What Does It Cost to Run a Washing Machine in Colorado?
Running a washing machine in Colorado costs about $1.74 a month — $21.13 a year — at the state's average rate of 16.54 ¢/kWh. The estimate assumes a typical 700-watt washing machine running 0.5 hours/day, at the all-in average rate (before separately billed taxes and fixed fees).
Key metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average wattage assumption | 700 W |
| Typical usage assumption | 0.5 hours/day |
| Estimated monthly electricity use | 10.5 kWh |
| Estimated monthly cost | $1.74 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $21.13 |
Washing Machine cost vs U.S. average
At the state average rate, a washing machine in Colorado costs $0.29 less a month than it would at the U.S. average rate.
How much electricity does a washing machine use?
A washing machine draws roughly 400-1,400 W; we use 700 watts running 0.5 hours/day. That comes to 0.35 kWh a day — 10.5 kWh a month, or 127.7 kWh over a year — using kWh = watts × hours ÷ 1000.
The machine's motor sips power; it's the hot water that costs you. Wash in cold and a load is nearly free to run — switch to warm or hot and most of the energy goes straight into heating the water. Colorado prices that energy at 16.54 ¢/kWh, against a 19.32 ¢/kWh national average.
Washing Machine operating cost estimate in Colorado
| Time period | Energy use | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Per hour | 0.70 kWh | $0.12 |
| Per day | 0.35 kWh | $0.06 |
| Per month | 10.5 kWh | $1.74 |
| Per year | 127.7 kWh | $21.13 |
These figures use the all-in average rate. Your actual bill can run higher when separately billed taxes, seasonal pricing, and fixed monthly fees apply.
What changes the cost the most?
Two things move this number: your state's rate, which you can't change, and how hard the appliance works, which you often can. For a washing machine, that mostly comes down to wash temperature, load frequency, machine efficiency.
Using yours more lightly or heavily than our assumption? The state calculator and usage-cost pages below model your exact scenario at the same rate.
For calculator-style comparisons, use the Washing Machine calculator in Colorado to compare light, typical, and heavy usage profiles.
Comparison entry points
Browse related comparisons from the energy comparison hub:
City pages for selected metros in Colorado
These city pages add local rate context for the same appliance assumptions. City values are estimates.
| City | City rate | Monthly estimate | Yearly estimate | More detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | 16.87 ¢/kWh | $1.77 | $21.26 | City electricity context |
City electricity pages focus on local rate context. The table above uses the statewide average rate.
Related appliance cost pages for Colorado
- Clothes Dryer cost in Colorado — Typical 1,800-5,000 W estimate with state-specific pricing
- Refrigerator cost in Colorado — Typical 40-100 W estimate with state-specific pricing
- Space Heater cost in Colorado — Typical 750-1,500 W estimate with state-specific pricing
- Window AC cost in Colorado — Typical 500-1,500 W estimate with state-specific pricing
State cost and bill pathways for Colorado
- Colorado electricity price per kWh — What a kWh of electricity costs in Colorado
- Colorado electricity rates & prices — Core authority page with statewide pricing context
- Colorado electricity cost analysis — State-level cost, affordability, and value overview
- Denver electricity estimate (Colorado) — City electricity page with methodology notes where city coverage is available
- Average electricity bill in Colorado — What a typical monthly bill looks like
- Colorado household bill estimator — Estimate your bill from your monthly usage
Historical and trend pages
- Colorado electricity price history — Historical context and trend interpretation
- Electricity inflation in Colorado — State electricity inflation analysis
- Colorado electricity price volatility — Volatility and rate movement profile
Fixed-usage and calculator pathways
- 100 kWh cost in Colorado — Cost for this usage amount in the same state
- 300 kWh cost in Colorado — Cost for this usage amount in the same state
- 500 kWh cost in Colorado — Cost for this usage amount in the same state
- Colorado electricity cost calculator — Custom kWh and scenario cost calculation
Appliance and estimator pathways
- Refrigerator cost in Colorado — Appliance operating-cost page for this state
- Refrigerator calculator in Colorado — Calculator page for adjusting wattage and usage for this appliance
- Space Heater cost in Colorado — Appliance operating-cost page for this state
- Space Heater calculator in Colorado — Calculator page for adjusting wattage and usage for this appliance
- Window Ac cost in Colorado — Appliance operating-cost page for this state
- Window Ac calculator in Colorado — Calculator page for adjusting wattage and usage for this appliance
State comparison pathways for Colorado
- Colorado electricity comparisons — State-to-state comparison hub
- Colorado vs California electricity cost — Head-to-head comparison page
- Colorado vs Florida electricity cost — Head-to-head comparison page
Discovery and navigation hubs
- Colorado electricity hub — Guide to this state's electricity rate, usage, comparison, and tool pages
- Electricity cost scenario hub — Entry point for residential and industry scenario pages
- Colorado electricity cost overview — State-level electricity cost page with rates and typical bill context
- Colorado average electricity bill benchmark — Typical monthly bill estimate using a standard household usage assumption
- Colorado electricity bill estimator — Household profile bill scenarios for this state
- Electricity usage hubs — Browse cost pages by common household usage tiers
Consumer electricity drivers
- Price drivers in Colorado — Understand what influences state electricity prices
Source & Method
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Retail Sales of Electricity. Updated: April 2026. Estimates use the EIA average all-in residential rate (delivery included); they don't add separately billed taxes, fixed charges, or other utility fees, which vary by utility. For how rates and estimates are defined, see the methodology hub.