U.S. residential electricity EIA data: July 2026 US average 18.3¢/kWh Updated
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Kitchen · California

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dishwasher in California?

The short answer

Each load in a dishwasher costs about $0.50 in California (1.50 kWh per load). At 5 loads a week, that adds up to $10.95 a month, or $131 a year.

The estimate uses California’s average residential electricity price of 33.6¢/kWh from EIA (July 2026) — 84% above the national average.

Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated

Dishwasher cost by number of loads in California

Cost at 33.6¢/kWh, the California average (EIA, Jul 2026)
UsagekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 load/week 6.5 $0.07 $2.19 $26.29
3 loads/week 19.6 $0.22 $6.57 $78.86
5 loads/week 32.6 $0.36 $10.95 $131
7 loads/week 45.6 $0.50 $15.34 $184
10 loads/week 65.2 $0.72 $21.91 $263
14 loads/week 91.3 $1.01 $30.67 $368

California vs other states

At typical use, a dishwasher costs $131 a year in California — $56.28 less than in Hawaii and $81.69 more than in Louisiana.

California has the 2nd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. California price per kWh · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in California

33.6¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +2.9% 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 California?

A typical load uses about 1.50 kWh, which costs $0.50 at California’s average rate of 33.6¢/kWh. An efficient model can cost as little as $0.30 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 California that costs $10.95.

Is it expensive to run a dishwasher in California?

California has the 2nd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 33.6¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running a dishwasher here costs about $131 a year at typical use, compared with $71.61 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in California right now?

The average residential electricity rate in California was 33.6¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 2.9% 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

Cheapest and priciest states

Sources & method