Dishwasher
How much electricity does a dishwasher use?
1,200–1,800 W while running · 1.0–1.5 kWh/cycle · $10–$22 per month
A dishwasher runs its pump for an hour but draws real power only when the element is heating water. Total energy lands around 1.0–1.5 kWh per normal cycle, with roughly 80% of that going into heating.
Cycle by cycle
- Eco / light: 0.7–1.0 kWh
- Normal: 1.0–1.5 kWh
- Heavy / pots: 1.5–2.2 kWh
- Heated dry on: adds 0.3–0.5 kWh
The heated dry setting
This is the easiest saving in the kitchen. Turning off heated dry and letting dishes air-dry — or opening the door at the end — removes roughly a quarter of the cycle's energy for no loss in cleanliness. Most machines have this as a checkbox.
Is it cheaper than hand washing?
Usually yes, and by a wide margin. A modern dishwasher uses about 11 litres per cycle; washing the same load by hand under a running tap can use 40–60 litres, and heating that water costs more than the dishwasher's element. The exception is washing two plates by hand — running a full dishwasher for that is wasteful.
Always run it full
The energy per cycle is nearly fixed, so the cost per dish falls as the load grows. A half-full dishwasher costs the same as a full one.
Frequently asked questions
How many watts does a dishwasher use?
1,200–1,800 W while running. The figure on the rating label is the maximum draw; actual use varies with settings, age and usage pattern.
How much does it cost to run a dishwasher per month?
With the defaults above it comes to the monthly figure shown in the calculator. At 16.5¢/kWh — the US residential average — that is a realistic middle estimate. Your own bill may be 30% lower or higher depending on state.
Is it cheaper to run a dishwasher at night?
Only if your utility offers a time-of-use plan and you avoid the 4pm–9pm peak window. On a flat-rate plan, the time of day makes no difference to the total.
Does the calculator account for real-world duty cycles?
Not automatically — you enter the effective hours yourself. For compressing appliances like refrigerators and AC units, enter the running watts and roughly the proportion of time the compressor is on, which is usually 30–50%.
Will a newer dishwasher actually save money?
Compare the kWh figure in the calculator against an Energy Star model's stated annual use. If the difference is a few hundred kWh a year, the payback on a replacement is usually long; if it is over 500 kWh, it is worth pricing out.