How we work it out
Washing machines carry the same kind of energy label as dryers and dishwashers: a kWh-per-year figure on the sticker, based on the test standard's assumption of a wash every day. We divide that by 365 for a per-load cost, using the energyrating.gov.au registration database, July 2026 snapshot. The registry medians make the loading type the whole story: a front loader uses about 0.73 kWh per load, a top loader about 1.15, because a front loader tumbles clothes through a shallow pool of water instead of submerging a full drum. The same shallower fill is also why front loaders use noticeably less water per load.
Worked example: five loads a week in NSW on a front loader: 0.73 kWh × 32.4¢ × 5 = about $1.18 a week, or $62 a year. The same washing on a top loader runs closer to $1.86 a week, $97 a year, a $35 gap for the same clean clothes.
Cheaper ways to wash
Heating the water is the single biggest cost in a wash, so a cold cycle is the easiest saving available: modern detergents are formulated for it, and YourHome, the Australian Government's own sustainable-housing guide, puts the saving at 33% for a front loader and 46% for a top loader compared with warm (the temperature toggle above uses these same two figures). Wash full loads rather than topping up the machine twice, since a half-empty drum still runs close to a full program. And skip the second rinse unless the load actually needs it.
Common questions
Does a cold wash actually save money?
Yes, and it's the biggest single lever you've got. Heating water accounts for most of a warm or hot wash's energy, so switching to cold cuts the cost of a load by 33% on a front loader and 46% on a top loader, per YourHome (see our warm vs cold wash guide for the full working), and today's detergents clean just as well at cold temperatures.
How much cheaper is a front loader to run than a top loader?
About a third less energy per load, and noticeably less water, because a front loader tumbles clothes through a shallow pool instead of filling the drum. The worked example above puts that in dollars at five loads a week.
How much does it cost to run a washing machine in Australia?
Registry medians land around 20 to 30 cents a load for a front loader and 35 to 45 cents for a top loader on current state reference rates, before you factor in a cold-wash saving.
What this costs, state by state
Five loads a week on a front loader, at the registry-median 0.73 kWh per load.
| State | Rate | Per week | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 32.4¢ | 38¢ | $20.09 |
| Victoria | 29.8¢ | 35¢ | $18.48 |
| Queensland | 31.2¢ | 37¢ | $19.34 |
| South Australia | 38.1¢ | 45¢ | $23.62 |
| Western Australia | 33.6¢ | 40¢ | $20.83 |
| Tasmania | 28.9¢ | 34¢ | $17.92 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 27.4¢ | 32¢ | $16.99 |
| Northern Territory | 31.7¢ | 37¢ | $19.65 |
Reference rates for 2026–27. Your row is highlighted once you set your location.
Sources
Electricity rates: AER Default Market Offer (NSW, SA, south-east QLD), Victorian Default Offer, and each remaining state's regulated tariff, current for 2026–27. Appliance figures: the energyrating.gov.au registration database (July 2026 snapshot). Methods and assumptions are described on each page.