U.S. residential electricity EIA data: July 2026 US average 18.3¢/kWh Updated
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Laundry · Iowa

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Washing Machine in Iowa?

The short answer

Each load in a washing machine costs about $0.08 in Iowa (0.50 kWh per load). At 5 loads a week, that adds up to $1.74 a month, or $20.84 a year.

Iowa’s average residential rate was 16.0¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 13% below the US average.

Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated

Washing Machine cost by number of loads in Iowa

Cost at 16.0¢/kWh, the Iowa average (EIA, Jul 2026)
UsagekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 load/week 2.2 $0.01 $0.35 $4.17
3 loads/week 6.5 $0.03 $1.04 $12.51
5 loads/week 10.9 $0.06 $1.74 $20.84
7 loads/week 15.2 $0.08 $2.43 $29.18
10 loads/week 21.7 $0.11 $3.47 $41.69
14 loads/week 30.4 $0.16 $4.86 $58.36

Iowa vs other states

At typical use, a washing machine costs $20.84 a year in Iowa — $41.73 less than in Hawaii and $4.26 more than in Louisiana.

Iowa has the 24th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in Iowa · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Iowa

16.0¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +4.4% from a year earlier.

How to lower the cost of running a washing machine

The motor and pump in a washing machine use relatively little electricity: around 0.3–0.5 kWh per load for a cold wash. A hot wash with water from an electric water heater can push the total to 2 kWh or more per load. Front-loaders and high-efficiency top-loaders use less water and spin clothes drier, which also cuts dryer time.

  • Wash in cold water — modern detergents clean well, and it can cut energy per load by up to 90%.
  • Run full loads and use the high-spin setting to shorten drying time.
  • Use the eco cycle for lightly soiled clothes.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost per load to run a washing machine in Iowa?

A typical load uses about 0.50 kWh, which costs $0.08 at Iowa’s average rate of 16.0¢/kWh. An efficient model can cost as little as $0.05 per load.

How many kWh does a washing machine use per month?

At 5 loads a week, a typical washing machine uses about 10.9 kWh a month. In Iowa that costs $1.74.

Is it expensive to run a washing machine in Iowa?

Iowa has the 24th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 16.0¢/kWh — close to the middle of the pack. Running a washing machine here costs about $20.84 a year at typical use, compared with $23.87 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Iowa right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Iowa was 16.0¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 4.4% from a year earlier.

Washing Machine costs in nearby states

Cheapest and priciest states

Comparisons

Sources & method