Cheapest Time to Run a Washing Machine: When Off-Peak Laundry Saves Money

Cheapest Time to Do Laundry: Stop Overpaying per Load!

Running a washing machine during off-peak hours can save money only if the household’s electricity plan charges less during those hours. On a plan with the same electricity price throughout the day, moving an identical load to nighttime does not reduce its energy charge. No single laundry hour is cheapest for every home.

Essential Concepts

• Check the current rate schedule for the exact plan on the bill.
• Schedule drying as well as washing within cheaper hours when practical.
• Reduce hot-water use and unnecessary drying regardless of the rate plan.
• Compare whole-household costs before switching plans.

When Does Off-Peak Laundry Save Money?

Off-peak laundry saves money when electricity used during the lower-priced period replaces electricity you otherwise would have used during a higher-priced period. Time-of-use plans assign different prices to scheduled parts of the day. Peak hours carry higher prices; off-peak hours carry lower prices. Real-time or hourly pricing plans can change prices more frequently, so yesterday’s cheapest hour may not be today’s. [1]

Moving a load between two hours with the same rate produces no timing savings. Likewise, starting a washer before a rate change does not necessarily put the entire cycle at the starting price. Electricity consumed after the higher-priced period begins is subject to that period’s applicable rate.

Check the drying schedule as well. A wash that finishes just before peak pricing begins may leave you running the electric dryer during expensive hours. Plan the complete wash-and-dry routine within an affordable window when practical.

How to Check Your Own Electricity Plan

Use a recent bill and your online electricity account to establish which plan actually serves your home. A website advertising an off-peak plan does not establish that you are enrolled in it.

1. Find the exact plan name or rate code. Look near the electricity charges or account details.
2. Open its current rate schedule. Check the effective date and any separate supply and delivery charges.
3. Record the lower-priced hours. Include seasonal changes, weekday rules, weekend treatment, and holiday exceptions.
4. Identify what changes by time. Ask whether the discount applies to supply, delivery, or both. Fixed monthly charges do not change with laundry timing.
5. Check for demand charges or special events. A demand charge reflects the highest power demand measured over a specified interval, rather than just total electricity consumption. Running large appliances together can affect it.
6. Review your usage history before switching plans. Ask for a comparison using a full year of household consumption when available. [4]

If the bill is unclear, ask customer service: “Does my current residential plan charge different electricity prices by time of day? Which hours cost least, and do those hours change by season or day of the week?”

Keep the written schedule near the washer, including the dates when seasonal hours change. Do not change plans solely because one advertises inexpensive overnight power. The relevant comparison is the expected cost of the whole household’s electricity, including the hours when you cannot easily move usage.

Why Utility Rate Plans Differ

Electricity demand, available generation, and the cost of supplying power change over time. Time-based pricing gives households a reason to move flexible tasks away from costly periods. Local conditions and the design of each plan determine how those incentives appear on the bill. [1]

Late afternoon and evening can be expensive on some plans, but nighttime is not always the cheapest period. Some schedules offer particularly low daytime rates in certain seasons. Others distinguish weekdays from weekends or holidays. Even customers served by the same provider can have different schedules because they are enrolled in different plans. [2]

A kilowatt-hour (kWh) measures electricity consumption. Using 1,000 watts for one hour consumes 1 kWh. The rate structure determines how that consumption is priced:

Rate structure	What determines the electricity price	What it means for laundry
Flat energy rate	The same per-kWh price applies throughout the day	Timing alone does not lower the energy charge.
Tiered rate	The price changes with the amount of electricity used during the billing period	Reducing consumption matters; moving it to another hour does not necessarily help.
Time-of-use rate	Published time blocks carry different prices	Shift laundry into your plan’s lower-priced blocks.
Real-time or hourly rate	Prices vary with the applicable pricing schedule	Check current or next-day prices rather than relying on a permanent laundry hour.

Some plans combine time-of-use pricing and usage tiers. Read the full schedule to check whether both the hour and total consumption affect the price. [3]

How Much Can Changing Laundry Time Save?

Estimate timing savings with this calculation:

Electricity shifted in kWh × difference between the two applicable prices per kWh = estimated energy-charge savings.

Use the electricity actually shifted into the cheaper period. If only the washer moves but the dryer stays in peak hours, do not count the dryer’s electricity as shifted.

Use comparable prices as well. Comparing an off-peak supply-only price with an on-peak price that includes both supply and delivery exaggerates the difference. Fixed fees are outside this calculation, and demand charges require a separate assessment. [4]

An appliance’s annual energy estimate is not an exact measurement of a particular cycle. Use cycle-level consumption data when available, or label the calculation as an estimate. Moving an unchanged cycle to cheaper hours reduces its price without necessarily reducing its electricity consumption.

Include Water Heating and Drying in the Decision

Laundry energy use includes washing, water heating, and drying. Warm or hot washing may draw on a household water heater or an internal washer heater. Identify which parts of your routine use electricity and which use another fuel before estimating an electricity-rate saving.

If your water heater or dryer uses gas, an off-peak electricity discount does not reduce the gas portion of its operating cost. For an electric storage water heater, reheating can extend beyond the wash cycle, so the washer’s start time alone does not establish when all associated electricity is consumed.

Practical Ways to Reduce Laundry Energy Costs

Use Cold Water When Appropriate

Choose cold water for loads whose care instructions and cleaning needs allow it. Reducing hot-water use lowers the energy required for heating. Use a detergent and cycle suitable for the machine and fabrics. Follow special washing instructions when an item requires different treatment. [5]

Wash Full Loads Without Overfilling

Combine compatible items into reasonably full loads instead of routinely washing a few pieces at a time. Follow the washer’s loading instructions rather than packing the drum tightly. [5][7]

Remove More Moisture Before Drying

Choose a higher spin setting when the fabric permits it. Extracting more water in the washer reduces the drying work that follows. [5]

Avoid Unnecessary Dryer Time

Use the dryer’s moisture-sensing or automatic setting when suitable, instead of adding generous amounts of timed drying. Sensors help end the cycle when the load is dry and reduce overdrying. When replacing an appliance, compare its energy use as well as its purchase price; heat-pump dryers use a different, more efficient drying process than conventional electric resistance models. [6]

Air-Dry Suitable Items

Use a drying rack or clothesline for suitable garments, following their care directions. Air-drying those pieces avoids the energy required to tumble-dry them. [5]

Keep the Dryer Clean and Working Properly

Clean the lint filter before or after each load. For a vented dryer, keep the exhaust path clear and follow maintenance instructions. Restricted airflow and unusually long drying times deserve attention. Do not run the dryer while asleep or away from home simply to capture a lower rate. [7]

FAQ: Laundry Timing and Electricity Costs

Does a Smart Meter Automatically Give Me Off-Peak Prices?

No. A meter’s ability to record electricity use by time does not establish how the account is billed. Confirm the enrolled rate plan and its schedule before changing laundry hours. [4]

Will a Lower Monthly Bill Prove That Changing Laundry Time Worked?

Not by itself. Weather, billing-period length, other appliances, and rate changes can also affect the bill. For a clearer estimate, compare similar laundry cycles using their consumption and the applicable hourly prices. Keep energy savings and price savings separate.

Can I Use the Washer’s Delay-Start Setting?

Yes, if the appliance instructions allow it. Schedule enough time for the cycle to finish within the intended price window, and arrange drying for a time when someone is home and awake. Do not use delayed drying to run the dryer while asleep or away. [7]

Does Off-Peak Electricity Also Make Laundry Water Cheaper?

An electricity discount applies to electricity charges, not automatically to water or sewer charges. Using less water may reduce usage-based water charges, but moving the same water consumption to another hour does not create an electricity-plan discount on that water.

Should I Switch Electricity Plans Just to Save on Laundry?

Compare the projected annual household bill first. Savings on flexible laundry loads can be offset by higher prices during hours when heating, cooling, cooking, or other necessary electricity use cannot move. Ask for a comparison based on actual household usage rather than judging the plan by its lowest advertised rate. [4]

Endnotes

[1] energy.gov: Demand response and time-variable pricing programs.

[2] sce.com: Residential time-of-use plans.

[3] pge.com: Residential rate plan pricing. Illustrates plan structures; consult the current tariff for prices.

[4] energy.gov: Evaluating utility rate options. General billing concepts adapted here for household review.

[5] energystar.gov: Clothes washer operating guidance. Used for operating practices, not historical savings estimates.

[6] energystar.gov: Washer and dryer efficiency factsheet.

[7] energy.gov: Clothes dryer and washing machine safety.