{
  "slug": "laundry-cost",
  "title": "Laundry Cost Per Load Calculator",
  "heading": "Laundry Cost Calculator",
  "category": "other",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/laundry-cost",
  "summary": "Water, electricity, and detergent per load — home vs laundromat.",
  "description": "Break a load down into water, heating, dryer electricity, and detergent so you can see the real cost per load and compare it to laundromat pricing.",
  "formula": "Load cost = water + water heating + machine kWh + dryer kWh + detergent.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=laundry-cost",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "loads",
      "label": "Loads per week",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 5,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "gallons",
      "label": "Water per load",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 20,
      "unit": "gal",
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "waterRate",
      "label": "Water + sewer",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0.015,
      "unit": "$/gal",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "dryerKwh",
      "label": "Dryer energy per load",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3,
      "unit": "kWh",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "washerKwh",
      "label": "Washer energy per load",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0.5,
      "unit": "kWh",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "rate",
      "label": "Electricity rate",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0.17,
      "unit": "$/kWh",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "detergent",
      "label": "Detergent per load",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0.28,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "mat",
      "label": "Laundromat wash + dry",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 5.5,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "per",
      "label": "Cost per load at home",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "annual",
      "label": "Annual home laundry cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "matAnnual",
      "label": "Annual laundromat cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "savings",
      "label": "Annual savings at home",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Loads per week: 5",
      "Water per load: 20 gal",
      "Water + sewer: 0.015 $/gal",
      "Dryer energy per load: 3 kWh",
      "Washer energy per load: 0.5 kWh",
      "Electricity rate: 0.17 $/kWh",
      "Detergent per load: 0.28 $",
      "Laundromat wash + dry: 5.5 $"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Cost per load at home: $1.18",
      "Annual home laundry cost: $306",
      "Annual laundromat cost: $1,430",
      "Annual savings at home: $1,125"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter loads per week.",
      "Enter water per load (gal).",
      "Enter water + sewer ($/gal).",
      "Enter dryer energy per load (kWh).",
      "Enter washer energy per load (kWh).",
      "Enter electricity rate ($/kWh).",
      "Enter detergent per load ($).",
      "Enter laundromat wash + dry ($).",
      "Read your cost per load at home on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "loads": 3,
        "gallons": 12,
        "waterRate": 0.009,
        "dryerKwh": 1.7999999999999998,
        "washerKwh": 0.3,
        "rate": 0.17,
        "detergent": 0.168,
        "mat": 3.3
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "loads": 5,
        "gallons": 20,
        "waterRate": 0.015,
        "dryerKwh": 3,
        "washerKwh": 0.5,
        "rate": 0.17,
        "detergent": 0.28,
        "mat": 5.5
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "loads": 8,
        "gallons": 32,
        "waterRate": 0.024,
        "dryerKwh": 4.800000000000001,
        "washerKwh": 0.8,
        "rate": 0.17,
        "detergent": 0.44800000000000006,
        "mat": 8.8
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.",
    "Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.",
    "Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Does line drying help much?",
      "a": "The dryer is usually 70–85% of the energy in a load. Skipping it is the single biggest lever."
    },
    {
      "q": "Cold wash savings?",
      "a": "Cold water removes the heating load, which on an electric water heater is often $0.20–$0.40 per load."
    }
  ],
  "related": [],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Laundry Cost Per Load Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/laundry-cost)"
}