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

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

The short answer

Each load in a dishwasher costs about $0.28 in Delaware (1.50 kWh per load). At 5 loads a week, that adds up to $6.02 a month, or $72.27 a year.

The estimate uses Delaware’s average residential electricity price of 18.5¢/kWh from EIA (July 2026) — about the same as the national average.

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

Dishwasher cost by number of loads in Delaware

Cost at 18.5¢/kWh, the Delaware average (EIA, Jul 2026)
UsagekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 load/week 6.5 $0.04 $1.20 $14.45
3 loads/week 19.6 $0.12 $3.61 $43.36
5 loads/week 32.6 $0.20 $6.02 $72.27
7 loads/week 45.6 $0.28 $8.43 $101
10 loads/week 65.2 $0.40 $12.05 $145
14 loads/week 91.3 $0.55 $16.86 $202

Delaware vs other states

At typical use, a dishwasher costs $72.27 a year in Delaware — $115 less than in Hawaii and $22.53 more than in Louisiana.

Delaware has the 19th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Delaware price per kWh · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Delaware

18.5¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +11.5% 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 Delaware?

A typical load uses about 1.50 kWh, which costs $0.28 at Delaware’s average rate of 18.5¢/kWh. An efficient model can cost as little as $0.17 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 Delaware that costs $6.02.

Is it expensive to run a dishwasher in Delaware?

Delaware has the 19th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 18.5¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running a dishwasher here costs about $72.27 a year at typical use, compared with $71.61 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Delaware right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Delaware was 18.5¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 11.5% 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