In the past few years, energy prices in the UK have hit record highs, and lots of people are looking for ways to keep their energy bills to a minimum. One way to do this is to choose more energy-efficient appliances.
Thankfully, the technology used in washing machines is advancing, helping them get your clothes just as clean as before but without using so much electricity. Most washers on the markets these days are A-rated for energy usage. However, within this energy efficiency rating there is quite a lot of variation,and some models are significantly more efficient than others.
We’ve researched the market to find the most energy-efficient washing machines on the market in the UK. To do this, we looked at the official energy use per cycle figures which manufacturers are required to provide. These are based on an Eco 40-60 wash, so they may not reflect the way you use your washing machine, but they offer a good guide to general energy efficiency.
The estimated energy cost per cycle figures given below are based on the official energy use per cycle figures and the current price of electricity in the UK, which is 26.11p per kWh for the Energy Price Cap period from 1 July to 30 September 2026.
The Most Energy Efficient Washing Machines in the UK
1. Samsung WF90H09C4ST1 (Lowest energy use per cycle)
Key specs:
- Capacity: 9 kg
- Energy class: A
- Energy use per cycle: 0.173 kWh
- Estimated energy cost per cycle: 4.5p
- Water use per cycle: 50 L
Why we picked it:
Out of the 341 washing machines we considered, the Samsung WF90H09C4ST1 has the lowest energy usage per cycle at just 0.173 kWh. This is less than the average figure for a freestanding washing machine (0.417 kWh per cycle). According to the Samsung product page, it “exceeds Class A minimum efficiency requirements by up to 65%”.
One interesting thing about this machine is that it uses so little energy despite having a relatively large capacity (9 kg). This mans that you can wash a lot of clothes while only using a small amount of energy.
What we like:
- Lowest energy use per cycle on the market
- Generous 9 kg capacity
Potential drawbacks:
- It’s expensive – a slightly less efficient but cheaper machine would make more financial sense overall
- Not particularly economical with water. It uses 50 litres per cycle, which is just above the median of 49 litres for a 9 kg freestanding washing machine.
- Doesn’t have many user reviews, so its long-term performance is hard to judge
Check price and reviews:
2. Hotpoint HPC 96 CARE UK (Lower priced energy-efficient choice)
Key specs:
- Capacity: 9 kg
- Energy class: A
- Energy use per cycle: 0.195 kWh
- Estimated energy cost per cycle: 5.1p
- Water use per cycle: 49 L
Why we picked it:
Out of the washing machines we looked at, the Hotpoint HPC 96 CARE UK boasts the second-lowest energy consumption per cycle at 0.195 kWh. It’s also much cheaper than the slightly more efficient Samsung WF90H09C4ST1 (less than half the price at the time of writing), so those energy savings have a better chance of translating into overall cost savings.
What we like:
- Very energy efficient, and relatively inexpensive to buy
- Relatively large 9 kg capacity
Potential drawbacks:
- Average water efficiency
- Price is still above average for a 9 kg freestanding washer
- Doesn’t have many user reviews, so its long-term performance is hard to judge
Check price and reviews:
3. Haier X5 Plus HW10BP14357AEGUK (Best value)
Key specs:
- Capacity: 10 kg
- Energy class: A
- Energy use per cycle: 0.31 kWh
- Estimated energy cost per cycle: 8.1p
- Water use per cycle: 44 L
Why we picked it:
It’s unusual to find a product with a below-average price but better than average electricity and water efficiency, but the Haier X5 Plus HW10BP14357AEGUK one such product. It’s a freestanding machine with a large 10 kg capacity, that uses just 0.31 kWh of energy and 44 litres of water per cycle.
What we like:
- Large 10 kg capacity
- 0.31 kWh/cycle is very low for a 10 kg machine
- Below average price for a 10 kg washing machine
- Plenty of positive user reviews
Potential drawbacks:
- Isn’t the most energy-efficient machine, though it is more efficient than average and cheaper
Check price and reviews:
4. Hoover (Most energy-efficient integrated model)
Key specs:
- Capacity: 9 kg
- Energy class: A
- Energy use per cycle: 0.346 kWh
- Estimated energy cost per cycle: 9p
- Water use per cycle: 46 L
Why we picked it:
Along with the Haier BHA6S69M6DB9RJ80, the Hoover BH4S69M6DB9RJ-80 offers the joint-lowest energy usage per cycle among the 53 integrated machines we looked, using 0.346 kWh per cycle.
Integrated washing machines are a bit less energy efficient on average than freestanding models, and there aren’t many super-efficient models available. The average integrated washer uses 0.486 kWh of energy per cycle, so the Hoover BH4S69M6DB9RJ-80 uses about 29% less energy than average.
What we like:
- Offers the joint-lowest energy usage for an integrated washing machine
- Lots of positive user reviews
Potential drawbacks:
- 46 litres of water per cycle is about average
Check price and reviews:
5. Hisense WF5I1245BBR (Best for saving both energy and water)
Key specs:
- Capacity: 12 kg
- Energy class: A
- Energy use per cycle: 0.324 kWh
- Estimated energy cost per cycle: 8.5p
- Water use per cycle: 43 L
Why we picked it:
The Hisense only uses 0.324 kWh of energy and 43 litres of water on the standard Eco 40-60 cycle, which is incredibly impressive when you consider it has an enormous 12 kg capacity. If you need to wash a lot of clothes every week this model could be a very economical choice since you won’t need to wash so many loads and each load will be quite efficient in both water and energy consumption.
What we like:
- Big 12 kg drum, low energy and water consumption
- 0.324 kWh/cycle is lower than the majority of freestanding machines on the market, including many smaller-capacity models
- Positive user reviews
Potential drawbacks:
- Not everyone needs such a large capacity drum
- Price is slightly above average for a 12 kg washer at the time of writing
Check price and reviews:
How to Save Energy When Using Your Washing Machine
Whilst the energy efficiency label and figures will give you a pretty good indication of how much a new washing machine will cost, there are always steps that you can take to boost the efficiency of an appliance in normal use.
1. Wash at lower temperatures
Stick to cooler temperatures when washing clothing or fabrics that are only lightly soiled. Where possible, try to only use higher temperatures when you are washing articles that are particularly dirty or stained.
Make sure that you do run a higher temperature wash cycle every now and again though, as this will stop bacteria and nasty smells building up in your washing machine.
2. Use the right load size
Instead of running multiple small washing machine cycles, try to gather up a full load of washing instead, but don’t overfill the machine. This will bring great savings to both your electricity and water usage.
3. Use stain remover
Stubborn stains can sometimes require multiple washing machine cycles to shift but investing in a good stain remover can stop this from being a necessity. Apply a good stain remover before putting the clothing through the wash, and then you can run the cycle on your normal setting, rather than turning the temperature up or re-running the wash.
4. Soak before you wash
If a stain remover isn’t an option, soak heavily soiled items before putting them in the washing machine. Rub at the stains with household soap so you don’t have to rerun a wash.
5. Use high spin speeds to cut tumble dryer usage
Where you can, use a high spin speed. This will mean that your clothing comes out of the washing machine almost dry, and therefore won’t need the greatest amount of time in a tumble dryer. Be aware, however, that this is not to be recommended for truly delicate items of clothing.
6. Use off-peak hours (depending on your tariff)
Check your energy tariff – some suppliers and plans have off-peak hours, during which energy prices are cheaper. If you can, try to run your washing machine cycles during these hours to save on the energy costs!
In The Wash is your guide to the best laundry and cleaning products, tips and tricks. Our mission is to solve the UK’s cleaning and laundry dilemmas!
