Kitchen · Alabama
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dishwasher in Alabama?
The short answer
A typical dishwasher uses about 1.50 kWh per load, which costs $0.25 per load in Alabama — about $5.35 a month at 5 loads a week.
Alabama’s average residential rate was 16.4¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 10% below the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Dishwasher cost by number of loads in Alabama
| Usage | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 load/week | 6.5 | $0.04 | $1.07 | $12.83 |
| 3 loads/week | 19.6 | $0.11 | $3.21 | $38.48 |
| 5 loads/week | 32.6 | $0.18 | $5.35 | $64.14 |
| 7 loads/week | 45.6 | $0.25 | $7.48 | $89.79 |
| 10 loads/week | 65.2 | $0.35 | $10.69 | $128 |
| 14 loads/week | 91.3 | $0.49 | $14.97 | $180 |
Alabama vs other states
At typical use, a dishwasher costs $64.14 a year in Alabama — $124 less than in Hawaii and $14.39 more than in Louisiana.
Alabama has the 24th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Alabama electricity rates · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in Alabama
16.4¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +3.0% from a year earlier.
How to lower the cost of running a dishwasher
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.
- 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 per load to run a dishwasher in Alabama?
A typical load uses about 1.50 kWh, which costs $0.25 at Alabama’s average rate of 16.4¢/kWh. An efficient model can cost as little as $0.15 per load.
How many kWh does a dishwasher use per month?
At 5 loads a week, a typical dishwasher uses about 32.6 kWh a month. In Alabama that costs $5.35.
Is it expensive to run a dishwasher in Alabama?
Alabama has the 24th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 16.4¢/kWh — close to the middle of the pack. Running a dishwasher here costs about $64.14 a year at typical use, compared with $71.61 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in Alabama right now?
The average residential electricity rate in Alabama was 16.4¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 3.0% from a year earlier.
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.
Dishwasher costs in nearby states
Other appliances in Alabama
Cheapest and priciest states
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.
- Default usage for dishwasher: 5 loads a week. Typical power 1,800W.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).