United States Kitchen
How much does it cost to run a dishwasher?
A dishwasher is rated 1,200 to 2,400 watts, but what matters is energy per cycle: most of it goes into heating water and the drying element. A normal cycle on a modern machine uses about 0.8 to 1.8 kWh.
One load of a dishwasher uses about 1.2 kWh and costs about 22 cents in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. At 1 load a day that is about 22 cents a day, $6.63 a month and $79.60 a year.
- Prices: EIA, August 2026, every state
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 1.2 kWh a day, 37 kWh a month, at 18.16 cents per kWh (US average).
The dial places the daily cost between a 50 watt fan and a 4.5 kW water heater on 2.5 hours a day.
One load of a dishwasher uses about 1.2 kWh and costs about 22 cents in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. At 1 load a day that is about 22 cents a day, $6.63 a month and $79.60 a year.
What this assumes
The default is 1.2 kWh per load, 1 load a day. Published figures for one load run from 0.8 to 1.8 kWh depending on the model and the setting. The energy label on the machine, or its manual, gives the figure for your model.
The price is the average residential rate in each state from the EIA's Electric Power Monthly for August 2026, released 23 October 2026. The next monthly table is due 24 November 2026. A fixed tariff, a time-of-use plan or a different payment method changes the rate, which is why the rate field is editable.
Cost to run a dishwasher in every state
Same 1.2 kWh per load, 1 a day, priced at each state's average residential rate for August 2026. Cheapest: Nevada at 12.72 cents per kWh. Dearest: Hawaii at 47.18. Change the numbers above and the table follows.
| State | Rate | Per load | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72c | 15 cents | 15 cents | $4.65 | $55.75 |
| Louisiana | 12.87c | 15 cents | 15 cents | $4.70 | $56.41 |
| North Dakota | 13.31c | 16 cents | 16 cents | $4.86 | $58.34 |
| Utah | 13.31c | 16 cents | 16 cents | $4.86 | $58.34 |
| Idaho | 13.37c | 16 cents | 16 cents | $4.88 | $58.60 |
| Tennessee | 13.42c | 16 cents | 16 cents | $4.90 | $58.82 |
| Nebraska | 13.54c | 16 cents | 16 cents | $4.95 | $59.35 |
| Kentucky | 13.8c | 17 cents | 17 cents | $5.04 | $60.49 |
| Arkansas | 14.37c | 17 cents | 17 cents | $5.25 | $62.98 |
| Mississippi | 14.43c | 17 cents | 17 cents | $5.27 | $63.25 |
| Wyoming | 14.43c | 17 cents | 17 cents | $5.27 | $63.25 |
| Washington | 14.63c | 18 cents | 18 cents | $5.34 | $64.12 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82c | 18 cents | 18 cents | $5.41 | $64.96 |
| North Carolina | 14.95c | 18 cents | 18 cents | $5.46 | $65.53 |
| Florida | 14.99c | 18 cents | 18 cents | $5.48 | $65.70 |
| Arizona | 15.05c | 18 cents | 18 cents | $5.50 | $65.96 |
| South Dakota | 15.15c | 18 cents | 18 cents | $5.53 | $66.40 |
| Kansas | 15.47c | 19 cents | 19 cents | $5.65 | $67.81 |
| Montana | 15.57c | 19 cents | 19 cents | $5.69 | $68.24 |
| South Carolina | 15.76c | 19 cents | 19 cents | $5.76 | $69.08 |
| Georgia | 15.9c | 19 cents | 19 cents | $5.81 | $69.69 |
| Texas | 15.91c | 19 cents | 19 cents | $5.81 | $69.73 |
| Oregon | 15.92c | 19 cents | 19 cents | $5.81 | $69.78 |
| Missouri | 16.02c | 19 cents | 19 cents | $5.85 | $70.22 |
| West Virginia | 16.31c | 20 cents | 20 cents | $5.96 | $71.49 |
| Alabama | 16.33c | 20 cents | 20 cents | $5.96 | $71.57 |
| New Mexico | 16.51c | 20 cents | 20 cents | $6.03 | $72.36 |
| Indiana | 17.02c | 20 cents | 20 cents | $6.22 | $74.60 |
| Iowa | 17.06c | 20 cents | 20 cents | $6.23 | $74.77 |
| Colorado | 17.17c | 21 cents | 21 cents | $6.27 | $75.26 |
| Minnesota | 17.2c | 21 cents | 21 cents | $6.28 | $75.39 |
| Virginia | 17.64c | 21 cents | 21 cents | $6.44 | $77.32 |
| Delaware | 18.7c | 22 cents | 22 cents | $6.83 | $81.96 |
| Illinois | 19.32c | 23 cents | 23 cents | $7.06 | $84.68 |
| Ohio | 19.38c | 23 cents | 23 cents | $7.08 | $84.94 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41c | 23 cents | 23 cents | $7.09 | $85.07 |
| Maryland | 21.4c | 26 cents | 26 cents | $7.82 | $93.80 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77c | 26 cents | 26 cents | $7.95 | $95.42 |
| Michigan | 22.99c | 28 cents | 28 cents | $8.40 | $100.77 |
| Vermont | 23.84c | 29 cents | 29 cents | $8.71 | $104.49 |
| Connecticut | 24.51c | 29 cents | 29 cents | $8.95 | $107.43 |
| New Jersey | 24.61c | 30 cents | 30 cents | $8.99 | $107.87 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98c | 31 cents | 31 cents | $9.49 | $113.87 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64c | 33 cents | 33 cents | $10.10 | $121.15 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18c | 34 cents | 34 cents | $10.29 | $123.51 |
| New York | 28.65c | 34 cents | 34 cents | $10.46 | $125.57 |
| Alaska | 29.41c | 35 cents | 35 cents | $10.74 | $128.90 |
| California | 29.75c | 36 cents | 36 cents | $10.87 | $130.39 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48c | 37 cents | 37 cents | $11.13 | $133.59 |
| Maine | 32.11c | 39 cents | 39 cents | $11.73 | $140.74 |
| Hawaii | 47.18c | 57 cents | 57 cents | $17.23 | $206.79 |
Rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, residential sector, August 2026, preliminary. All rates with the year-on-year change.
How a dishwasher uses electricity
Eco cycles run longer at lower temperatures and use the least energy. Heavy and sanitize cycles use the most. Heated dry adds 0.3 to 0.5 kWh, air dry adds nothing.
In the US, if the machine is connected to a hot water supply, part of the heating cost moves to your water heater (gas or electric) and does not show up here.
Ways to cut the cost
- Run full loads on eco.
- Skip heated dry and crack the door open at the end.
- Scrape, do not pre-rinse.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to run a dishwasher per load?
About 1.2 kWh on a normal cycle. At 18 cents that is about 22 cents a load, at 26p about 32p a load.
Is a dishwasher cheaper than washing by hand?
Usually, yes, when run full. A modern dishwasher uses 10 to 15 litres of water a cycle. Washing the same dishes under a running hot tap uses several times that, and heating that water costs more than the machine does.
Other kitchen costs
More in the US
Sources
The electricity price on this page is read from the data file that also lists the release it came from. The wattage range is a published typical range, not a measurement of your appliance.