Free laundry planning tool

Laundry cost calculator

Compare the running cost of washing at home with a launderette, using your tariff, machine energy use and local prices.

The starting figures are a worked example, not current UK prices or a quote. Replace them with your electricity bill, appliance label and the launderette’s price list.

Your washing routine

Compare the same weekly laundry. Larger commercial machines may need fewer loads; choose each number yourself.

Energy at home

Electricity price (p/kWh)Enter the unit rate from your bill, not your daily standing charge.

Washing energy (kWh)Copy the energy figure and choose its matching unit below.

Washing energy unit

Drying energy (kWh)Enter one drying cycle or its per-100-cycles label figure.

Drying energy unit

Loads and extras

Home loads per week (loads/week)

Launderette loads per week (loads/week)Set this to the number of launderette machines needed for the same laundry.

Loads tumble dried (%)Use 0 for line drying, 100 for every load. This share applies to both options.

Home water cost (£/home wash)Optional: use 0 to exclude water and sewerage. Include both if metered.

Home detergent cost (£/home wash)Optional: cost per dose; use 0 to exclude.

Launderette prices

Launderette wash price (£/load)Use the price for the machine capacity you need.

Launderette drying price (£/dried load)Estimate the whole drying session, not just the first paid time block.

Launderette detergent cost (£/load)Use 0 if included or you are excluding this cost; otherwise include your own dose or vend price.

Your running-cost estimate

Enable JavaScript to calculate your own costs. The formula and worked example below are available without it.

Print after calculating. Your browser’s print dialog can save the estimate as a PDF. Inputs stay on your device.

How the calculation works

First convert any per-100-cycles energy figure into one cycle by dividing by 100. Convert your electricity rate from pence to pounds by dividing by 100. We keep full precision during calculations and round money only for display.

Home cost per load = (wash kWh + dry kWh × dried share) × electricity £/kWh + water + detergent.

Launderette cost per load = wash price + drying price × dried share + detergent. Each weekly total uses its own load count. An average month is weekly cost × 52 ÷ 12; annual cost is weekly cost × 52.

A worked example, with invented inputs

Suppose electricity is 25p/kWh, the washing label says 50 kWh per 100 cycles, drying uses 1.5 kWh per cycle, half the loads are tumble dried, and each wash uses 10p water and 20p detergent. A wash uses 0.5 kWh. The average home load costs (0.5 + 1.5 × 0.5) × £0.25 + £0.10 + £0.20 = £0.6125.

Four loads therefore cost £2.45 a week or about £10.62 per average month. With a fictional £6 wash and £3 drying session, half dried, four launderette loads cost £30 a week, excluding detergent. These numbers illustrate the arithmetic and do not represent any listed business.

Make a useful comparison

Check whether your appliance figure is for washing only or a complete wash-and-dry programme. Do not count drying twice.
Energy labels describe standard test programmes. Quick, hot or partly filled cycles can consume different amounts; use measured or manufacturer programme data when available.
A launderette machine can hold more than a domestic machine. Set the weekly load counts to match the same actual laundry, without exceeding either machine’s capacity.
The electricity sensitivity table changes only your home tariff by 20% either way. It does not predict future tariffs or operator price changes.
This is a marginal running-cost estimate. It excludes buying and repairing machines, travel, parking, your time, electricity standing charges and unentered extras.

Where to find your inputs

Your bill supplies the electricity unit rate. The appliance energy label or manual supplies energy consumption; a compatible energy monitor can help measure a particular cycle. Ask the launderette about machine size, price, drying increments and detergent before travelling.

Energy Saving Trust’s appliance-label guide explains the washing-machine label’s per-100-washes figure and the separate wash-only and wash-and-dry information on washer-dryers. Methodology checked 19 October 2026. We intentionally do not prefill a claimed current tariff.

Plan the rest of wash day

Find a launderette and confirm its current prices directly. Before choosing heat settings, use the washing symbols interpreter. Explore practical laundry guides for preparing your first visit or a bulky load.