How much does it cost to run a washer-dryer (combined)? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a washer-dryer (combined) rated at 2.1kW costs 55p an hour to run and around £185 a year assuming 3 wash-and-dry cycles a week, averaging 4.5kWh each.
Per hour
55p
Per typical use
£1.18
Per day
51p
Per week
£3.55
Per year
£185
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 2.1kW for a washer-dryer (combined); published figures for this appliance range from 1.8kW to 2.5kW. A combined washer-dryer washes and dries in the same drum without opening it in between — convenient in a small space, but the drying stage is less efficient than a dedicated dryer, typically raising the combined energy per load above a separate machine and condenser dryer pairing. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 3 wash-and-dry cycles a week, averaging 4.5kWh each, 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 | 59p | £196 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 56p | £189 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 56p | £187 |
| London | 26.60 | 56p | £187 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 56p | £187 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 56p | £186 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 56p | £186 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 56p | £186 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 55p | £185 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 55p | £183 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 54p | £180 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 54p | £180 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 53p | £179 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 53p | £178 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 55p | £185 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £178 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £196 a year — a gap of £17.55 for identical use.
How a washer-dryer (combined) compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in laundry, GB average:
- washer-dryer (combined) — £185 a year (this page)
- vented tumble dryer — £172 a year
- condenser tumble dryer — £127 a year
- heat pump tumble dryer — £53.38 a year
- washing machine (40°C cycle) — £51.32 a year
- iron — £48.03 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Use the wash-only cycle and air-dry when weather allows, rather than the automatic wash-and-dry programme every time
- Don't overload for the wash stage just because drying has more capacity — it reduces cleaning effectiveness
- Run the drum-clean maintenance cycle periodically — condensation-drying parts clog faster in a combined unit
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a washer-dryer (combined) for an hour?
- 55p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 2.1kW). One typical use — 3 wash-and-dry cycles a week, averaging 4.5kWh each — costs closer to £1.18.
- How much does a washer-dryer (combined) cost to run per year?
- Around £185 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 3 wash-and-dry cycles a week, averaging 4.5kWh each — about £3.55 a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a washer-dryer (combined) in?
- East Midlands, at £178 a year, against £196 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £17.55 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my washer-dryer (combined) change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 1.8kW–2.5kW, so the top of that range costs about 1.4x the bottom. This page uses 2.1kW; 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
- Heatable — how much energy do household appliances use — 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.
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