How much does it cost to run a dishwasher? ($6.12/mo)
Running a dishwasher costs about $6.12 / month
($0.20/day at 1 h/day, $0.17/kWh).
($0.20/day at 1 h/day, $0.17/kWh).
Running cost calculator
Per hour—
Per day—
Per month—
Per year—
Energy/mo—
Most of a dishwasher's energy goes to heating water and the drying cycle, not the pump that sprays it.
Cost at different electricity rates
| Electricity rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.10/kWh | $0.12 | $3.60 | $43.80 |
| $0.15/kWh | $0.18 | $5.40 | $65.70 |
| $0.20/kWh | $0.24 | $7.20 | $87.60 |
| $0.25/kWh | $0.30 | $9.00 | $109.50 |
| $0.30/kWh | $0.36 | $10.80 | $131.40 |
| $0.40/kWh | $0.48 | $14.40 | $175.20 |
Cost over time
| Per hour of use | $0.20 |
| Per day (1 h) | $0.20 |
| Per month | $6.12 |
| Per year | $74.46 |
How to spend less running a dishwasher
- Cut the hours: A dishwasher at 1 h/day runs about $6.12/month — trimming one hour saves roughly $6.12/month.
- Right-size the job: a lid, eco mode or a smaller appliance for small portions all trim the cook.
- Upgrade efficiency: a newer dishwasher near 1,200 W uses far less than an old 1,500 W one.
- Kill standby: a smart plug or timer removes the ~1 W it draws even when off.
Want the raw figure? See how many watts a dishwasher uses.
FAQ
How many watts does a dishwasher use?
About 1200-1500 watts, mostly for heating water and the heated dry cycle.
How can I cut dishwasher running costs?
Use eco mode and air-dry instead of heated dry to skip the most power-hungry step.