Aisha K.
Mar 12, 2026
Clean layout and the results update instantly. Exactly what I needed for a quick planning check.
Home & Appliance Utilities
How to Calculate Laundry Cost Per Load
Cost/load = (kWh × $/kWh) + (gallons × water rate) + detergent.
Know what each laundry load really costs in power, water, and detergent—before you run half-empty cycles.
Inputs
0.055
0.050.8
050
00.1
05
Smart analysis
Recommendations
Tailored to your live inputs and result—guidance only, not professional advice.
- Interpret
Treat this as a planning estimate
Primary result: Cost Per Load = $0.57. Re-run with optimistic and pessimistic inputs to understand the range—not just a single point.
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Scenario A
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Plain-English guide
Terms & how it works
Confused by a field? Read the short definitions here while you use the tool.
Washer Energy (kWh/load)
The “Washer Energy (kWh/load)” value used in this tool’s formula. Adjust it to see results update live.
Electricity Rate ($/kWh)
The “Electricity Rate ($/kWh)” value used in this tool’s formula. Adjust it to see results update live.
Water Used (gal/load)
The “Water Used (gal/load)” value used in this tool’s formula. Adjust it to see results update live.
Water + Sewer ($/gal)
The “Water + Sewer ($/gal)” value used in this tool’s formula. Adjust it to see results update live.
Detergent / Softener
One-time or recurring costs that affect total money paid.
- detergentCost
Detergent / Softener ($)
The “Detergent / Softener ($)” field. Default 0.35; typical range 0–5.
How this calculator works
Know what each laundry load really costs in power, water, and detergent—before you run half-empty cycles. Cost/load = (kWh × $/kWh) + (gallons × water rate) + detergent. Example: 0.5 kWh at $0.14 ($0.07) + 15 gal at $0.01 ($0.15) + $0.35 detergent ≈ $0.57 per load.
Cost/load = (kWh × $/kWh) + (gallons × water rate) + detergent.
Example: 0.5 kWh at $0.14 ($0.07) + 15 gal at $0.01 ($0.15) + $0.35 detergent ≈ $0.57 per load.
When to use this Laundry Cost Per Load
Common use cases
- Estimate the electricity and water cost of a single washer load from kWh, rates, and water use.
- Sanity-check with this case: 0.5 kWh at $0.14 ($0.07) + 15 gal at $0.01 ($0.15) + $0.35 detergent ≈ $0.57 per load.
- The relationship is: Cost/load = (kWh × $/kWh) + (gallons × water rate) + detergent.
Localized examples
- Home & Appliance Utilities: the example on this page uses the same formula as the widget.
What you get
- Fields: Washer Energy (kWh/load), Electricity Rate ($/kWh), Water Used (gal/load), Water + Sewer ($/gal)
- Cost/load = (kWh × $/kWh) + (gallons × water rate) + detergent.
- Example on the page: 0.5 kWh at $0.14 ($0.07) + 15 gal at $0.01 ($0.15) + $0.35 detergent ≈ $0.57 per load.
How to Calculate Laundry Cost Per Load Step-by-Step
- 1Enter washer kWh per load from the Energy Guide or a meter.
- 2Set your electricity and water/sewer rates.
- 3Add detergent cost per load.
- 4Read the total cost per load instantly.
Governing formula
Cost/load = (kWh × $/kWh) + (gallons × water rate) + detergent.
0.5 kWh at $0.14 ($0.07) + 15 gal at $0.01 ($0.15) + $0.35 detergent ≈ $0.57 per load.
Example: set Washer Energy (kWh/load) = 0.5, Electricity Rate ($/kWh) = 0.14, Water Used (gal/load) = 15, then read the result.
Variable definitions
- kwhPerLoad
Washer Energy (kWh/load)
The “Washer Energy (kWh/load)” field. Default 0.5; typical range 0.05–5.
- ratePerKwh
Electricity Rate ($/kWh)
The “Electricity Rate ($/kWh)” field. Default 0.14; typical range 0.05–0.8.
- gallonsWater
Water Used (gal/load)
The “Water Used (gal/load)” field. Default 15; typical range 0–50.
- waterRatePerGal
Water + Sewer ($/gal)
The “Water + Sewer ($/gal)” field. Default 0.01; typical range 0–0.1.
- detergentCost
Detergent / Softener ($)
The “Detergent / Softener ($)” field. Default 0.35; typical range 0–5.
- The estimate (Cost/load = (kWh × $/kWh) + (gallons × water rate) + detergent.) is for a meeting, not a signed forecast. Check the invoice or the contract.
- Nothing here is uploaded for the calculation itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Add electricity (kWh × rate), water (gallons × rate), and detergent. Dryer heat is separate—use a dryer cost tool for that leg.
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