Model
Whirlpool WFW6720R**
Rank #289 means 288 of the 388 washing machine models we track cost less to run each year; the 48th efficiency percentile means it uses less energy for its size than 48% of those models.
What does the Whirlpool WFW6720R** cost to run per year?
At $26 a year to run, the Whirlpool WFW6720R** runs more expensively than most models in its class, ranking #289 of 388 washing machine models we track. Once capacity is factored in, its efficiency percentile of 48 is fairly typical for the class, neither a standout nor a laggard. The IMEF figure of 2.76 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 WFW5720R** at $26/yr runs a little cheaper and the Whirlpool WGF5727T** at $26/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 WFW6720R**'s $26/yr adds up to roughly $260 in electricity alone, before purchase price or repairs.
Also sold as: Maytag MFW7020R**.
By the numbers
The Whirlpool WFW6720R** 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 $26/yr, here is what the Whirlpool WFW6720R** 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 WFW6720R** costs about $260. That is roughly $60 more than the class median, which would run closer to $200 over the same ten years.
How the Whirlpool WFW6720R** compares
The washing machine class we track runs from $7 to $58 a year. At $26/yr, it runs about $6 a year above the class median of $20, and it is about $19 a year more than the cheapest washing machine to run at $7.
What drives its running cost
At 5 cu ft, the Whirlpool WFW6720R** 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, putting it squarely in the middle of the class on the size lever that drives most of the cost. The IMEF of 2.76 on this model, above the class median of 2.76, measures integrated modified energy factor; it is the number to compare directly against another model's IMEF if capacity is similar.
- 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 WFW6720R** cheap to run?
Not especially. At $26 a year it ranks #289 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 WFW6720R** cost per month?
Roughly $2.17/mo, spreading the $26/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 140 kWh from ENERGY STAR and multiply it by the US average residential electricity rate of $0.1856/kWh, giving about $26 a year. It is an electricity-only estimate and does not include purchase price, water, or installation.
How efficient is the Whirlpool WFW6720R** for its size?
48th 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
| Rank | Model | Cost/yr |
|---|---|---|
| 293 | Whirlpool WFW5720R**4.5 cu ft | $26 |
| 292 | Whirlpool WFW5220R**4.5 cu ft | $26 |
| 291 | Whirlpool WFW4720R**4.5 cu ft | $26 |
| 290 | Whirlpool WEF5727T**4.5 cu ft | $26 |
| 289 | Maytag MFW7020R**5 cu ft | $26 |
Source
ES_22856_WFW6720R**_072320241350124_3493219View certified washing machine listingsENERGY STAR data as of July 2026Whirlpool and WFW6720R** 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.