Kitchen · Iowa
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dishwasher in Iowa?
The short answer
Each load in a dishwasher costs about $0.24 in Iowa (1.50 kWh per load). At 5 loads a week, that adds up to $5.21 a month, or $62.53 a year.
Iowa’s average residential rate was 16.0¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 13% below the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Dishwasher cost by number of loads in Iowa
| Usage | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 load/week | 6.5 | $0.03 | $1.04 | $12.51 |
| 3 loads/week | 19.6 | $0.10 | $3.13 | $37.52 |
| 5 loads/week | 32.6 | $0.17 | $5.21 | $62.53 |
| 7 loads/week | 45.6 | $0.24 | $7.30 | $87.55 |
| 10 loads/week | 65.2 | $0.34 | $10.42 | $125 |
| 14 loads/week | 91.3 | $0.48 | $14.59 | $175 |
Iowa vs other states
At typical use, a dishwasher costs $62.53 a year in Iowa — $125 less than in Hawaii and $12.79 more than in Louisiana.
Iowa has the 24th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Iowa electricity rates · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in Iowa
16.0¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +4.4% 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 Iowa?
A typical load uses about 1.50 kWh, which costs $0.24 at Iowa’s average rate of 16.0¢/kWh. An efficient model can cost as little as $0.14 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 Iowa that costs $5.21.
Is it expensive to run a dishwasher in Iowa?
Iowa has the 24th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 16.0¢/kWh — close to the middle of the pack. Running a dishwasher here costs about $62.53 a year at typical use, compared with $71.61 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in Iowa right now?
The average residential electricity rate in Iowa was 16.0¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 4.4% 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 Iowa
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).