Energy costs · October 2026 prices
How much does it cost to run a dishwasher?
A typical dishwasher uses about 1,800 watts, so it costs about 34¢ an hour to run at the U.S. average electricity price of 19.0¢ per kWh (October 2026). Used one 1-hour cycle, five times a week, that is about $6.84 a month, or $82.08 a year.
Key figures
- 1,200–2,400 Wtypical wattage (U.S. Department of Energy)
- 34¢per hour at 19.0¢/kWh
- $6.84per month, used one 1-hour cycle, five times a week
- 36.0 kWhper month at that use
A dishwasher draws most of its power while heating water and drying. The DOE notes that the heated drying feature greatly increases energy use. Running full loads and choosing air-dry instead of heated dry lowers the cost per cycle.
Cost by region
| Region | Price per kWh | Per hour | Per month (one 1-hour cycle, five times a week) | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. average | 19.0¢ | 34¢ | $6.84 | $82.08 |
| Northeast | 26.6¢ | 48¢ | $9.58 | $114.91 |
| Midwest | 19.3¢ | 35¢ | $6.95 | $83.38 |
| South | 16.2¢ | 29¢ | $5.83 | $69.98 |
| West | 20.1¢ | 36¢ | $7.24 | $86.83 |
Cost per hour in every state (August 2026)
| State | ¢ per kWh | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.3¢ | 29¢ | $5.88 |
| Alaska | 29.4¢ | 53¢ | $10.59 |
| Arizona | 15.1¢ | 27¢ | $5.42 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | 26¢ | $5.17 |
| California | 29.8¢ | 54¢ | $10.71 |
| Colorado | 17.2¢ | 31¢ | $6.18 |
| Connecticut | 24.5¢ | 44¢ | $8.82 |
| Delaware | 18.7¢ | 34¢ | $6.73 |
| District of Columbia | 26.0¢ | 47¢ | $9.35 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | 27¢ | $5.40 |
| Georgia | 15.9¢ | 29¢ | $5.72 |
| Hawaii | 47.2¢ | 85¢ | $16.98 |
| Idaho | 13.4¢ | 24¢ | $4.81 |
| Illinois | 19.3¢ | 35¢ | $6.96 |
| Indiana | 17.0¢ | 31¢ | $6.13 |
| Iowa | 17.1¢ | 31¢ | $6.14 |
| Kansas | 15.5¢ | 28¢ | $5.57 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | 25¢ | $4.97 |
| Louisiana | 12.9¢ | 23¢ | $4.63 |
| Maine | 32.1¢ | 58¢ | $11.56 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | 39¢ | $7.70 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | 55¢ | $10.97 |
| Michigan | 23.0¢ | 41¢ | $8.28 |
| Minnesota | 17.2¢ | 31¢ | $6.19 |
| Mississippi | 14.4¢ | 26¢ | $5.19 |
| Missouri | 16.0¢ | 29¢ | $5.77 |
| Montana | 15.6¢ | 28¢ | $5.61 |
| Nebraska | 13.5¢ | 24¢ | $4.87 |
| Nevada | 12.7¢ | 23¢ | $4.58 |
| New Hampshire | 27.6¢ | 50¢ | $9.95 |
| New Jersey | 24.6¢ | 44¢ | $8.86 |
| New Mexico | 16.5¢ | 30¢ | $5.94 |
| New York | 28.7¢ | 52¢ | $10.31 |
| North Carolina | 15.0¢ | 27¢ | $5.38 |
| North Dakota | 13.3¢ | 24¢ | $4.79 |
| Ohio | 19.4¢ | 35¢ | $6.98 |
| Oklahoma | 14.8¢ | 27¢ | $5.34 |
| Oregon | 15.9¢ | 29¢ | $5.73 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.8¢ | 39¢ | $7.84 |
| Rhode Island | 28.2¢ | 51¢ | $10.14 |
| South Carolina | 15.8¢ | 28¢ | $5.67 |
| South Dakota | 15.2¢ | 27¢ | $5.45 |
| Tennessee | 13.4¢ | 24¢ | $4.83 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | 29¢ | $5.73 |
| Utah | 13.3¢ | 24¢ | $4.79 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | 43¢ | $8.58 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | 32¢ | $6.35 |
| Washington | 14.6¢ | 26¢ | $5.27 |
| West Virginia | 16.3¢ | 29¢ | $5.87 |
| Wisconsin | 19.4¢ | 35¢ | $6.99 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | 26¢ | $5.19 |
State prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, residential customers.
Running cost calculator
Cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh (the DOE formula). The wattage on your appliance’s label or in its manual gives the most accurate result; appliances that cycle on and off (heaters with a thermostat, dehumidifiers) use less than their rated wattage.
Compared with other appliances
| Appliance | Cost per hour of use |
|---|---|
| Dishwashers | 34¢ |
| Clothes dryers | 65¢ |
| Hair dryers | 29¢ |
| Space heaters | 29¢ |
| Electric kettles | 29¢ |
| Clothes irons | 27¢ |
| Toaster ovens | 23¢ |
| Vacuum cleaners | 23¢ |
| Toasters | 21¢ |
More about dishwashers
- Dishwashers: models and list prices
- Safety: 9 CPSC recalls since 2010 mention dishwashers or similar products. Search recalls
- Running costs of other appliances
Sources: electricity prices from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price Data, “Electricity per kWh” (about the data); U.S. Department of Energy typical wattages (Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use, Virginia Cooperative Extension BSE-301NP, developed with DOE, 2020). Cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh. Your own price per kWh, including delivery charges and taxes, is on your electricity bill.