Our new annual usage cost data lets you weigh the energy cost of running a new refrigerator, dishwasher, washer, or dryer before you buy
CR’s annual usage cost data can help you choose a kitchen or laundry appliance that costs less to operate.
By Debra Judge Silber
Buying a large appliance—a refrigerator, washer, dryer, or dishwasher—often starts with a basic cost calculation. Which model offers the features I want at the price I’m willing to pay?
But there’s a longer-term calculus increasingly worth considering: How much will this appliance cost me to operate day in and day out?
While it’s true that the largest share of a household’s utility bills goes toward heating and cooling, household appliances also make up a significant chunk. Which means that, as prices for electricity, natural gas, and even municipal water continue to rise, it’s becoming more worthwhile to factor that annual operating cost into your equation.
In some cases, the difference between what it costs to run one model vs. another may seem inconsequential—and our calculations show that sometimes it is. But consider this: A refrigerator that costs $58 a year to power can save you $1,280 over 10 years compared to a similarly priced model that costs $186 a year to run.
“Our consumer research found that the cost of usage is an important deciding factor when people compare products to purchase, especially for more expensive models,” says Maria Rerecich, CR’s senior director of Testing and Research.
To help you factor in those ongoing costs when picking a new appliance, CR has done the calculations for you. We’ve added an annual usage cost (AUC) estimate to our ratings for refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes dryers, washing machines, ranges, cooktops, and wall ovens. That figure can help you avoid those appliances that will drain your bank account more quickly.
How We Calculate Annual Usage Cost
Our annual usage cost estimates combine data from government sources and our own tests, with the specific sources varying by appliance type. “We have model-specific electric, gas, and water consumption data from our lab tests,” Rerecich explains. “We combine this data with typical usage frequency and national average utility costs to provide consumers with a ‘typical’ annual usage cost for comparing models.”
Those usage figures—for example, the average number of laundry loads washed annually in American homes—are based on data from the federal Energy Information Administration. We base energy costs—the price you pay for electricity and gas—on the EIA’s national average over a recent 12-month period. For appliances that use water, such as dishwashers and washing machines, we calculate an average water use cost based on figures from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Because energy costs (and electricity prices in particular) vary widely across the country, our cost-of-use figures are most useful as relative benchmarks for comparing one appliance model to another. For example, we’ve calculated the Annual Usage Cost for one of GE’s more efficient French-door refrigerators at $65, but that figure will likely be higher if you live in California, and lower if you live in an area where electricity is generally cheaper, like Idaho.
What About Energy Star and the EnergyGuide Label?
The Department of Energy’s EnergyGuide labels, as well as its Energy Star program, remain important tools to help you identify energy- and water-efficient appliances. By adding efficiency to the purchase decision, they’ve also helped raise the bar for manufacturers, resulting in the lower operating costs we see for many appliances.
EnergyGuide labels, like CR’s annual usage cost data, provide an estimate of the yearly cost of running the appliance relative to others in the same category. The actual figures on the two may differ, however, because EnergyGuide labels are based on manufacturers’ data following government specifications, and our AUC is based on our own test results that reflect real-world conditions. (Meaning we test dishwashers using dirty dishes and washing machines using soiled laundry.) And not all appliances carry the EnergyGuide label—clothes dryers, ranges, cooktops, and wall ovens, for example, do not. (Clothes washers, dishwashers, and refrigerators do). Nor does Energy Star certify all types of appliances. For example, you can find Energy Star certified electric ranges and cooktops, but not gas ranges or wall ovens.
Low Cost, High Quality
What the EnergyGuide label and Energy Star do not take into account is how well an appliance delivers on its promised performance—how thoroughly a washing machine removes stains or how gently a cooktop simmers melted chocolate. Those factors, measured in our performance tests, determine a model’s Overall Score. (Actual energy draw is baked into our Overall Scores for refrigerators, and both energy and water use figure into the Overall Score for washing machines). Combined with our annual usage cost data, you get a complete picture not only of how efficient an appliance is, but also of how well it does what you’re buying it to do.
Below, we highlight the appliances in our ratings that, based on our calculations, cost less to run than comparable machines but also deliver the performance and features you’ll appreciate over the long term. Because purchase price is always part of the equation, we’ve considered that in some of our picks as well. Of course, the purchase price can fluctuate. In this article, we’ve compared prices that are current at the time of publication. Separately, our staff is always on the hunt for the best deals on major appliances and many other products; visit our Deals Hub for the best current markdowns.
Kitchen Appliances
Refrigerators
Your refrigerator draws power 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year—so it’s not surprising that it’s one appliance where a lower operating cost can make a real difference in your annual bottom line.
The good news here is that refrigerators as a whole are getting more efficient, with their share of electrical usage for the average American home dropping from 13.7 percent in 2001 to 8 percent in 2020, according to the EIA.
How much of a difference can a more efficient refrigerator make? The cost of plugging in the refrigerators in our ratings range from just $34 annually for the 24-inch-wide bottom-freezer Miele KFN4799DDE to $186 for the LG LRYKS3106S 36-inch-wide French-door. While it’s safe to assume that a refrigerator’s size and type largely determine its energy needs (simple bottom- and top-freezers tend to cost less to run than large French doors or side-by-sides), we found that there can be significant differences even between models of the same type. For example, based on our calculations, the 28-inch-wide top-freezer Frigidaire FFHT1425VV will cost you just $37 to power for a year, while the 28-inch Frigidaire FRTE1622AS, also a top-freezer, will set you back $95.
In refrigerators, lower operating costs usually come from a more efficient compressor and better insulation, says Jason Holmes, CR’s director of lab operations. This may involve a trade-off between price and capacity: a super-insulated model may cost less to run but may lack the space you need.
It’s worth noting that the manufacturer’s claimed capacity for refrigerators is often much higher than the actual capacity we measure (by not counting the space taken up by shelves and bins). In the model descriptions below, we refer to the usable capacity as we measure it, which may differ from what you see advertised.
Below, we’ve highlighted the refrigerators in our ratings that represent the best balance of performance, reliability, and annual usage cost.
French-Door Refrigerator
GE Profile PGE29BYTFS
Annual usage cost for tested French-doors: $58 – $186
With nearly 19.5 cubic feet of usable capacity, the 36-inch wide GE Profile PGE29BYTFS proves it is possible to make a family-sized refrigerator that won’t bust your household’s electric bill. Costing an estimated $58 a year to run, this highly rated model is only a third as expensive to run as the comparably priced 36-inch LG LRYKS3106S. The GE boasts top thermostat performance and superior scores for temperature uniformity and ease of use, along with satisfactory reliability and owner satisfaction. If you don’t have quite that much room, the 33-inch GE GNE25JYKFS is another energy champion (AUC $65) that comes CR Recommended and costs nearly $1,000 less than its brandmate.
Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator
GE GDE21EYKFS
Annual usage cost for tested bottom-freezers: $34 – $105
While the 24-inch-wide Miele KFN4799DDE technically claims the lowest annual usage cost ($34) of the bottom-freezer fridges in our ratings, we’re more impressed by the low energy draw of the CR Recommended GE GDE21EYKFS. This 30-inch-wide model has 15.6 cubic feet of usable capacity (compared to 10.3 cubic feet in the Miele) with an annual cost of just $55 a year. That’s about half the cost of the biggest energy hog in this category, the lower-capacity Frigidaire GRBN2012AF. The GE also offers top-notch thermostat performance and temperature uniformity, and very good reliability, though the brand’s owner satisfaction rating for bottom-freezers is a bit below par.
Top-freezer Refrigerator
Frigidaire FFHT1425VV
Annual usage cost for tested top-freezers: $37 – $97
The 28-inch Frigidaire FFHT1425VV nets the lowest operating cost ($37 a year) of all the top-freezers in our ratings. It comes CR Recommended with excellent temperature uniformity, a stellar noise score, and a very good rating for thermostat performance. Close behind is the LG LT11C2000V, similarly small (9.5 usable cubic feet to the Frigidaire’s 11.9) with impressive scores across the board for thermostat performance, temperature uniformity, and noise. If those don’t provide enough space, you can still keep energy costs down with the 30-inch Frigidaire FFHT2022AW ($56 AUC; 16.4 cubic feet), which also earns a CR Recommendation along with our highest score for thermostat performance and a very good score for temperature uniformity. You might think twice about the 30-inch Whirlpool WRTX5419SW, with a calculated AUC of $97, the highest of any top-freezer fridge in our ratings.
Side-by-Side Refrigerator
GE GZS22IYNFS
Annual usage cost for tested side-by-sides: $66 – $162
Our annual usage costs for side-by-sides bottom out at $66 for the Maytag MRSF4036PZ, but that cost is just a few dollars lower than the $78 you’ll pay to run the CR Recommended and considerably higher-scoring and less-expensive GE GZS22IYNFS. This counter-depth model offers a through-the-door ice/water dispenser and provides 14 actual cubic feet of storage. It gets a top rating for thermostat performance and a very good mark for temperature uniformity. Reliability is also very good, but owner satisfaction is below par. Another energy miser side-by-side from GE is the CR Recommended GE GSS25GGPBB ($73 AUC), which is not counter-depth and offers 16.3 cubic feet of measured capacity. All three models cost half as much to run as the biggest energy hog in our side-by-side ratings, the 36-inch Whirlpool WRS588FIHZ ($162 AUC).
Built-In Refrigerator
Bosch Benchmark B30IB905SP
Annual usage cost for tested built-in bottom-freezers: $32 – $153
Annual usage cost for tested built-in French-doors: $91 – $139
Annual usage cost for tested built-in side-by-sides: $123 – $160
There are no real winners in the energy sweepstakes when it comes to built-in refrigerators in our ratings. Those with the lowest annual usage cost just don’t deliver in our performance tests. (Though admittedly, we test far fewer built-ins than stand-alones.) The 30-inch bottom-freezer Bosch Benchmark B30IB905SP comes close to hitting the sweet spot, with an annual usage cost estimated at $85—pretty high for the modest amount of food you’ll be able to store inside its 11.5 cubic-foot interior. The French-door Thermador T36IT100NP, also recommended, will cost a few more dollars year-over-year, for a little bit more capacity. Considering a built-in side-by-side? The Viking FDSB5424 has a calculated AUC of $125, and that sad reality reflects the lowest AUC you’ll find on a tested built-in side-by-side with solid performance.
Dishwashers
Compared to running your refrigerator and electric clothes dryer, the annual cost of washing your dishes hardly moves the needle. Thanks in part to better efficiency, dishwashers account for about 1 percent of a household’s energy consumption, according to EIA. Our calculations place the cost of using a 24-inch dishwasher at $44 to $97 per year, and an 18-inch dishwasher at $64 to $72 per year. Most of that cost goes to heating the wash water, and secondarily, to producing the heat needed for drying, says Larry Ciufo, who oversees dishwasher testing at CR.
Dishwashers with the lowest calculated usage cost don’t impress us with their performance. But there are several models whose annual usage cost falls in the middle ground, and which also offer respectable performance and good value.
Standard (24-inch) Dishwasher
Midea MDT24P3CST
Annual usage cost for tested 24-inch dishwashers: $44 – $97
The CR Recommended Midea MDT24P3CST boasts impressive washing performance on both upper and lower racks and very good scores for drying and ease of use. Its brand reliability is excellent; it’s got a stainless interior and a third rack; and it’s priced under $500. A close competitor across the board is the LG LDFC2423V, which earns higher scores for washing but slips a bit on drying; its brand reliability is not quite as high, but it’s still impressive. The cost of keeping your dishes clean in either of these machines is $65 a year.
Ranges
Ranges, along with separate ovens and cooktops, collectively account for about 3 percent of a home’s energy use. And we’ve found the annual usage cost doesn’t vary greatly from model to model or type to type. Induction ranges come out ahead by a nose ($83 to $112 annually), followed by electric coil ($89 to $115) and smoothtop ($94 to $136). The most efficient gas ranges can cost up to $20 less per year than the most efficient electric ranges, but gas ranges also come with their own environmental issues.
Below are select models that balance high performance with a reasonable annual usage cost.
Electric Smoothtop Range
Frigidaire Gallery GCFE3060BF
Annual usage cost for tested electric smoothtop ranges: $94 – $136
The single-oven Frigidaire Gallery GCFE3060BF aced every one of our performance tests, with an annual AUC of $106 and a stellar reliability score. If you want to squeeze in a little more efficiency, you might also consider the Frigidaire Gallery GCRE3060BF, which scores slightly lower but is still CR Recommended with an annual usage cost of $99. Want to make that a double? Look to the CR Recommended LG LDEL7324SE (Overall Score 78), which nabs very good or excellent scores in all our performance tests, with a lower-end annual AUC of $101.
Electric Induction Range
Frigidaire FCFI3082BS
Annual usage cost for tested electric induction ranges: $83 – $112
The CR Recommended Frigidaire FCFI3082BS is among our top scorers in this category, offering a rock-bottom AUC of $83 per year at a reasonable price. Reliability for Frigidaire induction ranges is excellent, and (unlike with Frigidaire smoothtops) owners report being quite happy with them. Though this model doesn’t have a self-clean function, it does have 4 high-power elements and convection.
Electric Coil Range
Amana ACR4303MMS
Annual usage cost for tested electric coil ranges: $89 – $115
It has to be said: An electric coil cooktop is not going to give you the performance of an induction or even a smoothtop, and if you look at our ratings, you’ll see lousy owner satisfaction scores that back that up. But if budget constraints have you in the market for an electric coil range, consider the Amana ACR4303MMS—it’s the highest-scoring coil model we’ve tested, with one of the lowest AUCs at $92. Its cooktop delivers very good performance on the high setting and excellent on low, though its baking and broiling performance is just mediocre, as is its predicted reliability.
Gas Range
LG LTGL6937F
Annual usage cost for tested gas ranges: $63 – $136
We found in general that single-oven gas ranges with AUCs under $75 just don’t have what it takes; but you will get good performance along with low energy costs ($76 annually) with the CR Recommended LG LSGL6335X, whose Overall Score of 76 lands it firmly in the “very good” zone. If you’re looking for a double oven, the CR Recommended LG LTGL6937F is pricey, but its AUC of $75 is admirable. The brand’s reliability for gas ranges is very good, and owners say they’re fairly satisfied. It has five burners (2 high-power, 2 medium-power, and one low) and 6.9 cubic feet of space in two ovens, the most of any in our ratings.
Pro-Style Range
Monogram ZGP304NTSS
Annual usage cost for tested pro-style ranges: $66 – $113
It’s hard to find a pro-style range that performs well enough in our tests to justify its price tag, and harder still to find one that also impresses with a low AUC. The 30-inch-wide Monogram ZGP304NTSS comes closest, with an AUC of $97. Its cooktop’s four high-powered gas burners aced our test for maintaining even heat at a low setting and did nearly as well on high, and the oven’s baking score was excellent.
Cooktops
Given that gas is generally cheaper than electricity, it’s not surprising that we found gas cooktops (including both 30- and 36-inch models) potentially less expensive to operate, with the lowest AUC at just $23 a year. But other gas models ran as high as $76 (with less than stellar performance, let’s add). We saw less range with Induction cooktops ($43 to $52 annually) and smoothtops ($52 to $60 annually). With numbers that close, it makes sense to focus on price and performance.
Electric Smoothtop Cooktop
LG CBEW3017BE
Annual usage cost for tested electric smoothtop cooktops: $50 – $60
This 5-burner model from LG is not only our top-rated 30-inch smoothtop, but it’s among the cheapest electric smoothtops to operate based on our calculations ($54 a year). With one low-power, two medium-power, and two high-power elements, it’s very good at bringing water to a boil swiftly and even better at holding delicate foods at a low, even temperature. LG’s electric smoothtops score near the top for reliability and are adequate for owner satisfaction, based on our member surveys.
Electric Induction Cooktop
LG CBIH3017BE
Annual usage cost for tested electric induction cooktops: $43 – $52
You don’t have to choose between efficiency and performance with an induction cooktop. The top-rated LG CBIH3017BE excels at both, with an AUC of just $45, as does its runner-up, the LG CBIH3013BE, with an AUC of $44. Both earn our highest scores in our high- and low-heat tests. (The difference here is that the LG CBIH3017BE has three high-power elements and a single medium power element, and the LG CBIH3013BE has two of each). Both offer touch controls and child locks, and both share LG’s top reliability and owner satisfaction ratings for electric induction cooktops.
Gas Cooktop
Samsung NA36N7755TG
Annual usage cost for tested gas cooktops: $23 – $76
The 36-inch Samsung NA36N7755TG’s AUC of $39 a year is impressive, even among gas cooktops, which, as a group, tend to cost less to operate than electric appliances. It earns excellent results in our low-heat cooking test and very good results in our high-heat cooking test. It offers two high-power and two medium-power burners and a single low-powered one. If you need a 30-inch model, the Samsung NA30N6555TS costs just a bit more per year to run ($42), earns the same excellent score for low-heat cooking and an acceptable one for high-heat cooking, and has the same burner configuration. Samsung gas cooktops have very good predicted reliability based on our member surveys, and their owner satisfaction falls in the middle.
Wall Ovens
We found the annual operating cost for electric wall ovens in our ratings ranges from $54 to $93 for single ovens and $59 to $69 for double ovens (testing just one of the double-ovens’ chambers at a time). The sweet spot for performance, though, is $60 to $64 for both. Combo wall ovens (those that combine an electric wall oven with a microwave) in our ratings had AUCs of $57 to $70.
Electric Wall Ovens
Café CTS70DM2NS5
Annual usage cost for tested single electric wall ovens: $54 – $93
Annual usage cost for tested double electric wall ovens: $59 – $69
The Café CTS70DM2NS5, along with its brandmate, the Café CTS70DP2NS1, delivers exceptional performance without drawing a ton of power. Offering 5.5 cubic feet (and the flexibility of 6 rack positions), it earns our second-highest score for oven capacity. It’s not the cheapest wall oven in our ratings, but its scores for both baking and broiling are excellent, and it self-cleans very well. Reliability for this brand is top-notch, and so is owner satisfaction, according to our surveys. Extras include WiFi, a child lock, a temperature probe, convection mode, and a covered element to make cleanup easier.
If you’re looking for a double wall oven, this brand has you covered, too, with the CR Recommended Café CTD70DP2NS1 (standing in for the now-discontinued Café CTD70DM2NS5), which shares the same impressive scores and features of the single oven above.
Combo Wall Oven
Frigidaire FCWM3027AD
Annual usage cost for tested combo electric wall ovens: $57 – $70
The Frigidaire FCWM3027AD is both the highest-rated combo wall oven in our ratings and the least costly to operate, with an annual AUC of $57. Its electric oven gets excellent marks for capacity, broiling, and self-cleaning, and a near-top score for baking. The electric wall oven offers convection mode and a covered element for easier cleaning; the 1100-watt microwave above it features auto-defrost, is very good at heating, and excellent at defrosting evenly. Its speed to heat, though, is just middling.
Laundry Appliances
Clothes Dryers
Electric clothes dryers rank second among appliances when it comes to electricity use—chugging down 6 percent of your household’s energy, according to the EIA. Gas dryers, which rely on a propane or natural gas flame for the heat needed to dry clothing, tend to cost less to operate because gas costs less than electricity in many places. But before you switch to gas, know this: The full-sized dryers with the lowest cost of use in our ratings are two all-electric, heat-pump models.
We base our dryer usage-cost calculations on the energy required to dry 2.5 loads per week, based on data from the EIA and manufacturers. Your usage—and usage cost—may vary.
The results reveal a wide range of operating costs for all types of dryers. Usage costs for standard electric dryers ranged from $100 to $254, standard gas dryers from $63 to $115, and compacts from $32 to $145, based on a load that’s half the weight used in our tests of standard dryers. And heat pump dryers? The full-sized models in our ratings had AUCs of $57 and $61.
We did see some trends. Lower-priced machines tend to have higher annual usage costs; none of the electric dryers in our ratings priced under $700 have an AUC under $150. The clear winners among electric dryers, in both full-sized and compact models, are heat-pump models.
Electric Heat Pump Dryer
LG DLHC4002W
Annual usage cost for tested full-sized heat-pump dryers: $57-$61
Two electric dryers nearly tie for the lowest cost-to-run, and not surprisingly, both are comparably priced heat-pump models. The slightly higher-rated LG DLHC4002W delivers adequate drying performance and convenience, but shines when it comes to predicted reliability; it also nets an impressive score for owner satisfaction. Its $61 annual usage cost is a few bucks more than the Samsung DV45DG6000HW, which bests the LG in drying performance; but the Samsung brand ranks significantly lower when it comes to owner satisfaction. On that score, know that a heat-pump dryer doesn’t deliver the level of toasty-crisp laundry you may be used to.
Standard Electric Dryer
LG DLEX4080B
Annual usage cost for tested full-sized electric dryers: $100-$254
Leave the heat pump models behind, and electric dryer usage costs jump to $100 or more a year. The 7.4-cubic-foot capacity LG DLEX4080B comes in at $158—there are many that do better, but we don’t recommend them, and they can’t match the LG for performance. (The one with the lowest AUC worth considering, the Whirlpool WED8127LC, costs $139 a year to run and has a respectable Overall Score, decent drying results, and impressive brand reliability.) The LG offers excellent drying performance and top-notch predicted reliability, along with very good convenience, noise levels, and owner satisfaction. Features include a stainless steel drum, a moisture sensor, a steam option, and WiFi. You’ll get nearly as good drying performance from its brandmate, the LG DLE3400W, whose annual usage cost is just a few dollars more. (The latter machine also lacks steam, WiFi, and a stainless drum).
Gas Dryer
LG DLG7001W
Annual usage cost for tested full-sized gas dryers: $63-$115
The CR Recommended LG DLG7001W offers the third-lowest annual use cost among gas dryers in our ratings ($67 annually) while easily surpassing its competitors in performance. It doesn’t have a lot of extras, but features a 7.3 cubic foot drum, a moisture sensor, and a duct blockage indicator. It ran up impressive scores in drying performance, convenience, and noise, and LG brand gas dryers take a top score in reliability and a near-top score for owner satisfaction.
Compact Dryer
Miele TXI680WP
Annual usage cost for tested electric compact dryers: $32-$145
You’ll shell out more than $2,000 for the top-rated Miele TXI680WP Compact Washer, but it won’t cost much once you get it home. We calculate that this compact heat-pump model, along with its brandmate, the slightly more expensive Miele TXR860WP, will set you back just about $46 a year. Both dryers feature a 4-cubic-foot stainless steel drum, steam, and WiFi. Both also nabbed impressive results for drying performance, convenience, and noise, and come from a brand whose compact dryers score tops in reliability and nearly as high for owner satisfaction.
Washing Machines
There’s one thing you can say about clothes washers: Efficiency improvements over recent decades have made their mark without affecting performance. When it comes to front-loaders, especially, we found no shortage of high-performing washers that cost very little to run.
We also found that front-loaders earn their reputation as energy and water misers, with AUCs ranging from $23 to $38 annually. Top-loaders with an agitator range from $33 to $93, and high-efficiency top-loaders from $30 to $81—making them only marginally cheaper to run than agitator models. The cost of operating the compact machines in our ratings ranges from $23 to $47 a year, nearly on a par with full-sized front loaders, which can handle much larger loads.
Front-Load Washing Machine
LG WM4000HWA
Annual usage cost for tested full-sized front-load washing machines: $23-$38
The top-rated (and CR Recommended) LG WM4000HWA comes at a modest price and with an annual usage cost that’s among the lowest in its category ($26 a year). This 4.5-cubic-foot washer is loaded with features, including a stainless drum, steam option, WiFi, and automatic detergent dispenser. It aced our tests for washing performance as well as energy and water efficiency, and scored very well for noise and vibration, if not for gentleness. The brand also gets a top score for reliability and a very good score for owner satisfaction. It’s the leader of a pack of top-scoring LG front-loaders that cost very little to run: Others include the LG Signature WM9900HSA (AUC $28), and the LG WM3400CW and LG WM3420CW (both with an AUC of $21). Not a fan of LG? Several well-regarded Electrolux front-loaders also come in with AUCs on the lower end.
High-Efficiency (HE) Top-Load Washing Machine
LG WT8600CB
Annual usage cost for tested full-sized HE top-load washing machines: $30-$81
Our highest-rated HE top-loader, the LG WT8600CB, has a calculated AUC of just $31 a year (less than half that of the most costly HE top-loader), excellent washing performance, and a stainless steel tub with a generous 5.5 cubic foot capacity. But if the price of the WT8600CB stops you, consider the LG WT8200CW (AUC $34), which offers the same excellent washing performance with a slightly smaller tub, at a cost several hundred dollars lower. Top-load HE washers from LG get a stellar rating for reliability and very good one for owner satisfaction.
Top-Load Agitator Washing Machine
LG WT8405CW
Annual usage cost for tested full-sized top-load agitator washing machines: $33-$93
No quibbling here: Among the top-load agitator models we’ve tested, the LG WT8405CW nabs both our highest Overall Score and lowest annual usage cost, $33 a year. Its washing performance is superb, though its gentleness (or lack thereof) is in line with many other agitator models. It has a generous 5.3-cubic-foot stainless steel tub and checks all the boxes for the features we track, except steam. Other highly rated LG washers, including the LG WT7005CW, LG WT8205CW, and LG WT7155CW, cost nearly as little to run, though their drums are slightly smaller.
Compact Washing Machine
LG WM1455HWA
Annual usage cost for tested compact washing machines: $23-$47
As a group, compact washers are expensive to buy, but the highly rated LG WM1455HWA has the lowest AUC of the bunch ($23) and a price tag that’s not astronomical. It has a 2.4 cubic foot stainless steel drum and features a steam option, an automatic detergent dispenser, and WiFi. Our top-rated compacts, including the Miele WXI860WCS, cost virtually the same to run day in and day out, but will cost more to bring home.
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