Model
Electrolux ELFW7738***
Rank #25 means 24 of the 388 washing machine models we track cost less to run each year; the 96th efficiency percentile means it uses less energy for its size than 96% of those models.
What does the Electrolux ELFW7738*** cost to run per year?
Among the 388 washing machine models we track, the Electrolux ELFW7738***'s $14/yr running cost ranks it #25, comfortably in the cheap-to-run group. Its 96th size-adjusted efficiency percentile puts it in a small top tier of the class once capacity stops flattering the comparison. The IMEF figure of 3.2 on this model captures integrated modified energy factor, the main efficiency lever ENERGY STAR tracks for this class.
Immediately around it on the leaderboard, the Blomberg BLWM242300SWG at $14/yr runs a little cheaper and the Aeg WHP120 at $14/yr runs a little more, a sense of how tightly models are packed at this point in the ranking. A washing machine typically stays in service for somewhere around 10 years; over that span, the Electrolux ELFW7738***'s $14/yr adds up to roughly $140 in electricity alone, before purchase price or repairs.
By the numbers
The Electrolux ELFW7738*** normalized against its whole class, so each figure means something.
What it costs you over time
Running cost is an every-year number, so it compounds. At $14/yr, here is what the Electrolux ELFW7738*** adds up to before purchase price, water, or repairs enter the math.
Left running for a decade at today's US average rate, the Electrolux ELFW7738*** costs about $140. That is roughly $60 less than the class median, which would run closer to $200 over the same ten years.
How the Electrolux ELFW7738*** compares
The washing machine class we track runs from $7 to $58 a year. At $14/yr, it runs about $6 a year cheaper than the class median of $20, and it is about $7 a year more than the cheapest washing machine to run at $7.
What drives its running cost
At 4.5 cu ft, the Electrolux ELFW7738*** is a mid-size washing machine for its class, which spans 1.9 to 6 cu ft with a median of 4.5 cu ft, neither the size advantage of a small unit nor the size penalty of a large one applies here, so its running cost is a fairer test of efficiency alone. Its IMEF of 3.2, above the class median of 2.76, reflects integrated modified energy factor: a higher figure means it wrings more useful work out of every kilowatt-hour, so it is the efficiency lever to weigh against raw size.
- Spin and wash efficiency (IMEF). IMEF is this class's core efficiency yardstick; two washers with the same drum size can carry meaningfully different IMEF figures and running costs.
- Drum volume. A larger-capacity washer can wash more per load, which can lower cost per pound of laundry, but it also draws more water and energy per cycle if you are not filling it.
- Water heating. Most washers rely on your home's hot water supply, but internal-heater sanitize or hot-wash cycles use meaningfully more electricity than a cold or warm wash.
Common questions
Is the Electrolux ELFW7738*** cheap to run?
Yes. Its $14/yr running cost puts it at rank #25 of 388, below what most washing machine models we track cost to run.
How much does the Electrolux ELFW7738*** cost per month?
About $1.14 a month, which is the $14 annual estimate spread across twelve months at the US average rate of $0.1856/kWh. Your own bill scales with your local electricity rate and how heavily you use it.
How is this running-cost figure calculated?
The formula is annual kWh times price per kWh: 74 kWh from ENERGY STAR times the US average of $0.1856/kWh comes to about $14 a year. It covers electricity only, not the purchase price, water, or installation.
How efficient is the Electrolux ELFW7738*** for its size?
96th percentile once size is factored in. That means its size-adjusted efficiency is a real factor in the running-cost figure above; its capacity plays a large role too.
Cheaper to run in the same class
| Rank | Model | Cost/yr |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Blomberg BLWM242300SWG2.3 cu ft | $14 |
| 23 | Beko BWM242300SWW2.3 cu ft | $14 |
| 22 | Truarctic TAFW2422W2.3 cu ft | $13 |
| 21 | Bosch WGA12400**2.1 cu ft | $13 |
| 20 | Midea MLH27N4AWWC2.5 cu ft | $12 |
Source
ES_1021080_ELFW7738AA_071920241312224_9979454View certified washing machine listingsENERGY STAR data as of July 2026Electrolux and ELFW7738*** are used here for identification only and are not endorsements. Figures are computed by WattWise Labs from public ENERGY STAR data, not measured in our own lab.