Front-load or top-load washer: which costs less to run?
The difference is not small, and it includes the cost of heating the water.
Every figure below is computed from the catalogue, not written by hand · updated October 19, 2026
Average yearly running cost
| What it is | kWh a year | Cost a year |
|---|---|---|
| Front-load washer248 models | 103 | $19 |
| Top-load washer107 models | 162 | $29 |
Priced a year at the U.S. average residential rate.
Most of the difference is hot water, not the motor
A washing machine's electricity bill is dominated by heating water, not by turning the drum. A front-loader tumbles clothes through a shallow pool instead of submerging them, so it needs far less water — and therefore far less energy to heat it. It also spins faster, leaving clothes drier, which quietly cuts the dryer's bill too.
The figures above assume 295 cycles a year, per the DOE test procedure (10 CFR 430 Subpart B, Appendix J2 (per §430.23)), and include heating the wash water with an electric water heater. If your water is heated by gas, your electricity cost will be lower than the table shows and your gas bill will carry the difference.
What this does not tell you
Running cost is one input. Front-loaders cost more up front, need their door seal wiped to avoid odour, and take longer per cycle. If a top-loader is what fits your space or budget, the efficient end of that range still beats an average front-loader — see the cheapest washers to run by type.
Where these numbers come from
Averages across every certified clothes washer we hold. The DOE test procedure behind these figures includes the energy to heat the wash water with an electric water heater.
Costs are that energy use multiplied by a state's average residential electricity price from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Change the state above and every figure on this page moves with it. Full methodology.