Washing Machine Prices Price History
1950–2025 · Bureau of Labor Statistics / AHAM
Here's a fun one: a decent washing machine cost around $280 in 1970 and about $640 today. That's not even a 2.5x increase over 55 years — a period when overall consumer prices rose roughly 8x. In other words, washing machines have gotten dramatically cheaper in real terms, even as they've added electronic controls, larger drums, steam cycles, and Wi-Fi connectivity that would've seemed like science fiction to a 1970s consumer. Globalized manufacturing and intense retail competition deserve most of the credit.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics / AHAM1950–2025
Price in 1950
$190.00
Price in 2025
$640.00
Total Change
+236.8%
Years Tracked
75
Washing Machine Prices Over Time
1950Year Range2025
Compare to inflation: The chart above shows nominal (not inflation-adjusted) prices. Use the toggle to switch to inflation-adjusted values when available, or try the inflation calculator to convert any amount between years.
Key Insights
- A washing machine cost about $280 in 1970. Adjusted for inflation, that's roughly $2,200 in today's dollars — yet the average machine now sells for around $640. You're getting a vastly better product for a fraction of the real cost.
- Prices actually declined through the late 1990s and early 2000s, dropping from $495 in 1995 to $450 by 2003, as manufacturers shifted production to Mexico and Asia to cut costs.
- The pandemic era was the sharpest price spike in modern history — machines jumped from $530 in 2019 to $680 in 2022 as supply chains seized up and demand for home appliances surged with everyone stuck indoors.
- Despite the recent run-up, washing machines remain one of the best deals in the consumer economy. In real terms, they're roughly 70% cheaper than they were in 1970, and today's models use far less water and energy.
Year-by-Year Data
| Year | Price (USD) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | $190.00 | — |
| 1951 | $200.00 | +5.3% |
| 1952 | $205.00 | +2.5% |
| 1953 | $210.00 | +2.4% |
| 1954 | $208.00 | -1.0% |
| 1955 | $215.00 | +3.4% |
| 1956 | $220.00 | +2.3% |
| 1957 | $225.00 | +2.3% |
| 1958 | $228.00 | +1.3% |
| 1959 | $230.00 | +0.9% |
| 1960 | $235.00 | +2.2% |
| 1961 | $233.00 | -0.9% |
| 1962 | $235.00 | +0.9% |
| 1963 | $238.00 | +1.3% |
| 1964 | $240.00 | +0.8% |
| 1965 | $245.00 | +2.1% |
| 1966 | $250.00 | +2.0% |
| 1967 | $255.00 | +2.0% |
| 1968 | $260.00 | +2.0% |
| 1969 | $270.00 | +3.8% |
| 1970 | $280.00 | +3.7% |
| 1971 | $290.00 | +3.6% |
| 1972 | $295.00 | +1.7% |
| 1973 | $305.00 | +3.4% |
| 1974 | $325.00 | +6.6% |
| 1975 | $345.00 | +6.2% |
| 1976 | $360.00 | +4.3% |
| 1977 | $375.00 | +4.2% |
| 1978 | $390.00 | +4.0% |
| 1979 | $410.00 | +5.1% |
| 1980 | $425.00 | +3.7% |
| 1981 | $445.00 | +4.7% |
| 1982 | $460.00 | +3.4% |
| 1983 | $465.00 | +1.1% |
| 1984 | $470.00 | +1.1% |
| 1985 | $475.00 | +1.1% |
| 1986 | $470.00 | -1.1% |
| 1987 | $465.00 | -1.1% |
| 1988 | $460.00 | -1.1% |
| 1989 | $465.00 | +1.1% |
| 1990 | $470.00 | +1.1% |
| 1991 | $475.00 | +1.1% |
| 1992 | $480.00 | +1.1% |
| 1993 | $485.00 | +1.0% |
| 1994 | $490.00 | +1.0% |
| 1995 | $495.00 | +1.0% |
| 1996 | $490.00 | -1.0% |
| 1997 | $485.00 | -1.0% |
| 1998 | $475.00 | -2.1% |
| 1999 | $470.00 | -1.1% |
| 2000 | $465.00 | -1.1% |
| 2001 | $460.00 | -1.1% |
| 2002 | $455.00 | -1.1% |
| 2003 | $450.00 | -1.1% |
| 2004 | $455.00 | +1.1% |
| 2005 | $460.00 | +1.1% |
| 2006 | $475.00 | +3.3% |
| 2007 | $500.00 | +5.3% |
| 2008 | $520.00 | +4.0% |
| 2009 | $490.00 | -5.8% |
| 2010 | $485.00 | -1.0% |
| 2011 | $500.00 | +3.1% |
| 2012 | $510.00 | +2.0% |
| 2013 | $505.00 | -1.0% |
| 2014 | $500.00 | -1.0% |
| 2015 | $490.00 | -2.0% |
| 2016 | $485.00 | -1.0% |
| 2017 | $490.00 | +1.0% |
| 2018 | $510.00 | +4.1% |
| 2019 | $530.00 | +3.9% |
| 2020 | $575.00 | +8.5% |
| 2021 | $650.00 | +13.0% |
| 2022 | $680.00 | +4.6% |
| 2023 | $660.00 | -2.9% |
| 2024 | $645.00 | -2.3% |
| 2025 | $640.00 | -0.8% |
Year1950
Price (USD)$190.00
YoY Change—
Year1951
Price (USD)$200.00
YoY Change+5.3%
Year1952
Price (USD)$205.00
YoY Change+2.5%
Year1953
Price (USD)$210.00
YoY Change+2.4%
Year1954
Price (USD)$208.00
YoY Change-1.0%
Year1955
Price (USD)$215.00
YoY Change+3.4%
Year1956
Price (USD)$220.00
YoY Change+2.3%
Year1957
Price (USD)$225.00
YoY Change+2.3%
Year1958
Price (USD)$228.00
YoY Change+1.3%
Year1959
Price (USD)$230.00
YoY Change+0.9%
Year1960
Price (USD)$235.00
YoY Change+2.2%
Year1961
Price (USD)$233.00
YoY Change-0.9%
Year1962
Price (USD)$235.00
YoY Change+0.9%
Year1963
Price (USD)$238.00
YoY Change+1.3%
Year1964
Price (USD)$240.00
YoY Change+0.8%
Year1965
Price (USD)$245.00
YoY Change+2.1%
Year1966
Price (USD)$250.00
YoY Change+2.0%
Year1967
Price (USD)$255.00
YoY Change+2.0%
Year1968
Price (USD)$260.00
YoY Change+2.0%
Year1969
Price (USD)$270.00
YoY Change+3.8%
Year1970
Price (USD)$280.00
YoY Change+3.7%
Year1971
Price (USD)$290.00
YoY Change+3.6%
Year1972
Price (USD)$295.00
YoY Change+1.7%
Year1973
Price (USD)$305.00
YoY Change+3.4%
Year1974
Price (USD)$325.00
YoY Change+6.6%
Year1975
Price (USD)$345.00
YoY Change+6.2%
Year1976
Price (USD)$360.00
YoY Change+4.3%
Year1977
Price (USD)$375.00
YoY Change+4.2%
Year1978
Price (USD)$390.00
YoY Change+4.0%
Year1979
Price (USD)$410.00
YoY Change+5.1%
Year1980
Price (USD)$425.00
YoY Change+3.7%
Year1981
Price (USD)$445.00
YoY Change+4.7%
Year1982
Price (USD)$460.00
YoY Change+3.4%
Year1983
Price (USD)$465.00
YoY Change+1.1%
Year1984
Price (USD)$470.00
YoY Change+1.1%
Year1985
Price (USD)$475.00
YoY Change+1.1%
Year1986
Price (USD)$470.00
YoY Change-1.1%
Year1987
Price (USD)$465.00
YoY Change-1.1%
Year1988
Price (USD)$460.00
YoY Change-1.1%
Year1989
Price (USD)$465.00
YoY Change+1.1%
Year1990
Price (USD)$470.00
YoY Change+1.1%
Year1991
Price (USD)$475.00
YoY Change+1.1%
Year1992
Price (USD)$480.00
YoY Change+1.1%
Year1993
Price (USD)$485.00
YoY Change+1.0%
Year1994
Price (USD)$490.00
YoY Change+1.0%
Year1995
Price (USD)$495.00
YoY Change+1.0%
Year1996
Price (USD)$490.00
YoY Change-1.0%
Year1997
Price (USD)$485.00
YoY Change-1.0%
Year1998
Price (USD)$475.00
YoY Change-2.1%
Year1999
Price (USD)$470.00
YoY Change-1.1%
Year2000
Price (USD)$465.00
YoY Change-1.1%
Year2001
Price (USD)$460.00
YoY Change-1.1%
Year2002
Price (USD)$455.00
YoY Change-1.1%
Year2003
Price (USD)$450.00
YoY Change-1.1%
Year2004
Price (USD)$455.00
YoY Change+1.1%
Year2005
Price (USD)$460.00
YoY Change+1.1%
Year2006
Price (USD)$475.00
YoY Change+3.3%
Year2007
Price (USD)$500.00
YoY Change+5.3%
Year2008
Price (USD)$520.00
YoY Change+4.0%
Year2009
Price (USD)$490.00
YoY Change-5.8%
Year2010
Price (USD)$485.00
YoY Change-1.0%
Year2011
Price (USD)$500.00
YoY Change+3.1%
Year2012
Price (USD)$510.00
YoY Change+2.0%
Year2013
Price (USD)$505.00
YoY Change-1.0%
Year2014
Price (USD)$500.00
YoY Change-1.0%
Year2015
Price (USD)$490.00
YoY Change-2.0%
Year2016
Price (USD)$485.00
YoY Change-1.0%
Year2017
Price (USD)$490.00
YoY Change+1.0%
Year2018
Price (USD)$510.00
YoY Change+4.1%
Year2019
Price (USD)$530.00
YoY Change+3.9%
Year2020
Price (USD)$575.00
YoY Change+8.5%
Year2021
Price (USD)$650.00
YoY Change+13.0%
Year2022
Price (USD)$680.00
YoY Change+4.6%
Year2023
Price (USD)$660.00
YoY Change-2.9%
Year2024
Price (USD)$645.00
YoY Change-2.3%
Year2025
Price (USD)$640.00
YoY Change-0.8%
Sources & Methodology
BLS CPI data for laundry equipment combined with Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) industry data. Represents the average retail price of a standard top-load or front-load washing machine. Pre-1970 estimates from Sears catalog records and industry publications.
Primary source: Bureau of Labor Statistics / AHAM
For a full explanation of how we collect and adjust data, see our methodology page.