How much does it cost to run a dishwasher?

A dishwasher certified by ENERGY STAR costs about $15 to $45 a year to run at the US average residential electricity rate of $0.1856/kWh, based on 709 models we track. The class median is $44/yr. The cheapest to run is the Loch L1126 at about $15/yr, while the priciest models in the class run closer to $45/yr. Running cost in this class is driven mostly by place-setting capacity, water heating, and cycle length, covered in detail below.

What it costs

Across the 709 ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher models we track, annual running cost ranges from $15/yr to $45/yr, with a class median of $44/yr, all computed at the US average residential rate of $0.1856/kWh. That is a spread of $30 a year between the cheapest and priciest model we track, which over a typical decade-long appliance life is $300 of difference before the purchase price even enters the math.

What drives the running cost

Dishwashers use less water than handwashing in most cases, but their electricity use is driven by a few specific design choices:

• Place-setting capacity. A larger dishwasher heats more water per cycle, so bigger capacity generally means a higher annual energy figure, independent of how efficient the unit is.
• Water heating. Most dishwashers have a booster heater that raises incoming water to sanitizing temperature; this heating step, not the pump or motor, accounts for most of a cycle's electricity use.
• Cycle length and soil sensing. Models with soil sensors can shorten a cycle for lightly soiled loads, while heavy or sanitize cycles run longer and hotter.
• Drying method. Heated-dry cycles use a resistance element and cost more to run than air-dry or condensation-drying cycles, which rely on residual heat and a fan.

How to lower it

• Skip the heated-dry option and use air-dry or a rinse-aid instead; it is one of the largest single savings available on most dishwashers.
• Run full loads instead of half-empty ones, since a cycle heats roughly the same amount of water regardless of how many dishes are inside.
• Use eco or normal cycles rather than heavy or sanitize settings unless dishes are genuinely greasy or you need the sanitize certification.
• Skip pre-rinsing dishes under the tap; modern dishwashers are designed to handle scraped-off food, and pre-rinsing mostly adds water use without lowering the dishwasher's own cycle.

The cheapest dishwasher to run

These are the five cheapest dishwasher models to run among the ones we track, ranked by estimated dollars per year. See the full leaderboard for all 150 ranked.

Calculate your own

These figures assume the US average electricity rate. If your local rate is higher or lower, or you want to check a specific model's real annual kWh, use the running-cost calculator to swap in your own rate and see the yearly cost update live.