Kitchen · US average
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dishwasher?
The short answer
A typical dishwasher uses about 1.50 kWh per load, which costs $0.27 per load at the US average electricity rate — about $5.97 a month at 5 loads a week.
Based on the US average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026). Costs range from $4.15/month in Louisiana to $15.64/month in Hawaii — pick your state below for an exact figure.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Dishwasher running cost at the US average rate
| Usage | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 load/week | 6.5 | $0.04 | $1.19 | $14.32 |
| 3 loads/week | 19.6 | $0.12 | $3.58 | $42.96 |
| 5 loads/week | 32.6 | $0.20 | $5.97 | $71.61 |
| 7 loads/week | 45.6 | $0.27 | $8.35 | $100 |
| 10 loads/week | 65.2 | $0.39 | $11.94 | $143 |
| 14 loads/week | 91.3 | $0.55 | $16.71 | $200 |
Cost to run a dishwasher in every state
At 5 loads a week and each state’s average residential rate. Select a state for its full breakdown.
| Alabama | 16.4¢ | $0.25 | $5.35 | $64.14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 28.8¢ | $0.43 | $9.40 | $113 |
| Arizona | 15.4¢ | $0.23 | $5.01 | $60.15 |
| Arkansas | 14.3¢ | $0.21 | $4.67 | $56.04 |
| California | 33.6¢ | $0.50 | $10.95 | $131 |
| Colorado | 17.0¢ | $0.26 | $5.54 | $66.48 |
| Connecticut | 24.2¢ | $0.36 | $7.87 | $94.48 |
| Delaware | 18.5¢ | $0.28 | $6.02 | $72.27 |
| District of Columbia | 25.2¢ | $0.38 | $8.22 | $98.59 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | $0.23 | $4.90 | $58.78 |
| Georgia | 16.3¢ | $0.24 | $5.30 | $63.63 |
| Hawaii | 48.0¢ | $0.72 | $15.64 | $188 |
| Idaho | 13.7¢ | $0.21 | $4.47 | $53.69 |
| Illinois | 19.2¢ | $0.29 | $6.26 | $75.16 |
| Indiana | 16.7¢ | $0.25 | $5.45 | $65.43 |
| Iowa | 16.0¢ | $0.24 | $5.21 | $62.53 |
| Kansas | 15.3¢ | $0.23 | $4.98 | $59.72 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | $0.21 | $4.50 | $54.01 |
| Louisiana | 12.7¢ | $0.19 | $4.15 | $49.74 |
| Maine | 32.4¢ | $0.49 | $10.56 | $127 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | $0.32 | $6.98 | $83.73 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | $0.46 | $9.94 | $119 |
| Michigan | 23.1¢ | $0.35 | $7.51 | $90.14 |
| Minnesota | 17.5¢ | $0.26 | $5.69 | $68.24 |
| Mississippi | 14.5¢ | $0.22 | $4.74 | $56.86 |
| Missouri | 16.1¢ | $0.24 | $5.24 | $62.92 |
| Montana | 15.0¢ | $0.22 | $4.89 | $58.62 |
| Nebraska | 13.8¢ | $0.21 | $4.49 | $53.89 |
| Nevada | 12.8¢ | $0.19 | $4.16 | $49.94 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6¢ | $0.40 | $8.67 | $104 |
| New Jersey | 25.2¢ | $0.38 | $8.21 | $98.51 |
| New Mexico | 16.1¢ | $0.24 | $5.24 | $62.92 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.45 | $9.75 | $117 |
| North Carolina | 15.2¢ | $0.23 | $4.94 | $59.29 |
| North Dakota | 13.4¢ | $0.20 | $4.37 | $52.44 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.29 | $6.34 | $76.06 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4¢ | $0.22 | $4.68 | $56.12 |
| Oregon | 16.0¢ | $0.24 | $5.21 | $62.45 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $0.33 | $7.08 | $84.94 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $0.42 | $9.22 | $111 |
| South Carolina | 15.5¢ | $0.23 | $5.04 | $60.50 |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $0.23 | $5.01 | $60.11 |
| Tennessee | 13.7¢ | $0.21 | $4.47 | $53.62 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $0.24 | $5.18 | $62.10 |
| Utah | 13.1¢ | $0.20 | $4.28 | $51.31 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | $0.36 | $7.74 | $92.88 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.26 | $5.72 | $68.63 |
| Washington | 14.7¢ | $0.22 | $4.79 | $57.53 |
| West Virginia | 15.8¢ | $0.24 | $5.14 | $61.71 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1¢ | $0.29 | $6.21 | $74.54 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | $0.22 | $4.68 | $56.16 |
How much electricity does a dishwasher use?
A dishwasher uses about 1.5 kWh per load, mostly to heat water and dry the dishes.
Most of a dishwasher's electricity goes into heating water and running the heated-dry cycle; the pump and motor use comparatively little. A typical load uses around 1–2 kWh. ENERGY STAR models and eco cycles use less water and lower temperatures, and skipping heated dry can save around 15% per load. Running a full dishwasher generally uses less energy and water than washing the same dishes by hand.
Ways to cut the cost
- Only run it when it's full, and use the eco or energy-saver cycle.
- Turn off heated dry and let dishes air-dry with the door cracked open.
- Scrape instead of pre-rinsing under hot water.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a dishwasher per month?
At 5 loads a week, a typical dishwasher costs about $5.97 a month at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. Depending on your state, the same usage costs between $4.15 and $15.64.
How many watts does a dishwasher use?
Dishwashers typically draw 1,200W–2,400W, with 1,800W a common figure. A dishwasher uses about 1.5 kWh per load, mostly to heat water and dry the dishes.
Which state is cheapest to run a dishwasher in?
Louisiana is currently the cheapest at about $49.74 a year for typical use, and Hawaii the most expensive at about $188 a year.
Is it cheaper to use a dishwasher or wash by hand?
A full, efficient dishwasher typically uses less hot water — and therefore less energy — than washing the same load by hand under a running tap.
Related appliances
Sources & method
- Electricity rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly — average residential retail price, July 2026 (latest available). Retrieved .
- CO₂: EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 emissions rate of in-state power generation.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).