Guides
Best time to run a washing machine on Agile
The best slot is not always the most practical slot, so compare cheap windows against when you actually need the cycle to finish.
Short answer
Look for a cheap 1 to 2 hour window that fits your day, but avoid waiting for tiny savings if the current rate is already close to the cheapest remaining period. A washing machine is a good example of why full-window thinking matters more than one isolated half-hour slot. The best answer is usually a practical cheap block, not the mathematically lowest single bar on the chart.
If you want live context while reading, check the dashboard, test a real run in the appliance timer, set a trigger in alerts, or compare the same day across regions.
Cheapest window vs practical window
The absolute cheapest half-hour is not enough if your machine needs a longer uninterrupted run. A slightly pricier window can be the better real-life choice if it still avoids the peak and finishes at a sensible time. In practice, most people care about both cost and convenience. The appliance timer is useful because it compares valid windows instead of isolated slots.
Duration matters
A washing machine run usually spans several slots. Compare the whole window average instead of reacting to one cheap half-hour. If the first slot is cheap but the next two are expensive, the cycle is not really cheap overall. This is why the duration and latest-finish fields matter on the timer page.
Avoiding the peak
If possible, keep flexible loads out of the late afternoon and early evening when Agile often rises sharply. Even a modestly cheap mid-morning or early-afternoon window can be better than waiting until the household gets busy again. If you need the load done soon, compare the saving against the inconvenience instead of optimizing for pennies. Alerts can help if you prefer to wait for tomorrow’s shape before deciding.
Example
A 1.5kWh washing cycle costs about £0.23 at 15p/kWh and about £0.53 at 35p/kWh. That difference is meaningful when it is easy to wait for a cheaper window, but much less important if waiting only saves a few pence. A 14:00–15:30 run at a moderate rate can still be better than a later window that overlaps 17:00.
What to watch out for
Do not delay a load for pennies if you need it done sooner. Small savings are often not worth the inconvenience, especially when the cheapest remaining valid window is only marginally better than now.
Related tool
Use the practical view next
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Reminder
These guides are practical and estimate-focused. They are not personalised tariff advice, and they do not replace a full bill comparison.