🍳 Kitchen
How Much Does a Dishwasher Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a dishwasher costs about $4.77 per month at typical usage — 5 uses/week at 1.2 kWh each.
Per use
$0.22
1.2 kWh per use
Per day
$0.16
5 uses/week at 1.2 kWh each
Per month
$4.77
26 kWh
Per year
$57.25
313 kWh
A dishwasher cycle uses roughly 1–1.5 kWh, most of it for heating water and drying. Running full loads on a normal cycle beats hand-washing on both water and energy for most households.
Calculate it for your home
Per use
$0.22
Per day
$0.16
Per month
$4.77
Per year
$57.25
Uses 26 kWh/month at 18.3¢ per kWh.
Cheapest and most expensive states
Monthly cost at typical usage, using each state's current average residential rate.
Cost in every state
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Per use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.7 | $0.15 | $3.31 | $39.73 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | $0.15 | $3.34 | $40.05 |
| Utah | 13.1 | $0.16 | $3.41 | $40.98 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | $0.16 | $3.49 | $41.92 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | $0.16 | $3.57 | $42.86 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | $0.16 | $3.57 | $42.86 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | $0.17 | $3.60 | $43.17 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | $0.17 | $3.60 | $43.17 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | $0.17 | $3.73 | $44.74 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | $0.17 | $3.75 | $45.05 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | $0.17 | $3.75 | $45.05 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | $0.17 | $3.78 | $45.36 |
| Washington | 14.7 | $0.18 | $3.83 | $45.99 |
| Florida | 15.0 | $0.18 | $3.91 | $46.93 |
| Montana | 15.0 | $0.18 | $3.91 | $46.93 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | $0.18 | $3.96 | $47.55 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | $0.18 | $3.99 | $47.87 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | $0.18 | $4.01 | $48.18 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | $0.18 | $4.01 | $48.18 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | $0.19 | $4.04 | $48.49 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | $0.19 | $4.12 | $49.43 |
| Texas | 15.9 | $0.19 | $4.14 | $49.74 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | $0.19 | $4.17 | $50.06 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | $0.19 | $4.17 | $50.06 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | $0.19 | $4.20 | $50.37 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | $0.19 | $4.20 | $50.37 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | $0.20 | $4.25 | $51.00 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | $0.20 | $4.27 | $51.31 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | $0.20 | $4.35 | $52.25 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | $0.20 | $4.43 | $53.19 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | $0.21 | $4.56 | $54.75 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.21 | $4.59 | $55.06 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | $0.22 | $4.82 | $57.88 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | $0.23 | $4.98 | $59.76 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | $0.23 | $5.00 | $60.07 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.23 | $5.08 | $61.01 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | $0.26 | $5.58 | $66.95 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | $0.26 | $5.65 | $67.89 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | $0.28 | $6.02 | $72.27 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | $0.29 | $6.20 | $74.46 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | $0.29 | $6.31 | $75.71 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | $0.30 | $6.57 | $78.84 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | $0.30 | $6.57 | $78.84 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | $0.32 | $6.93 | $83.22 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.34 | $7.37 | $88.54 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | $0.35 | $7.50 | $90.10 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.36 | $7.79 | $93.54 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | $0.37 | $7.95 | $95.42 |
| Maine | 32.4 | $0.39 | $8.44 | $101 |
| California | 33.6 | $0.40 | $8.76 | $105 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $0.58 | $12.51 | $150 |
How to lower the cost
- Skip heated dry — air-dry or crack the door and save roughly a third of the cycle's energy.
- Run full loads; a half-full cycle costs the same as a full one.
- If your utility has time-of-use rates, the delay-start button is free money.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a dishwasher use?
A typical dishwasher uses about 1.2 kWh per use. At 5 uses per week, that's roughly 26 kWh per month.
How much does one use of a dishwasher cost?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh, each use costs about $0.22. That ranges from $0.15 in Louisiana to $0.58 in Hawaii.
How much does a dishwasher cost to run per month?
With typical usage (5 uses/week at 1.2 kWh each), expect about $4.77 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $3.31 in Louisiana up to $12.51 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a dishwasher use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: roughly 3% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption at typical usage. Noticeable, but not a bill-driver on its own.