How much does it cost to run a dishwasher?
A dishwasher drawing 1,800 watts, used 1 hour a day, uses about 1.80 kWh per day and costs about $0.35 per day, $10.64 per month, and $127.52 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.4¢/kWh. Enter your own wattage, hours, and state below for an exact figure.
Estimates only — based on typical wattages and average state rates, not your actual bill.
What drives the cost
Most of a dishwasher's electricity goes to heating water and, if enabled, heated drying. The machine itself is efficient; modern dishwashers generally use less hot water than washing the same dishes by hand under a running tap.
Cost at different daily usage
Same dishwasher at 1,800 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 min/day | 0.90 kWh | $0.17 | $5.32 | $63.76 |
| 1 h/day | 1.80 kWh | $0.35 | $10.64 | $127.52 |
| 2 h/day | 3.60 kWh | $0.70 | $21.27 | $255.05 |
| 4 h/day | 7.20 kWh | $1.40 | $42.54 | $510.09 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 1 h/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 1,200 W | 1.20 kWh | $0.23 | $7.09 |
| Typical | 1,800 W | 1.80 kWh | $0.35 | $10.64 |
| High-draw model | 2,400 W | 2.40 kWh | $0.47 | $14.18 |
Cost by state
A dishwasher at 1,800 W for 1 h/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $0.30 | $9.19 | $110.18 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $0.51 | $15.47 | $185.47 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $0.27 | $8.34 | $100.06 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $0.26 | $7.87 | $94.35 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $0.60 | $18.22 | $218.45 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $0.29 | $8.85 | $106.17 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $0.49 | $15.00 | $179.82 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $0.35 | $10.62 | $127.33 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $0.46 | $13.92 | $166.88 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $0.27 | $8.31 | $99.67 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $0.29 | $8.68 | $104.07 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $0.94 | $28.49 | $341.64 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $0.22 | $6.77 | $81.14 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $0.43 | $13.07 | $156.69 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $0.33 | $9.94 | $119.25 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.25 | $7.75 | $92.90 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $0.27 | $8.29 | $99.40 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $0.27 | $8.21 | $98.42 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $0.25 | $7.75 | $92.97 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $0.52 | $15.69 | $188.10 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $0.39 | $11.93 | $143.03 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $0.52 | $15.79 | $189.35 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $0.40 | $12.06 | $144.61 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $0.31 | $9.29 | $111.36 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $0.29 | $8.85 | $106.17 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $0.25 | $7.50 | $89.88 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $0.26 | $8.04 | $96.38 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $0.24 | $7.45 | $89.29 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $0.24 | $7.45 | $89.35 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $0.49 | $14.97 | $179.56 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $0.42 | $12.75 | $152.88 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $0.25 | $7.74 | $92.77 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.54 | $16.40 | $196.64 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $0.27 | $8.27 | $99.14 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $0.24 | $7.46 | $89.42 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.35 | $10.70 | $128.25 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $0.24 | $7.33 | $87.91 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $0.29 | $8.91 | $106.89 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $0.39 | $11.81 | $141.58 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $0.53 | $16.14 | $193.55 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $0.29 | $8.87 | $106.30 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $0.28 | $8.62 | $103.35 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $0.26 | $7.93 | $95.07 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $0.30 | $9.01 | $108.01 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $0.23 | $7.10 | $85.15 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $0.45 | $13.64 | $163.53 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.32 | $9.65 | $115.70 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $0.27 | $8.19 | $98.22 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $0.30 | $9.21 | $110.38 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $0.36 | $10.82 | $129.69 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $0.27 | $8.11 | $97.24 |
How to cut the cost
- Skip heated dry and open the door at the end — residual heat finishes the job for free.
- Run full loads; a half-empty cycle uses nearly the same water and energy.
- Use eco or normal rather than heavy unless dishes genuinely need it.
- Scrape rather than pre-rinse; pre-rinsing wastes hot water the machine would have used anyway.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
Is a dishwasher cheaper than washing by hand?
Usually yes, if you run full loads. Hand washing under a continuously running hot tap typically uses more hot water than a modern dishwasher cycle.
How do you calculate what a dishwasher costs to run?
Multiply its wattage by the hours it runs per day, divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your electricity rate. For a dishwasher: 1,800 W × 1 h ÷ 1,000 = 1.80 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $0.35 per day.
How many watts does a dishwasher use?
Typically 1,800 watts, with most models falling between 1,200 and 2,400 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.