How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dishwasher?
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.
The internal water heater in most modern dishwashers boosts incoming water to 140-150°F for sanitizing, even if your home water heater is set to 120°F. This built-in booster means you do not need to raise your water heater temperature for clean dishes, saving energy across all other hot water uses in your home.
Cycle selection dramatically affects energy consumption. A heavy or pots-and-pans cycle uses 2-2.5 kWh and extra water, while a light or quick wash cycle uses 0.8-1.2 kWh. Choosing the appropriate cycle for the actual soil level of your dishes rather than defaulting to normal or heavy can save 30-40% of electricity per load.
Pre-rinsing dishes before loading wastes both water and energy. Modern dishwasher detergents contain enzymes specifically designed to break down food residue, and the dishwasher's soil sensor adjusts water usage based on how dirty the water becomes. Scraping food scraps into the trash without pre-rinsing saves 2-6 gallons of hot water per load.
Running the dishwasher during the coolest part of the day reduces the strain on your air conditioner. The heated dry cycle radiates significant heat into the kitchen, forcing the AC to work harder in summer. Using the air-dry setting or cracking the door open after the final rinse eliminates this heat output entirely, saving both dishwasher and AC electricity.
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.