How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dishwasher?
A typical home dishwasher draws 1,800 watts while its heating element is on, and a normal cycle runs about an hour — roughly 1.80 kWh per load. At the 2024 US average rate of $0.16/kWh, that is about $0.29 per cycle. Running 5 loads a week works out to roughly $6.24 a month or $75 a year. Most of that goes to heating water, not the motor.
Want the cost for a different appliance or your exact rate? Use the appliance cost calculator or compare against other kitchen appliances on the efficiency rankings.
The Formula
Cost per cycle = (watts ÷ 1,000) × cycle hours × price per kWh
Dividing watts by 1,000 converts to kilowatts. Multiplying by the cycle length in hours gives kilowatt-hours (kWh) — the unit your utility bills you in. Multiply by your price per kWh and you have the cost per load.
Worked example (1,800W dishwasher, 1-hour normal cycle, $0.16/kWh): (1,800 ÷ 1,000) × 1.0 × 0.16 = 1.8 kW × 1 hour × $0.16 = $0.29 per cycle.
Cost by Loads per Week
For a 1,800W dishwasher running 1-hour normal cycles at $0.16/kWh (the US average). Most US households run 4-5 loads a week.
| Loads per week | kWh per week | Cost per week | Cost per month | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 5.40 | $0.86 | $3.74 | $45 |
| 5 (typical household) | 9.00 | $1.44 | $6.24 | $75 |
| 7 | 12.60 | $2.02 | $8.73 | $105 |
| 10 | 18.00 | $2.88 | $12.47 | $150 |
Cost by Dishwasher Type
Not all dishwashers use the same energy per cycle. This table compares common types at 5 loads/week at $0.16/kWh. An Energy Star unit uses about 12-20% less than the federal standard.
| Type | kWh / cycle | Cost / cycle | Cost / month | Cost / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact / drawer dishwasher | 0.80 | $0.13 | $2.77 | $33 |
| Energy Star standard | 1.20 | $0.19 | $4.16 | $50 |
| Standard (1.8 kW baseline) | 1.50 | $0.24 | $5.20 | $62 |
| Older / heated dry default | 2.00 | $0.32 | $6.93 | $83 |
kWh/cycle figures are typical real-world usage for the normal cycle. The eco cycle typically uses 10-25% less; heavy/pots-and-pans cycles use 20-40% more.
Monthly Cost by Electricity Rate
Monthly dishwasher cost depends on your rate and how many loads a week you run. This table assumes a 1.5 kWh/cycle standard dishwasher (the baseline above).
| Rate ($/kWh) | 3 loads/wk | 5 loads/wk | 7 loads/wk | 10 loads/wk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0.10 | $1.95 | $3.25 | $4.55 | $6.50 |
| $0.13 | $2.53 | $4.22 | $5.91 | $8.44 |
| $0.16 (US avg) | $3.12 | $5.20 | $7.27 | $10.39 |
| $0.20 | $3.90 | $6.50 | $9.09 | $12.99 |
| $0.30 | $5.85 | $9.74 | $13.64 | $19.48 |
Most of the per-cycle energy heats the water. If your dishwasher draws from an electric water heater, the “dishwasher cost” effectively includes that heating share.
Why Dishwashers Cost What They Do
It's mostly water heating
About 80% of a dishwasher cycle's electricity goes into heating water — from the cold or warm inlet up to 120-140°F for washing. The pump and motor only draw 100-200W on their own. That is why eco cycles save real money: they wash at lower temperatures.
Heated dry adds 15-20% for little benefit
The heated dry cycle runs the heating element for 30-45 minutes at the end of the wash. Modern detergents with rinse aid leave dishes clean enough that opening the door and letting them air-dry produces the same result. Skipping heated dry is the single easiest savings on a dishwasher.
Full loads are dramatically cheaper per dish
A dishwasher uses about the same energy whether it has 12 plates or 60 pieces of tableware. Running half-empty loads means you pay the full per-cycle cost for far fewer dishes. Wait until it's full before running.
Tips to Lower Your Cost
Always run full loads
Cycle cost is the same whether half empty or full. Running 2 half-loads costs twice as much as 1 full load with the same dishes.
Use the eco cycle
Lower water temperature and longer wash time cut energy 10-25% per cycle with no visible difference in results.
Skip the heated dry
Pop the door open at the end of the cycle. Dishes air-dry in 15-20 minutes and you save the 15-20% the heated-dry element would have used.
Don't pre-rinse
Modern detergents handle scraped-but-unrinsed dishes fine. Pre-rinsing wastes hot water from the tap — see our energy savings guide.
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Ways to Cut Dishwasher Costs
The biggest lever is reducing the water-heating share of each cycle — eco mode, skipping heated dry, and modern detergents that work at lower temperatures all do that.
Energy Star Dishwasher
12%+ less electricity
Energy Star dishwashers use at least 12% less energy and 30% less water than the federal standard — typically $35-$55 a year saved versus a pre-2013 model.
Eco-Cycle Dishwasher Detergent
Works at low temps
Modern enzyme detergents clean well at lower water temperatures, so you can use the eco cycle without sacrificing results. Cheap way to cut the per-load cost.
Rinse Aid
Skip the heated dry
Rinse aid breaks the surface tension so water sheets off dishes instead of beading. Lets you open the door and air-dry instead of running the heated dry cycle.
Smart Plug Energy Monitor
Measure actual draw
A plug-in monitor tracks how many kWh your dishwasher actually uses per cycle — useful for comparing modes (eco vs heavy) and verifying detergent changes.
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Related Guides
Cost to Run an Electric Water Heater
Most of the dishwasher's cost is hot water — see the tank math
Cost to Run a Washing Machine
Hot vs cold wash makes a 5-10× difference per load
Most Efficient Appliances
See which appliances cost the most to run
Electricity Rates by State
Find your state's average rate
How to Save on Energy Bills
Practical tips by room with savings
Energy Star Guide
Is upgrading worth the cost?
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to run a dishwasher per load?
A typical 1,800W dishwasher running a 1-hour normal cycle uses about 1.80 kWh of electricity. At the 2024 US average rate of $0.16/kWh, that is roughly $0.29 per load. A typical household runs 4-5 loads a week, which works out to about $4.99-$6.24 a month. About 80% of that electricity goes to heating the water inside the dishwasher — the motor and pumps use very little.
Is running the dishwasher cheaper than washing by hand?
Yes, by a wide margin, if you run full loads. A modern Energy Star dishwasher uses about 3 gallons of water per cycle vs 20-30 gallons for hand washing the same amount of dishes. And because the dishwasher heats water more efficiently than a faucet running at a tap, total energy cost is typically 50% less. The catch is full loads — running a half-empty dishwasher loses that advantage.
Does the eco cycle actually save money?
Yes — typically 10-25% per load. The eco cycle uses lower water temperature and longer wash time. Because heating water is the biggest energy cost in a dishwasher, lower temp = lower bill. The longer cycle uses slightly more pump time but the savings on water heating win out. Skip the heated dry too — pop the door open and let dishes air-dry to save another 15-20%.
How much does the heated dry cycle add?
About 15-20% of the total cycle cost — roughly $0.04-$0.05 per load at the US average rate. Heated dry runs the heating element for 30-45 minutes at the end of the cycle. Most dishes are clean and hot enough that simply opening the door at the end lets them air-dry in 15-20 minutes. Rinse aid helps by reducing water spots so air-drying looks just as good.
Should I run the dishwasher at night?
Only if you have a time-of-use electric rate. In TOU markets (California, parts of the Northeast, some Midwest utilities), off-peak rates can be 2-3× cheaper than peak. Running the dishwasher at night or during midday solar hours can cut per-cycle cost in half. On a flat-rate plan it makes no difference — the dishwasher uses the same kWh whenever you run it.