Model
Whirlpool WTW8120H**
Rank #378 means 377 of the 388 washing machine models we track cost less to run each year; the 12th efficiency percentile means it uses less energy for its size than 12% of those models.
What does the Whirlpool WTW8120H** cost to run per year?
The Whirlpool WTW8120H** costs about $48 a year to run, sitting in the very bottom slice of the cheapest-to-run leaderboard, rank #378 of 388. Its 12th size-adjusted efficiency percentile is well below the class median, worth weighing against the raw cost figure above. The IMEF figure of 2.06 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 Whirlpool WTW6157P** at $48/yr runs a little cheaper and the Whirlpool WTW8127L** at $48/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 Whirlpool WTW8120H**'s $48/yr adds up to roughly $480 in electricity alone, before purchase price or repairs.
Also sold as: Crosley ZWW5310R**.
By the numbers
The Whirlpool WTW8120H** 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 $48/yr, here is what the Whirlpool WTW8120H** adds up to before purchase price, water, or repairs enter the math.
Left running for a decade at today's US average rate, the Whirlpool WTW8120H** costs about $480. That is roughly $280 more than the class median, which would run closer to $200 over the same ten years.
How the Whirlpool WTW8120H** compares
The washing machine class we track runs from $7 to $58 a year. At $48/yr, it runs about $28 a year above the class median of $20, and it is about $41 a year more than the cheapest washing machine to run at $7.
What drives its running cost
At 5.3 cu ft, the Whirlpool WTW8120H** is a large washing machine for its class, which spans 1.9 to 6 cu ft with a median of 4.5 cu ft, and larger washing machine models generally cost more to run than smaller ones in the same class, simply because there is more to keep cold, spin, heat, or light. Its IMEF of 2.06, below 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). A higher Integrated Modified Energy Factor means the machine wrings more useful washing (and a drier spin) out of every kilowatt-hour and gallon it uses.
- Drum volume. Drum volume sets the ceiling on how much a single cycle can wash, and it is usually the first driver of a washer's per-cycle energy use.
- Water heating. Cycle temperature, more than drum size, is usually what separates a cheap wash cycle from an expensive one on models with an internal water heater.
Common questions
Is the Whirlpool WTW8120H** cheap to run?
Not especially. At $48 a year it ranks #378 of 388 washing machine models we track, in the pricier part of its class to run, though its size and features may still justify that for your needs.
How much does the Whirlpool WTW8120H** cost per month?
Roughly $4.02/mo, spreading the $48/yr estimate evenly across twelve months at $0.1856/kWh. Actual monthly bills swing with your rate and usage pattern.
How is this running-cost figure calculated?
We take the model's published annual energy use of 260 kWh from ENERGY STAR and multiply it by the US average residential electricity rate of $0.1856/kWh, giving about $48 a year. It is an electricity-only estimate and does not include purchase price, water, or installation.
How efficient is the Whirlpool WTW8120H** for its size?
12th percentile once size is factored in. That means its size-adjusted efficiency is not the main reason for the running-cost figure above; its capacity plays a large role too.
Cheaper to run in the same class
Source
ES_15649_WTW8120H**_09112019230101_2861355View certified washing machine listingsENERGY STAR data as of July 2026Whirlpool and WTW8120H** 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.