Kitchen · Wisconsin
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dishwasher in Wisconsin?
The short answer
A typical dishwasher uses about 1.50 kWh per load, which costs $0.29 per load in Wisconsin — about $6.21 a month at 5 loads a week.
The estimate uses Wisconsin’s average residential electricity price of 19.1¢/kWh from EIA (July 2026) — 4% above the national average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Dishwasher cost by number of loads in Wisconsin
| Usage | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 load/week | 6.5 | $0.04 | $1.24 | $14.91 |
| 3 loads/week | 19.6 | $0.12 | $3.73 | $44.72 |
| 5 loads/week | 32.6 | $0.20 | $6.21 | $74.54 |
| 7 loads/week | 45.6 | $0.29 | $8.70 | $104 |
| 10 loads/week | 65.2 | $0.41 | $12.42 | $149 |
| 14 loads/week | 91.3 | $0.57 | $17.39 | $209 |
Wisconsin vs other states
At typical use, a dishwasher costs $74.54 a year in Wisconsin — $113 less than in Hawaii and $24.79 more than in Louisiana.
Wisconsin has the 18th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Wisconsin electricity rates · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in Wisconsin
19.1¢/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 Wisconsin?
A typical load uses about 1.50 kWh, which costs $0.29 at Wisconsin’s average rate of 19.1¢/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 Wisconsin that costs $6.21.
Is it expensive to run a dishwasher in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has the 18th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 19.1¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running a dishwasher here costs about $74.54 a year at typical use, compared with $71.61 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in Wisconsin right now?
The average residential electricity rate in Wisconsin was 19.1¢ 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 Wisconsin
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).