Formula
Laundry cost formula
Cost per load = washer kWh x electric rate + dryer kWh x electric rate + gallons / 1,000 x water rate + detergent costActual energy and water use vary by machine, cycle, temperature, load size, and drying method.
Laundry Cost Calculator
Use this laundry cost calculator to estimate what laundry costs per load, month, and year from energy, water, sewer, and detergent assumptions.
Live calculator
Laundry cost
Cost per load$1.28
Electricity, water, sewer, and detergent per load.
Monthly laundry cost$27.81
Weekly cost multiplied by the average weeks per month.
Annual laundry cost$332.80
Weekly cost multiplied by 52.
Cost per load
| Part | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Electricity | $0.63 |
| Water and sewer | $0.30 |
| Detergent | $0.35 |
| Total per load | $1.28 |
Utility estimates depend on local rates, fixed fees, taxes, runtime, billing period, and household usage. Compare against the actual bill before settling up.
How to use
Steps
- Enter how many laundry loads you run each week.
- Enter washer and dryer energy use per load.
- Enter water gallons per load and your water plus sewer rate.
- Add detergent cost to see cost per load, month, and year.
Example
Sample calculation
Loads/week5
Energy3.5 kWh/load
Water25 gal/load
Estimated costAbout $1.28/load
Calculator use
Best for
- Estimating home utility cost, shared bills, appliance usage, or service charges before splitting or budgeting.
- Testing usage changes such as shorter showers, different appliance cycles, rate changes, or roommate shares.
Before relying on it
Check first
- Leaving out fixed service fees, tiered rates, taxes, delivery charges, minimum bills, seasonal rates, or billing-period length.
- Using appliance labels, averages, or old bills without checking actual runtime, local rates, and household usage.
- Splitting a bill without agreeing whether fixed fees, shared rooms, guests, or unequal usage should be weighted.
Details
What to know before using the result
Dryer impactOften the largest cost
Electric drying can dominate the per-load estimate compared with washer electricity or water.
Water rateUse water + sewer
If your utility bills sewer from water use, include both rates for a fuller household cost.
Cycle settingsCan change the result
Hot water, long cycles, high heat, and small loads can raise the real per-load cost.
Benchmarks
How to read the result
Under $1/load: Lower estimate.
More likely with efficient machines, line drying, low rates, or low detergent cost.
$1 - $2/load: Common planning range.
Useful for household budgeting when both washing and drying are included.
$2+/load: Check inputs.
Can happen with high electric rates, long dryer cycles, small loads, or expensive detergent.
Calculator accuracy
Methodology and assumptions
Formula, inputs, limitations and review record
Formula
Cost per load = washer kWh x electric rate + dryer kWh x electric rate + gallons / 1,000 x water rate + detergent cost
Inputs used
Loads per week, Washer kWh, Dryer kWh, Water gallons, Utility rates
Limitations
Utility pages use visible usage and rate assumptions. Actual bills may include tiers, service fees, delivery charges, taxes, minimums, seasonal rates, and provider-specific rules.
Review record
Catalog QA baseline on June 6, 2026. This date marks the catalog-wide automated and editorial QA baseline, not a tool-specific expert review.
Cite this page
Toolkit Shelf. Laundry Cost Calculator. https://toolkitshelf.com/tools/laundry-cost-calculator
FAQ
Common questions
How do I calculate laundry cost per load?
Add washer electricity, dryer electricity, water and sewer cost, and detergent cost for one load.
Why does dryer use matter so much?
Dryers usually use much more electricity than washers, so drying time and heat setting can drive the result.
Does this include laundromat cost?
No. This estimates home laundry utility and detergent cost. Laundromat machine fees should be added separately.
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