Cost to run

How much does a dishwasher cost to run?

Dishwasher electricity cost varies with cycle length, water-heating and drying behavior, and how often the machine runs. These scenarios isolate appliance electricity and do not include water or household water-heater fuel.

Content reviewed 2026-07-15 · Rates published 2026-09-24 · methodology appliance-energy-1.0.0 · data vintage 2026-07-ytd

Using the 15 cycles per month assumptions below, electricity costs about $0.09 per day of use and $1.30 for 15 days of use at the Texas average rate. Adjust the calculator for your equipment and schedule.

Example costs using the Texas state-average rate

These are generated examples for a consistent location. Enter your own ZIP and usage below for a more relevant state-average estimate.

Scenario	Assumption	kWh/month	Cost/day of use	Monthly range	Cost at 365 days/year
One cycle	One one-hour dishwasher cycle 1200 W × 1 h/day × 0.45 duty × 1 days × 1 unit(s)	0.54	$0.09	$0.06–$0.13	$31.65
15 cycles per month	One-hour cycles, fifteen times per month 1200 W × 1 h/day × 0.45 duty × 15 days × 1 unit(s)	8.10	$0.09	$0.86–$1.92	$31.65
30 longer cycles	Ninety-minute cycles, thirty times per month 1200 W × 1.5 h/day × 0.55 duty × 30 days × 1 unit(s)	29.70	$0.16	$3.16–$7.05	$58.03

Wattage, runtime and duty cycle below are illustrative assumptions, not measurements of a particular model. Annual figures assume use on all 365 days; monthly figures use each scenario's stated number of days.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.B. Data vintage 2026-07-ytd. State-average pricing is not your exact utility tariff.

Calculate your own usage

Your inputs

ZIP code

Used to pick your state’s average electricity rate. We don’t need your street address.

ApplianceHow manyHours used per day (optional)

Leave blank to use a typical default for this appliance.

Rated watts (from the appliance label)Duty cycle (0–1; share of time drawing full power)Days per month

Your estimate — a range, confidence level, and the sources behind it — will appear here.

What the dishwasher estimate includes

The model applies an effective duty cycle to the dishwasher's rated watts across the cycle duration. It represents the appliance's combined electrical operation as one simplified load.

What can change cost per cycle?

Cycle selection, onboard water heating, heated drying, motor operation, and cycle duration can change electricity use. The number of cycles per month then scales that per-cycle estimate.

Water and water-heating costs are separate

This page does not add the cost of water or energy used by a separate household water heater. It also cannot determine actual cycle energy from the appliance name alone.

Frequently asked questions

Does this include the cost of water?

No. It estimates dishwasher electricity only. Water charges and energy from a separate household water heater are outside this model.

How can I estimate one dishwasher cycle?

Use one day per month, enter the cycle duration as runtime, and enter the rated watts or a measured average when available.

Does heated dry change electricity use?

It can, but this simplified model does not identify individual cycle features. You can model a higher-use scenario with a longer runtime or higher duty cycle.

Compare options and check your assumptions

Time-of-Use Electricity Cost: Worked Example

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