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, $10.55 per month, and $126.54 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.3¢/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 19.3¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 min/day | 0.90 kWh | $0.17 | $5.28 | $63.27 |
| 1 h/day | 1.80 kWh | $0.35 | $10.55 | $126.54 |
| 2 h/day | 3.60 kWh | $0.69 | $21.11 | $253.08 |
| 4 h/day | 7.20 kWh | $1.39 | $42.21 | $506.15 |
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 | $7.04 |
| Typical | 1,800 W | 1.80 kWh | $0.35 | $10.55 |
| High-draw model | 2,400 W | 2.40 kWh | $0.46 | $14.07 |
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 | 16.4¢ | $0.30 | $8.99 | $107.75 |
| Alaska | 28.8¢ | $0.52 | $15.80 | $189.41 |
| Arizona | 15.4¢ | $0.28 | $8.43 | $101.05 |
| Arkansas | 14.3¢ | $0.26 | $7.85 | $94.15 |
| California | 33.6¢ | $0.60 | $18.42 | $220.82 |
| Colorado | 17.0¢ | $0.31 | $9.31 | $111.69 |
| Connecticut | 24.2¢ | $0.43 | $13.24 | $158.73 |
| Delaware | 18.5¢ | $0.33 | $10.13 | $121.41 |
| District of Columbia | 25.2¢ | $0.45 | $13.81 | $165.63 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | $0.27 | $8.24 | $98.75 |
| Georgia | 16.3¢ | $0.29 | $8.91 | $106.89 |
| Hawaii | 48.0¢ | $0.86 | $26.30 | $315.36 |
| Idaho | 13.7¢ | $0.25 | $7.52 | $90.21 |
| Illinois | 19.2¢ | $0.35 | $10.53 | $126.28 |
| Indiana | 16.7¢ | $0.30 | $9.17 | $109.92 |
| Iowa | 16.0¢ | $0.29 | $8.76 | $105.05 |
| Kansas | 15.3¢ | $0.27 | $8.37 | $100.32 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | $0.25 | $7.57 | $90.73 |
| Louisiana | 12.7¢ | $0.23 | $6.97 | $83.57 |
| Maine | 32.4¢ | $0.58 | $17.76 | $212.93 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | $0.39 | $11.73 | $140.66 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | $0.55 | $16.71 | $200.32 |
| Michigan | 23.1¢ | $0.41 | $12.63 | $151.44 |
| Minnesota | 17.4¢ | $0.31 | $9.56 | $114.65 |
| Mississippi | 14.5¢ | $0.26 | $7.97 | $95.53 |
| Missouri | 16.1¢ | $0.29 | $8.82 | $105.71 |
| Montana | 15.0¢ | $0.27 | $8.21 | $98.48 |
| Nebraska | 13.8¢ | $0.25 | $7.55 | $90.53 |
| Nevada | 12.8¢ | $0.23 | $7.00 | $83.90 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6¢ | $0.48 | $14.57 | $174.76 |
| New Jersey | 25.2¢ | $0.45 | $13.80 | $165.50 |
| New Mexico | 16.1¢ | $0.29 | $8.82 | $105.71 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.54 | $16.38 | $196.44 |
| North Carolina | 15.2¢ | $0.27 | $8.31 | $99.60 |
| North Dakota | 13.4¢ | $0.24 | $7.35 | $88.10 |
| Ohio | 19.4¢ | $0.35 | $10.66 | $127.79 |
| Oklahoma | 14.3¢ | $0.26 | $7.86 | $94.28 |
| Oregon | 16.0¢ | $0.29 | $8.75 | $104.92 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $0.39 | $11.90 | $142.70 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $0.51 | $15.50 | $185.87 |
| South Carolina | 15.5¢ | $0.28 | $8.48 | $101.64 |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $0.28 | $8.42 | $100.98 |
| Tennessee | 13.7¢ | $0.25 | $7.51 | $90.07 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $0.29 | $8.70 | $104.33 |
| Utah | 13.1¢ | $0.24 | $7.19 | $86.20 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | $0.43 | $13.01 | $156.04 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.32 | $9.62 | $115.30 |
| Washington | 14.7¢ | $0.26 | $8.06 | $96.64 |
| West Virginia | 15.8¢ | $0.28 | $8.65 | $103.67 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1¢ | $0.34 | $10.44 | $125.22 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | $0.26 | $7.87 | $94.35 |
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 19.3¢/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 19.3¢/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.