.0 kWh hot wash = $0.70

Older top-loaders? They can easily chew through 2.2+ kWh, especially on a hot setting. That’s upwards of $0.77 per cycle, just for the power.

What about water costs?

Here’s where it gets slippery.

The average Aussie wash uses about 50 to 90 litres of water. According to Canstar Blue, water costs hover around $4 per 1,000 litres, depending on your state.

So a single wash costs you somewhere between $0.20 to $0.36 in water.

Now add that to your electricity cost, and suddenly that load of sheets is costing around $0.55 to $1.10—and that’s before factoring in detergent, machine depreciation, or your time.

Total cost per hour: What's the real number?

For a standard one-hour wash:

Is it cheaper to use a laundromat instead?

You’d think doing laundry at home is always cheaper—but not necessarily.

Many Australian laundromats charge $4 to $7 per wash, depending on machine size. Drying costs are usually $1 per 5–10 minutes, or about $4 for a full dry.

So a full wash + dry at a laundromat might cost $8 to $10, compared to $1.50 to $2.50 at home.

But here's where context matters:

• Larger loads: Laundromats offer 14–27kg machines, so you can knock out three baskets in one go. That efficiency often beats multiple home loads.

• Time savings: What’s your time worth? A single laundromat trip might save you hours of waiting, hanging, and folding.

• Machine wear and tear: Home machines aren’t free forever. Repairs and replacements cost real money.

• Energy-conscious households: If your goal is to lower carbon emissions or avoid peak-hour charges, laundromats running on commercial-grade efficiency might actually be greener.

In other words, “cheaper” isn’t just about the coin count.

Real-life example: Greg’s laundry lightbulb moment

Greg, a dad of two in Geelong, used to run his washer twice a day—kids’ clothes, gym gear, bedding, the lot. His quarterly electricity bills? Brutal.

“I thought doing it myself was smart,” he says. “But once I worked it out, it was costing me about $15 a week in power and water. That’s $780 a year!”

Now he does a weekly mega-load at a local laundromat, finishing three family-size washes in under an hour. The result? Cheaper bills and more time for, well, anything else.

That’s the thing—sometimes spending a bit more up front buys you time, peace, and predictability.

What about energy efficiency labels?

This part’s often overlooked.

Every washing machine sold in Australia carries a star rating for energy and water. A 4.5-star machine could save you hundreds over 10 years compared to a clunky 2-star model.

If you’re running a low-rated washer from the 2000s, odds are good a newer laundromat machine is more cost-efficient than your current setup.

Learn more about appliance star ratings here

Quick FAQ

Q: Can I reduce washing machine costs at home?
Yes—run cold washes, only do full loads, and wash during off-peak hours if on a time-of-use energy plan.

Q: Is it cheaper to hand-wash clothes?
Not really. It uses water and time, and doesn’t suit larger or soiled loads.

Q: Do laundromats use more water than home machines?
Not necessarily. Many use commercial-grade, water-efficient washers—better than older domestic models.

So, is running your washing machine for an hour expensive?

It depends on your setup. If your machine is newer, efficient, and you’re using cold cycles, the cost might be just $0.40 to $0.60 per load—pretty reasonable.

But if you’re running multiple loads a week on peak-hour electricity with a water-hungry washer, that figure adds up fast. For some households, switching to a local laundromat near me once or twice a week may genuinely reduce stress, utility bills, and wear on your appliances.

Either way, it’s worth doing the sums. After all, laundry might be a chore—but it doesn’t have to be a financial drain.