How much does it cost to run a pressure washer? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a pressure washer rated at 1.5kW costs 39p an hour to run and around £2.57 a year assuming roughly monthly use, about 30 minutes.
Per hour
39p
Per typical use
20p
Per day
0.7p
Per week
4.9p
Per year
£2.57
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 1.5kW for a pressure washer; published figures for this appliance range from 1.4kW to 2.1kW. A domestic electric pressure washer typically draws 1,400–2,100W; because most households only use one occasionally — cleaning a patio, decking or car every few weeks — its total annual running cost is usually modest despite the high wattage while on. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as roughly monthly use, about 30 minutes, which is how the per-day, per-week and per-year figures above were calculated — see the cost-to-run calculator to change the wattage, hours or region yourself.
Rate used: Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026, GB average electricity — 26.32p/kWh (excl. VAT, removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027).
Cost by region
Same appliance, same use — ranked most to least expensive by region under the price cap:
| Region | Elec p/kWh | Cost per hour | Typical annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merseyside and Northern Wales | 27.86 | 42p | £2.72 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 40p | £2.62 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 40p | £2.59 |
| London | 26.60 | 40p | £2.59 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 40p | £2.59 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 40p | £2.59 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 40p | £2.58 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 40p | £2.58 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 40p | £2.57 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 39p | £2.55 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 38p | £2.50 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 38p | £2.50 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 38p | £2.48 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 38p | £2.47 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 39p | £2.57 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £2.47 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £2.72 a year — a gap of 24p for identical use.
How a pressure washer compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in garden & other, GB average:
- pressure washer — £2.57 a year (this page)
- robot vacuum — £2.51 a year
- hair straighteners — £2.40 a year
- phone charging — £1.44 a year
- electric leaf blower — £5.70 a year
- sewing machine — £6.48 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Use the correct nozzle/pressure setting for the surface — a narrower jet than needed just extends the job
- Pre-treat heavily soiled areas with a detergent attachment so less powered rinsing time is needed
- Batch outdoor cleaning jobs into one session rather than several short separate sessions
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a pressure washer for an hour?
- 39p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 1.5kW). One typical use — roughly monthly use, about 30 minutes — costs closer to 20p.
- How much does a pressure washer cost to run per year?
- Around £2.57 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming roughly monthly use, about 30 minutes — about 4.9p a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a pressure washer in?
- East Midlands, at £2.47 a year, against £2.72 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — 24p apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my pressure washer change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 1.4kW–2.1kW, so the top of that range costs about 1.5x the bottom. This page uses 1.5kW; check your own rating plate.
- Does the October 2026 price cap affect this figure?
- Yes — figures use the Ofgem cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Electricity excludes VAT (removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027); gas includes 5%. See the price cap page for the full breakdown.
Sources
- Daftlogic — power consumption of typical household appliances — wattage and usage figures for this appliance.
- Ofgem — Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (regional tables, read 12 September 2026).
Related
- Cost-to-run calculator and full A–Z — check any appliance or enter a custom wattage.
- Energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 — every region, every payment method.
- Back-billing calculator — if a bill for this or any appliance looks like it covers too many months.
- Free bill audit — if your overall energy costs look high regardless of any one appliance.
Send us one bill. We'll send back every overcharge — and the cheapest legitimate replacement.
Whether you run a Mayfair restaurant group or rent a flat in Salford, the audit is the same and the fee is the same: nothing, unless we save you money.