Kitchen · Michigan
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dishwasher in Michigan?
The short answer
Each load in a dishwasher costs about $0.35 in Michigan (1.50 kWh per load). At 5 loads a week, that adds up to $7.51 a month, or $90.14 a year.
The estimate uses Michigan’s average residential electricity price of 23.1¢/kWh from EIA (July 2026) — 26% above the national average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Dishwasher cost by number of loads in Michigan
| Usage | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 load/week | 6.5 | $0.05 | $1.50 | $18.03 |
| 3 loads/week | 19.6 | $0.15 | $4.51 | $54.09 |
| 5 loads/week | 32.6 | $0.25 | $7.51 | $90.14 |
| 7 loads/week | 45.6 | $0.35 | $10.52 | $126 |
| 10 loads/week | 65.2 | $0.49 | $15.03 | $180 |
| 14 loads/week | 91.3 | $0.69 | $21.04 | $252 |
Michigan vs other states
At typical use, a dishwasher costs $90.14 a year in Michigan — $97.57 less than in Hawaii and $40.40 more than in Louisiana.
Michigan has the 13th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Michigan electricity rates · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in Michigan
23.1¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +12.2% 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 Michigan?
A typical load uses about 1.50 kWh, which costs $0.35 at Michigan’s average rate of 23.1¢/kWh. An efficient model can cost as little as $0.21 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 Michigan that costs $7.51.
Is it expensive to run a dishwasher in Michigan?
Michigan has the 13th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 23.1¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running a dishwasher here costs about $90.14 a year at typical use, compared with $71.61 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in Michigan right now?
The average residential electricity rate in Michigan was 23.1¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 12.2% 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 Michigan
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).