How many watts does a washing machine use?

A washing machine uses 1,200–1,320 watts while running, which is 10–11 amps at 120 V.

Washing machine watts, amps and circuit

Typical power use of a washing machine
Running watts	1,200–1,320 W
Voltage	120 V
Running amps	10–11 A
Circuit	20 A breaker
Wire size (copper, NM-B cable)	12 AWG

Also called: washer, clothes washer.

Washing machine watts by size and type

Running and starting watts of washing machine types
Size or type	Running watts, W	Volts, V	Amps, A	Starting watts, W
Washing machine	1,200–1,320	120	10–11	—
Top-load	1,200	120	10	—
Front-load	1,320	120	11	—

Watts of washing machine types. The lighter part of a bar is the upper end of the typical range.

What size generator runs a washing machine?

A washing machine needs a generator that supplies at least 1,320 running watts. Starting a washing machine takes a short surge of several times its running watts, and the surge is not listed here: size the generator from the locked-rotor amps (LRA) on the nameplate or the maker's generator guidance, not from the running watts.

How long a portable power station runs a washing machine

Runtime of a washing machine on a portable power station, at 85% inverter efficiency
Battery capacity, Wh	At 1,320 W, h	At 1,200 W, h
500	0.3	0.4
1,000	0.6	0.7
2,000	1.3	1.4
3,600	2.3	2.6

A 500 Wh portable power station runs a washing machine drawing 1,320 W for about 0.3 hours at 85% inverter efficiency. Runtime = capacity × 85% ÷ watts; the 85% efficiency is an assumption. The power station's AC output must be at least 1,320 W.

What it costs to run a washing machine

Running a washing machine at 1,260 W, the middle of its 1,200–1,320 W range, for one hour a day uses 459.9 kWh a year. That costs about $83 a year at $0.18 per kWh, the US average residential price for August 2026.

Power

Use per day

Electricity price

$/kWh

Your bill's total ÷ kWh used. 0.18 is the US residential average.

Result

$6.90 / month

Per day: $0.23
Per year: $83
Energy per day: 1.26 kWh
Energy per month: 38.3 kWh

How it is calculated

kWh per day = 1,260 W × 1 h ÷ 1,000 = 1.26
Per month = 1.26 kWh × 30.4 days × $0.18 = $6.90

What affects washing machine power use

The watts are the rating GE lists for its full-size washers, the most the machine draws; the motor draws the most during the spin cycle and less for the rest of the cycle. Most of the energy a washing load uses goes to heating water at the water heater, not to the washer itself. GE lists a 15 or 20 A, 120 V circuit.

How the amps are calculated

Amps = watts ÷ volts. For 1,320 W at 120 V that is 11 A. The 1,200–1,320 W range covers typical models; the nameplate on a washing machine gives the exact figure.