How much does it cost to run a dishwasher?
EIA data · June 2026About $6.46 a month at the U.S. average price of 18.34¢ per kilowatt-hour — but that figure moves a long way depending on where you live. Set your state below.
35.2 kWh a month at the U.S. average, 18.34¢/kWh for June 2026. Excludes fixed charges, taxes and time-of-use rates, which vary by utility and are on your bill.
Typical 1,200–2,400 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.
Each load is assumed to take 2 hours.
45% duty cycle applied — it draws power for part of that time.
A dishwasher sits mid-table at #29 of 88, which means something else in the house costs more. See whether kitchen or something else drives your bill.
Published figures for this appliance disagree by a wide margin. Why other sites price a dishwasher so differently.
How many watts a dishwasher uses
Most of a dishwasher’s draw is its internal water heater and heated-dry element, roughly 1,200–2,400 W while active. The pump and motor alone are only about 200 W.
- Low
- 1,200 W
- Typical
- 1,800 W
- High
- 2,400 W
What it costs across the country
Same appliance, same usage, different electricity price. Annual cost at 1,800 W and the default usage above.
| State | ¢/kWh | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 52.72 | $223 |
| California | 34.74 | $147 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $125 |
| New York | 29.49 | $125 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $81.05 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $67.32 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $63.78 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $56.47 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $55.96 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $55.37 |
Worth knowing
- Heating water is nearly the entire cost. Skipping heated dry and using the air-dry option is the single largest saving available on a dishwasher.
- A modern dishwasher generally uses less hot water than washing the same dishes by hand under a running tap.
- 'Eco’ cycles are longer but cheaper — they wash at a lower temperature for more time.
Other appliances
Prices are statewide residential averages for June 2026 from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. They exclude fixed monthly charges, taxes and time-of-use rates. See how these figures are calculated.