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

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

The short answer

Each load in a washing machine costs about $0.08 in Texas (0.50 kWh per load). At 5 loads a week, that adds up to $1.73 a month, or $20.70 a year.

That’s based on Texas’s average residential rate of 15.9¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), 13% below the US average.

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

Washing Machine cost by number of loads in Texas

Cost at 15.9¢/kWh, the Texas average (EIA, Jul 2026)
UsagekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 load/week 2.2 $0.01 $0.35 $4.14
3 loads/week 6.5 $0.03 $1.04 $12.42
5 loads/week 10.9 $0.06 $1.73 $20.70
7 loads/week 15.2 $0.08 $2.42 $28.98
10 loads/week 21.7 $0.11 $3.45 $41.40
14 loads/week 30.4 $0.16 $4.83 $57.96

Texas vs other states

At typical use, a washing machine costs $20.70 a year in Texas — $41.87 less than in Hawaii and $4.12 more than in Louisiana.

Texas has the 22nd-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in Texas · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Texas

15.9¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +3.4% 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 Texas?

A typical load uses about 0.50 kWh, which costs $0.08 at Texas’s average rate of 15.9¢/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 Texas that costs $1.73.

Is it expensive to run a washing machine in Texas?

Texas has the 22nd-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 15.9¢/kWh — close to the middle of the pack. Running a washing machine here costs about $20.70 a year at typical use, compared with $23.87 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Texas right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Texas was 15.9¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 3.4% from a year earlier.

Washing Machine costs in nearby states

Cheapest and priciest states

Comparisons

Sources & method