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

Laundry · New Jersey

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

The short answer

A typical washing machine uses about 0.50 kWh per load, which costs $0.13 per load in New Jersey — about $2.74 a month at 5 loads a week.

New Jersey’s average residential rate was 25.2¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 38% above the US average.

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

Washing Machine cost by number of loads in New Jersey

Cost at 25.2¢/kWh, the New Jersey average (EIA, Jul 2026)
UsagekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 load/week 2.2 $0.02 $0.55 $6.57
3 loads/week 6.5 $0.05 $1.64 $19.70
5 loads/week 10.9 $0.09 $2.74 $32.84
7 loads/week 15.2 $0.13 $3.83 $45.97
10 loads/week 21.7 $0.18 $5.47 $65.67
14 loads/week 30.4 $0.25 $7.66 $91.94

New Jersey vs other states

At typical use, a washing machine costs $32.84 a year in New Jersey — $29.73 less than in Hawaii and $16.26 more than in Louisiana.

New Jersey has the 10th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in New Jersey · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in New Jersey

25.2¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▼ −0.5% 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 New Jersey?

A typical load uses about 0.50 kWh, which costs $0.13 at New Jersey’s average rate of 25.2¢/kWh. An efficient model can cost as little as $0.08 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 New Jersey that costs $2.74.

Is it expensive to run a washing machine in New Jersey?

New Jersey has the 10th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 25.2¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running a washing machine here costs about $32.84 a year at typical use, compared with $23.87 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in New Jersey right now?

The average residential electricity rate in New Jersey was 25.2¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — down 0.5% from a year earlier.

Sources & method