Laundry Cost Calculator

How to calculate laundry costs?

Laundry costs are calculated by summing the utility consumption of each cycle and adding the proportional cost of your supplies. This includes the electricity and water used by the machines, along with a fraction of the price paid for detergent, softeners, and dryer sheets based on the number of loads per container.

Cost = (kWh × rate) + (Gallons × rate) + (Bottle Price / Loads) + Drying cost

Using the Laundry Cost Calculator: an example

In this scenario, we evaluate a standard high-efficiency washing machine cycle followed by a timed dry. HE machines use less water but often require specific detergents, which can influence the total cost per load.

Step-by-step calculation

1. Multiply 0.5 kWh of electricity consumption by your local $0.15/kWh utility rate.
2. Divide the $15.00 purchase price of your detergent by the 60 loads it provides.
3. Add the energy required for the dryer to run for a standard 45-minute cycle.
4. Sum all these individual components to find your final total cost per load.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why include water costs? While water is typically cheaper than energy, these costs add up over hundreds of loads and often include hidden sewer surcharge fees.
• How does load size affect cost? Larger loads maximize the efficiency of the water and energy used, effectively lowering the cost per item of clothing cleaned.
• Is air drying significantly cheaper? Yes, since the dryer is often the most energy-intensive appliance in the process, air drying can reduce the total cost per load by 50% or more.