We Did the Math: Do Entrance-Load Washers Actually Save Extra Cash Than Prime-Load?

Once I compiled over 15,000 knowledge factors for CNET’s listing of the very best washing machines, I did not count on to see such a robust case for front-load washers being higher long-term investments than top-load washers. 

I knew there needed to be extra to the story, so I dug deep into the information to see how lengthy it takes for a pricier — but very environment friendly — washer to offset the lower cost of a top-loader via vitality financial savings alone. In different phrases, the payback interval.

The typical payback interval for front-load versus top-load is 6.5 years. This implies front-load washers — which final a mean of 12.6 years — are typically the easiest way to economize long run. Now that this anticlimactic reality is out of the way in which, let’s examine how sensible it’s with CNET’s total washer lineup.

Armed with pricing, effectivity and utility price knowledge, I’ve calculated the payback interval for the highest washer decide, Electrolux ELFW7738A, in contrast with each different product within the lineup — plus a notable prime washer that did not make the listing. 

However why is that this Electrolux mannequin a first-rate candidate for my baseline? It is merely probably the most environment friendly washer in my dataset and on our greatest listing. Let’s bounce in to see the way it stacks up.

How I did the maths: Amassing knowledge and calculating the payback interval

I collected nearly all of this baseline knowledge in June 2025, forward of my comparability of the very best washers — this contains Power Star info and most retail costs. Nonetheless, the retail costs for the fashions beneath are present as of January. Listed below are the statistics behind the maths.

• To calculate water prices, I divided the Power Star water utilization figures by 1,000, then multiplied the outcome by $16.83. The EPA’s WaterSense report says this was the nationwide common price for Mixed Water & Wastewater in 2024. (This covers the water a washer makes use of and the sewer charges to take away it.)
• For electrical energy prices, I used the November 2024 nationwide common from the US Power Info Administration (Desk 5.6.B). This report updates month-to-month, however the Residential worth as of my evaluation was $0.165 per kilowatt-hour.
• WaterSense’s report would not present state-level water-pricing knowledge, so the electrical costs replicate solely the nationwide common, not particular person states. Try my evaluation on fridge effectivity to see how location impacts electrical energy charges.
• I mix total electrical energy and water prices into the working prices used for the payback interval calculation.

Calculating the payback interval is fairly easy

(Environment friendly washer worth – Normal washer worth) / (Normal washer annual working prices – Environment friendly washer annual working prices) = Payback interval (in years)

This tells you what number of years it’s going to take to repay the additional value of the environment friendly mannequin. If the quantity is damaging, the environment friendly machine might be cheaper upfront. Likewise, the nearer a constructive payback interval is to the common lifespan of a washer (12.6 years in keeping with the Journal of Cleaner Manufacturing), the much less worthwhile it’s.

Typically, any washer with a payback interval of lower than seven years might be funding. Nonetheless, you will see the largest financial savings when two home equipment with related costs have vastly totally different effectivity.

Filling gaps within the knowledge

A number of the fashions I evaluated for the washer lineup aren’t within the Power Star database as a result of they don’t seem to be licensed — mainly the Samsung WA45T3200AW and Insignia NS-WMT41WA5. I added their utilization knowledge manually. In Samsung’s case, it is as simple as copying the specs from its product web page. 

Nonetheless, Finest Purchase would not listing an annual water utilization determine for the Insignia mannequin, so we’ll have to take a extra oblique strategy. To calculate Insignia’s water utilization, I regarded it up on the California Power Fee’s Modernized Equipment Effectivity Database System, which lists it as 26.63 gallons per wash cycle.

Then I multiplied it by 295, which the Code of Federal Laws lists as the common variety of cycles in a 12 months — Power Star knowledge makes use of this quantity. The grand whole for Insignia NS-WMT41WA5 is roughly 7,856 gallons per 12 months. Notably, this was the one spec I wanted to calculate manually for my evaluation.

Electrolux’s payback intervals throughout the washer lineup

Let’s begin with Electrolux versus the common washer in every class. As a result of I did not have sufficient time to replace each retail worth behind the general averages on this evaluation, it is not as dependable because the more moderen worth knowledge I collected for particular person washer fashions. Nonetheless, I in contrast current Dwelling Depot costs to make sure that my older knowledge wasn’t too outdated.

In contrast with the common prime washer, Electrolux prices roughly $348 extra, whereas working prices are $53 decrease per 12 months. Dividing $348 by $53 yields a payback interval of 6.5 years, which is pretty respectable given a mean equipment lifespan of 12.6 years. 

In principle, because of this the Electrolux mannequin would spend slightly below half its estimated lifetime making up for the upper buy worth — it is all unvarnished financial savings after that. 

Surprisingly sufficient, the common entrance washer has an analogous payback interval to prime washers compared with Electrolux. It’s because the modest yearly working financial savings of $16 take for much longer to offset a comparatively small retail worth hole of solely $106, in contrast with the dramatic financial savings versus top-loaders.

Now let’s slender this comparability right down to Electrolux versus six opponents from the evaluation, plus a bonus top-loader with best-in-class effectivity (LG WT7250C). This contains prime washers from Samsung, LG and Insignia — in addition to entrance washers from GE, Maytag and Whirlpool. As I discussed above, the Samsung WA45T3200AW and Insignia NS-WMT41WA5 lack Power Star rankings, so they’re typical low-efficiency top-loaders.

Electrolux’s finest matchups

As you possibly can most likely guess, Electrolux compares effectively with most top-loaders. The Samsung WA45T3200AW and Insignia NS-WMT41WA5 have shorter payback intervals than common, regardless of costing lower than half as a lot. Curiously, the Power Star-rated LG WT8200C lags behind Insignia, probably due to its comparatively excessive $749 price ticket.

With an 8.6-year payback interval, the front-load GE GFW550SSNWW pushes the boundaries of Electrolux’s dominance. On this case, I nonetheless suppose Electrolux is the higher long-term funding.

Electrolux’s diminishing returns

Electrolux fares a lot worse towards the ultimate three contenders. The extra nice shock is the LG WT7250C. Nonetheless, I wish to notice that that is an excessive outlier — many related prime washers additionally value greater than this mannequin.

I am unable to say the identical for the Maytag and Whirlpool machines, which meet solely the naked minimal front-load necessities to earn Power Star rankings. Because of this the $1,100 Electrolux typically has a shorter payback interval than commonplace front-load items below $800. (That stated, it earns the highest spot on the listing for extra than simply vitality effectivity.)

Electrolux vs. compact washers

Many of the washers within the lineup have a capability much like Electrolux’s, so there’s much less have to account for drum measurement. That stated, Bosch and Miele compact washers are nearly half the scale, so it is not a good comparability as a result of the Electrolux will all the time take fewer hundreds to clean the identical quantity of garments.

To account for variations in drum measurement between these fashions, I multiplied Bosch and Miele’s working prices by the variety of revolutions required to achieve 4.5 cubic toes. It is principally a tough estimate for comparability functions, but it surely exhibits that compact washers are finest reserved for tight areas and smaller households that do not wash as many garments.

Nonetheless, Electrolux’s decrease retail worth implies that the payback interval cannot inform the entire story right here, so let’s examine how the 10-year prices measure up:

• Bosch: Web lack of $881 in contrast with Electrolux
• Samsung: Web lack of $986 in contrast with Electrolux

By way of capability, Electrolux will all the time come out on prime towards these compact items, as their larger retail costs and equal working prices maintain them again.

That stated, smaller households (with fewer garments) are higher off with a barely costlier compact washer. For those who do not account for the amount of garments, it could take Electrolux 45 years to interrupt even with Bosch and 51.8 years with Miele. Selecting the very best washer to your wants would not all the time imply shopping for the largest one.

Electrolux vs washer-dryer combos

Lastly, I did not wish to omit the 2 washer-dryer combos on my washer listing, so the payback interval for these accounts for Electrolux’s paired electrical dryer, the ELFE7738AA. (It prices $1,099, the identical because the washer.) From there, I calculated the mixed annual working prices for the combos and the Electrolux pair — washing and drying.

Essentially the most fascinating factor about these outcomes is that Electrox’s dryer cannot match the vitality effectivity of the warmth pumps utilized by LG and Samsung’s combo items. In the end, the combo items are higher investments — a minimum of when it comes to vitality utilization. Payback interval can also be difficult right here, so let’s look at the overall 10-year prices:

• LG: $323 web financial savings in comparison with Electrolux
• Samsung: $471 web financial savings in comparison with Electrolux

As a result of they’re extra reasonably priced and environment friendly than the Electrolux pair, these combo items have a head begin, and their lead will solely enhance — offered they’ve an extended service life. Samsung leads in total vitality effectivity and annual working prices.

Whereas Samsung saves $148 in contrast with LG, the caveat right here is that Samsung saves solely $4.94 per 12 months in vitality prices. Many of the financial savings come from the decrease buy worth. It is principally a toss-up. Nonetheless, Samsung’s 20-year motor guarantee has the sting in comparison with LG’s 10-year protection.

Learn extra: Are You Nonetheless Utilizing Bleach? A Laundry Knowledgeable Explains Why That is a Huge Mistake