How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dishwasher?

Calculate dishwasher running costs. Each cycle costs $0.10-0.25 in electricity plus water. Monthly cost is typically $3-8.

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Quick Answer

Running a dishwasher costs $0.10-0.25 per cycle in electricity (1-2 kWh), plus about $0.05-0.15 for water. Running daily costs $5-12 per month. Energy Star dishwashers use 12% less energy and 30% less water.

Key Takeaways

Modern dishwashers use 1.
Heated dry uses as much energy as the wash cycle—air dry instead.
Running half-empty loads doubles your per-dish cost.

Explanation

Modern dishwashers use 1.5-2 kWh per cycle, including water heating. The heating element for drying adds significant energy—skip it and let dishes air dry to save 15-50% of the cycle's energy.

Water usage is 3-5 gallons for efficient models vs 6-10 gallons for older units. Most water cost comes from heating it. Using the 'eco' or 'energy saver' cycle significantly reduces both water and energy use.

Dishwashers are often more efficient than hand washing when fully loaded. Hand washing dishes for a family can use 20+ gallons of hot water vs 4-5 gallons in an efficient dishwasher.

Things to Know

Heated dry uses as much energy as the wash cycle—air dry instead.
Running half-empty loads doubles your per-dish cost.
Hot water starting temperature affects energy use—set water heater to 120°F.