Quick answer: A modern dishwasher uses about 1 to 1.5 kWh of electricity per cycle. A typical 1.2 kWh load costs about $0.22 at the US average rate of 18.2¢ per kWh. Five loads a week (about 22 a month) comes to roughly $4.80 a month.
Most of a dishwasher’s electricity goes on heating water and, if you use it, the heated dry. Change those two settings and the cost per load drops noticeably.
Dishwasher cost per cycle
| Cycle | Energy per load | US per load | US per month (22 loads) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eco or light cycle, air dry | 0.90 kWh | $0.16 | $3.60 |
| Normal cycle, air dry | 1.2 kWh | $0.22 | $4.80 |
| Normal cycle with heated dry | 1.5 kWh | $0.27 | $6.01 |
| Heavy or sanitize cycle with heated dry | 1.9 kWh | $0.35 | $7.61 |
The hidden cost: hot water
In the US most dishwashers are connected to the hot water supply and also heat water internally. A modern model uses roughly 3 to 5 gallons per cycle. If your water heater is electric, the hot water it supplies can add roughly 0.5 kWh per load, about $0.09. With a gas water heater, that part shows up on your gas bill instead.
Calculate your own dishwasher
The calculator below treats one cycle as one hour at the average power. Set the days to the number of loads you run each month.
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How to make each load cheaper
- Use the eco cycle. It takes longer because it washes at a lower temperature, which is exactly why it uses less energy.
- Skip heated dry. Choose air dry or open the door a little at the end of the cycle.
- Run it full. A half-empty load costs almost as much as a full one.
- Scrape, don’t rinse. Rinsing plates under a running hot tap can use more energy than the dishwasher itself.
- Run it off-peak if you are on a time-of-use plan, using the delay-start button.
- Keep the filter clean so you don’t need to rewash dishes.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to use a dishwasher or wash by hand?
An efficient dishwasher run with a full load usually uses less hot water, and so less energy, than washing the same load by hand under a running hot tap. Washing by hand in a bowl with the tap off narrows the gap.
How many watts does a dishwasher use?
While its heating element is on, typically 1,200 to 1,500 W. The pump and controls use far less, so the average over a cycle is lower.
Does the eco setting really save money if it runs longer?
Yes. The cost depends on energy, not time, and heating less water to a lower temperature is where the saving comes from.
A real example: a family of four
A family running the dishwasher once a day, five days a week, uses about 312 kWh a year at 1.2 kWh per cycle: about $56.78 in the US or £82.12 in the UK.
Switching most of those loads to the eco programme, which typically uses 20 to 30% less energy, saves about $14.20 a year in the US. Running the machine only when it is completely full, instead of half full twice, saves even more.
Hand washing versus the dishwasher
Washing by hand under a running hot tap can use far more hot water than a modern dishwasher, which uses as little as 3 to 4 gallons (about 12 to 15 litres) per cycle. Studies for ENERGY STAR and in Europe have found that a full dishwasher usually uses less water and less energy than hand washing the same dishes, unless you wash in a filled bowl with very little hot water.
More questions readers ask
Should I rinse dishes before loading them?
No. Scrape food off instead. Pre-rinsing under the hot tap can use more water and energy than the dishwasher itself, and modern detergents work better with some soil.
Is it worth turning off the heated dry?
Yes. Using air dry or opening the door at the end of the cycle cuts the energy used per load, often by around 15%.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Energy and ENERGY STAR guidance on dishwasher energy and water use.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook.
- Our methodology.