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Category: Kitchen Topic: Kitchen Troubleshooting & Safety Type: Guide

How Much Does a Dishwasher Cost Per Load?

A standard-size dishwasher using 240 kWh per year works out to about 1.12 kWh, or 21 cents of electricity, per standardized cycle at 18.44 cents per kWh. Water, sewer, water-heater fuel, cycle choice, and household use can change total cost.

Updated 5 min read Researched Not hands-on tested
A real built-in dishwasher standing open with its racks visible
A real household dishwasher. The photograph identifies the appliance type, not its annual kWh or cycle efficiency. Photo by Teepetersen via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

Use the dishwasher’s annual kWh and a cycle count:

Electricity cost per cycle =
(annual kWh) / (annual cycles)
×
rate

The current ENERGY STAR dishwasher test procedure uses 215 cycles per year.[1]

Quick answer: A standard-size dishwasher using 240 kWh per year works out to about 1.12 kWh, or 21 cents of electricity, per standardized cycle at 18.44 cents per kWh. Water, sewer, water-heater fuel, cycle choice, and household use can change total cost.

Worked electricity example

Suppose:

  • Annual energy use: 240 kWh
  • Annual standardized cycles: 215
  • Electricity price: $0.1844 per kWh

Energy per test cycle:

240 ÷ 215 = 1.116  kWh

Electricity cost:

1.116 × $0.1844 = $0.206

About 21 cents per standardized cycle.

This is not a universal dishwasher price. A model with different annual kWh will produce a different result.

Find annual kWh

Look at:

  • EnergyGuide label
  • Manufacturer page
  • ENERGY STAR Product Finder
  • Exact model documentation

FTC requires EnergyGuide labels for dishwashers.[2][3]

Use the annual energy-use number rather than a guessed pump or heating-element wattage.

What the annual figure represents

Dishwashers use energy for:

  • Pumps
  • Controls
  • Water heating
  • Drying
  • Standby or low-power operation under the applicable test method

ENERGY STAR explains that DOE’s test procedure accounts for dishwasher energy use and uses 215 annual cycles in the current standardized calculation.[1]

Your household bills may divide costs among:

  • Electricity
  • Natural gas
  • Water
  • Sewer

That depends on the water heater and local billing structure.

The simple calculation above is an electricity estimate from annual kWh. It is not the total water-and-energy cost of dishwashing.

Annual household cost

If the model uses 240 kWh per year:

240 × $0.1844 = $44.26

That is about:

$44.26 ÷ 12 = $3.69  per month

Again, this is based on standardized annual use.

If your household runs 300 cycles per year, per-cycle energy may not remain exactly the standardized average because cycle selection and loading differ.

Why cycle length does not equal energy use

A three-hour cycle is not automatically more expensive than a one-hour cycle.

Modern dishwashers may:

  • Soak longer
  • Use lower-power pumping
  • Heat water intermittently
  • Use soil sensors
  • Use lower-temperature drying
  • Spend time waiting rather than drawing maximum power

Use model data or measured kWh rather than multiplying the largest wattage by the entire displayed duration.

Standard versus compact models

ENERGY STAR’s current maximum criteria are:

  • Standard: 240 kWh/year and 3.2 gallons/cycle
  • Compact: 155 kWh/year and 2.0 gallons/cycle[1]

A compact machine uses less per standardized year under those limits, but may hold fewer dishes. Repeated small loads can use more energy and water per dish.

Compare capacity and household loading, not only annual kWh.

Full loads

ENERGY STAR states that dishwashers use about the same amount of energy and water regardless of the number of dishes inside, so full loads improve efficiency per dish.[4]

Do not overload:

  • Spray arms must move.
  • Water must reach surfaces.
  • Detergent must circulate.
  • Items must not block the dispenser.

A failed overloaded load that must be washed twice is not efficient.

Scrape, do not pre-rinse

ENERGY STAR advises scraping food rather than rinsing dishes under running water before loading.[4]

Modern machines and detergents are designed to handle ordinary soil.

Follow the dishwasher and detergent instructions. Remove bones, large scraps, and materials that can damage the filter or pump.

Heated dry

If the model provides an air-dry or no-heat option, using it can reduce energy.

Actual savings depend on:

  • Model
  • Cycle
  • Room humidity
  • Rinse aid
  • Load material
  • Door-opening instructions

Plastic items may remain wetter.

Do not interrupt a sanitation cycle when sanitation is medically or operationally required.

Eco and sensor cycles

A soil-sensing or energy-saving cycle may reduce water or energy for suitable loads.

Use:

  • Heavy cycle for heavy soil
  • Normal or eco cycle for ordinary loads
  • Sanitize option when needed and supported

The cheapest cycle is the one that cleans the load correctly the first time.

Time-of-use pricing

If the utility has lower off-peak prices, a delayed-start dishwasher can cost less to run.

Use delayed operation only when:

  • Manufacturer permits it
  • The appliance is installed correctly
  • Leak protection is functioning
  • Building rules permit it
  • Noise is acceptable

Do not leave food-soiled dishes for unsafe or unsanitary periods merely to chase a rate difference.

Hand washing comparison

ENERGY STAR states that a new certified dishwasher can use less energy and water than hand washing under its comparison assumptions.[4]

Do not convert this into a guarantee for every household. Hand-washing technique, hot-water source, dishwasher model, load size, and local utility prices vary.

Frequently asked questions

How much electricity does one dishwasher cycle use?

Divide model-specific annual kWh by the test-cycle assumption. For current ENERGY STAR dishwasher calculations, 215 cycles per year is the standard basis.[1]

Does a longer cycle use more electricity?

Not necessarily. Longer cycles may use less power at any one time.

Is heated dry expensive?

It adds energy, but exact cost is model-specific. Use no-heat dry when appropriate and permitted.

Is it cheaper to run at night?

Only if your utility uses time-of-use pricing with a lower nighttime rate.

Does a half-full dishwasher cost half as much?

Usually no. ENERGY STAR says energy and water use are roughly similar regardless of load size.[4]

Sources reviewed

Source notes

  1. Dishwashers Key Product CriteriaENERGY STAR
  2. How To Use the EnergyGuide Label To Shop for Home AppliancesFederal Trade Commission
  3. Energy and Water Use Labeling for Consumer Products Under the Energy Policy and Conservation ActFederal Trade Commission
  4. DishwashersENERGY STAR
  5. DishwashersENERGY STAR

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