The invention provides a method for setting washing programs based on preset electric energy and a washing machine. The method for setting washing programs based on preset electric energy comprises following steps: (1) starting the washing machine, pre-setting electric energy by a user and automatically weighing by the washing machine and determining clothes weight; (2) distributing electric energy into washing, rinsing, dehydration programs; setting washing, rinsing and dehydration time and washing parameters on the basis of clothes weight; starting to wash, blanch and dehydrate; (3) calculating value of electricity consumed in a real-time manner, correcting remaining electric energy and correcting washing time and rotation-stop proportion; (4) stopping programs when value of electricity consumed reaches the pre-set electric energy. The method for setting washing programs based on preset electric energy and the washing machine have following beneficial effects: based on electric energy set by a user, washing programs can be automatically set; according to clothes weight, electricity can be distributed to washing, blanching and dehydration programs such that electric energy can be automatically determined by the user; and user's needs are satisfied.