Laundry Load Cost Calculator

Work out laundry load cost instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Laundry Load Cost Calculator

Laundry cost per kilogram combines water, energy and chemistry, with energy for heating typically the largest element. Benchmarking in cost per kilogram rather than cost per load is essential because load weights vary and partial loads are far more expensive per kilogram.

Formulas

Water used

Water = Load weight x Litres per kg

Energy used

Energy = Load weight x kWh per kg

Cost per kg

Cost per kg = Total cost / Load weight

Worked example

With the default values below, Laundry Load Cost Calculator returns Cost per load of $137.76. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Load weight: 12 kg
Water used per kg: 14
Energy used per kg: 0.22
Combined cost per litre-equivalent unit: 0.45

Results

Cost per load: $137.76
Cost per kg of laundry: $11.480
Water used: 168.0
Energy used: 2.640

Step by step

1Values used
2Water used
3Energy used
4Cost per kg
5Cost per load= 137.76
6Cost per kg of laundry= 11.480
7Water used= 168.0
8Energy used= 2.640

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What water usage is efficient?

Modern tunnel washers achieve 6-10 litres per kilogram; older washer-extractors use 15-25. Water reuse systems cut this substantially.

Why are partial loads expensive?

Because water fill and heating are largely fixed per cycle, so halving the load barely reduces the cost.