Kitchen · Virginia
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dishwasher in Virginia?
The short answer
Each load in a dishwasher costs about $0.26 in Virginia (1.50 kWh per load). At 5 loads a week, that adds up to $5.72 a month, or $68.63 a year.
Virginia’s average residential rate was 17.6¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 4% below the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Dishwasher cost by number of loads in Virginia
| Usage | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 load/week | 6.5 | $0.04 | $1.14 | $13.73 |
| 3 loads/week | 19.6 | $0.11 | $3.43 | $41.18 |
| 5 loads/week | 32.6 | $0.19 | $5.72 | $68.63 |
| 7 loads/week | 45.6 | $0.26 | $8.01 | $96.09 |
| 10 loads/week | 65.2 | $0.38 | $11.44 | $137 |
| 14 loads/week | 91.3 | $0.53 | $16.02 | $192 |
Virginia vs other states
At typical use, a dishwasher costs $68.63 a year in Virginia — $119 less than in Hawaii and $18.89 more than in Louisiana.
Virginia has the 20th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Virginia electricity rates · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in Virginia
17.6¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +11.2% 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 Virginia?
A typical load uses about 1.50 kWh, which costs $0.26 at Virginia’s average rate of 17.6¢/kWh. An efficient model can cost as little as $0.16 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 Virginia that costs $5.72.
Is it expensive to run a dishwasher in Virginia?
Virginia has the 20th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 17.6¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running a dishwasher here costs about $68.63 a year at typical use, compared with $71.61 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in Virginia right now?
The average residential electricity rate in Virginia was 17.6¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 11.2% 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 Virginia
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).