When Is the Cheapest Time to Run a Washing Machine in the UK
The cheapest time to run a washing machine in the UK is usually overnight during off-peak hours, but only if your electricity tariff charges different prices at different times of day. For many homes, the lowest-cost window is somewhere between 11 pm and 7 am. For others, there may be no cheaper time at all.
That is the bit many guides skip. Your washing machine does not magically cost less at night unless your tariff makes electricity cheaper then. The right answer depends on your meter, your tariff, and whether you can run the machine safely without disturbing sleep or neighbours.
The cheapest time depends on your electricity tariff
There are two broad types of electricity pricing to think about.
Some homes pay a single unit rate. If that is you, electricity costs the same at 6 am, 2 pm, or 11 pm. Running the washing machine at night will not cut the electricity cost, although it might still suit your routine.
Other homes use a time-of-use tariff. These tariffs charge different rates at different times. If you are on one of these, shifting your wash to cheaper periods can save money over time.
Common examples include:
Economy 7
Economy 10
Smart time-of-use tariffs
Electric vehicle tariffs
Agile or tracker-style tariffs where prices change often
The important thing is not the name of the tariff. It is the actual unit rate at the time you run the wash.
Your bill or supplier app should show a price in pence per kilowatt hour, often written as p/kWh. That is the figure to check.
If you are on a standard tariff, there may be no cheap time
Many UK households are on a standard variable tariff or a fixed tariff with one electricity rate all day. On these tariffs, the washing machine costs the same whenever you use it.
In that case, the cheapest approach is not about the clock. It is about how you wash.
You can usually reduce the cost by:
Washing at 30°C when suitable
Using the eco programme if you have time
Running full loads instead of half loads
Avoiding pre-wash unless the clothes really need it
Using a high spin speed if you will air dry or tumble dry afterwards
Keeping the filter clean so the machine works properly
Heating water uses a lot of the energy in a wash cycle. That is why dropping from a hotter wash to 30°C can make a real difference, as long as it is suitable for the fabric and the level of soiling.
A longer eco cycle can look odd because it takes more time. Yet it often uses less energy by heating water more gently and using mechanical action over a longer period.
Economy 7 households usually save most overnight
Economy 7 gives you seven hours of cheaper electricity, usually overnight. The exact hours vary by supplier, region, meter type, and whether the clocks have changed.
A typical off-peak window might sit somewhere around:
Tariff type | Usual cheaper period | What to check |
Economy 7 | Around 7 hours overnight | Your exact meter times |
Economy 10 | Several cheaper periods across the day and night | Whether afternoon or evening slots apply |
EV tariff | Often overnight | Whether all household electricity is cheaper or only car charging |
Smart time-of-use | Varies by supplier and day | App or tariff schedule |
If you have Economy 7, running the washing machine during the cheap window is often the lowest-cost option. Many people set a delay timer so the cycle finishes in the morning.
Take care with timing. If the low-rate period ends at 7 am and your wash runs from 6:30 am to 8 am, part of the cycle may be charged at the higher rate. Since washing machines often draw more power when heating water near the start of a cycle, the exact timing can matter.
Smart tariffs can make the cheapest time change daily
Some modern tariffs are more flexible than Economy 7. Prices may be lower overnight, but they can also fall during windy afternoons, low-demand periods, or special off-peak windows set by the supplier.
If you are on a smart time-of-use tariff, the cheapest time to run a washing machine in the UK may change from one day to the next.
That can sound fiddly, but the practical routine is simple:
Check your supplier app for the next cheap period.
Set the washing machine delay timer.
Avoid peak evening hours if your tariff charges more then.
Move flexible laundry to cheaper slots when it is convenient.
Peak rates often appear during early evening, when many households cook, heat homes, and use appliances at the same time. If your tariff has a clear peak period, avoid putting laundry on then unless you need it urgently.
This matters more for homes that do several washes per week. One load shifted from a peak to an off-peak time may not feel dramatic. A family doing frequent laundry can see the savings build up.
The best general time is late night or early morning
If you have a time-of-use tariff and want a simple rule, aim for late night to early morning. For many UK off-peak tariffs, that is where the cheaper hours tend to sit.
A practical window to investigate is:
After 11 pm
Before 7 am
During any clearly listed off-peak period in your supplier app
Outside the evening peak if your tariff has one
Do not rely on a neighbour’s tariff or an old rule of thumb. Two homes on the same street can have different suppliers, meters, and off-peak times.
If you are unsure, look at:
Your latest electricity bill
Your supplier’s app or online account
Your meter readings, if you have separate day and night rates
Your tariff information label
Your smart meter in-home display, if it shows current unit price
The phrase to look for is usually off-peak electricity. If your tariff does not mention off-peak rates, you might not have cheaper hours.
How much does timing really save?
A washing machine is not usually the most expensive appliance in the home. Tumble dryers, electric showers, immersion heaters, and electric heating tend to use more electricity.
Still, laundry costs can add up, especially with frequent washes.
The saving from running a washing machine at a cheaper time depends on three things:
How much electricity the cycle uses
The difference between your peak and off-peak rates
How many washes you do each week
A cool eco wash on a modern machine may use relatively little electricity compared with a hot cotton cycle. A 60°C wash usually costs more than a 30°C wash because the machine has to heat the water more.
So the biggest saving often comes from combining two habits:
Run the machine during cheap-rate hours, and use a lower-temperature or eco cycle when it is suitable.
Treat timing as one part of the picture. If you run a half-empty machine overnight on a hot wash, you may save less than expected. If you run full loads at 30°C during off-peak hours, you are using both timing and efficiency well.
Safety and noise matter too
Running a washing machine overnight can be cheaper, but it is not always the best choice.
Appliances can leak, fault, or make more noise than expected. Many fire and safety services advise caution with leaving large appliances running while you are asleep or out of the house. A washing machine is lower risk than some heat-producing appliances, but it still uses electricity, water, and moving parts.
A sensible compromise is to use the delay timer so the wash starts early in the morning, perhaps around 5 am or 6 am, if that still falls within your off-peak period. That way, the machine runs while you are likely to be at home and awake soon after.
Noise also matters. Flats, terraces, and older homes can carry vibration through floors and walls. A spin cycle at 1 am may not make you popular.
To make cheaper washing more practical:
Check the machine is level to reduce vibration
Avoid very late spin cycles in flats
Use anti-vibration pads if needed
Clean the filter regularly
Do not overload the drum
Leave the door ajar after washing to reduce smells
Check hoses now and then for wear or leaks
If your machine has a “quiet” or “night” mode, it may reduce spin speed or noise. That can help, but clothes may come out wetter.
When to avoid using the washing machine
Avoid running the washing machine during expensive peak windows if your tariff has them. On many time-of-use plans, early evening is the period to watch.
You might also avoid running a wash:
When you are about to leave home
While everyone is asleep, if you are worried about leaks or faults
During very late hours if the spin cycle disturbs neighbours
When the machine is only partly full
For one or two items that could wait for a fuller load
There are exceptions. If a school uniform, workwear, bedding, or baby clothes need washing urgently, convenience may beat a small saving. The goal is not to make laundry stressful. It is to move flexible loads to cheaper times when you can.
How to find your actual cheapest washing time
The fastest way to get a clear answer is to check your own tariff rather than general advice.
Use this simple process.
Check whether you have one rate or two
Look at your bill. If you see one electricity unit rate, you probably pay the same price all day.
If you see day and night rates, rate 1 and rate 2, or peak and off-peak rates, timing matters.
Find the exact off-peak hours
Do not guess. Economy 7 times are not identical across the UK. They can vary by supplier, meter, and region.
Your supplier should be able to confirm the hours. If you have a smart tariff, the app may show upcoming prices clearly.
Match your wash cycle to the cheap window
Check how long your usual programme takes. Some eco cycles run for several hours. Make sure most or all of the cycle fits within the cheaper period.
If the window is 12:30 am to 7:30 am, a 6 am start may work. If your cheap rate ends at 7 am and the wash takes three hours, it may not.
Use the delay timer carefully
Delay timers are useful, but check whether your machine lets you set the start time or the finish time. Brands differ.
If you want the wash to finish at 7 am, set it with enough time for the whole programme. Try it once when you are around, so you know how the machine behaves.
The cheapest laundry routine for most UK homes
A good low-cost washing routine looks like this:
Use 30°C for everyday clothes when suitable
Save hotter washes for towels, bedding, heavily soiled items, or hygiene needs
Fill the drum without overloading it
Run washes in the off-peak window if you have one
Avoid peak evening periods on smart tariffs
Air dry when possible, since tumble drying can cost more than washing
Keep the machine maintained so it washes well
If you have solar panels, the calculation can change. It may be cheaper to run the washing machine during sunny daytime hours when your home is generating electricity. In that case, midday can beat midnight, especially if you are at home and can use the power as it is produced.
For most homes without solar or battery storage, the main rule still holds: check your tariff first, then shift flexible washes to the cheapest listed hours.
The simple answer
The cheapest time to run a washing machine in the UK is usually during your supplier’s off-peak electricity period, often overnight between about 11 pm and 7 am. If you are on Economy 7 or a smart time-of-use tariff, that can reduce the cost of each wash.
If you pay one flat electricity rate, there is no cheaper time of day. Focus instead on washing cooler, filling the drum, using eco cycles, and drying clothes without the tumble dryer where possible.
The best next step is simple: open your electricity bill or supplier app, find your unit rates, and look for off-peak times. Once you know those, you can set the washing machine to run when electricity is genuinely cheaper, not just when people say it should be.
