Cost to run a dishwasher

Most of a dishwasher's energy goes into heating water and drying, so the eco cycle and skipping heated dry make the biggest difference. Pick your state or enter your own rate to see what it costs you.

Official EIA data · August 2026

kWh per cycle

kWh

Cycles per week

The EnergyGuide label lists kWh per year based on 4 cycles a week; divide it by 208 for kWh per cycle. Standard ENERGY STAR models use about 270 kWh a year or less, including heating the water.

Electricity rate

EIA average residential price, August 2026. Your bill shows your exact rate.

Cost to run a dishwasher per month

$4.09

22.5 kWh at 18.16¢/kWh (U.S. average)

Per day: $0.13
Per year (same use every month): $49.10

Energy per year

270 kWh

if used like this all year

Typical home that uses it

112 kWh/yr

$20.34 a year · EIA RECS, U.S.

Full details Costs in every state, real-world usage, formula and tips

Cost to run a dishwasher in every state

For 4 uses a week at 1.3 kWh each, at each state's average residential electricity rate (August 2026, EIA). Click a state for more detail.

State	Rate	Per month	Per year
Nevada	12.72¢	$2.87	$34.39
Louisiana	12.87¢	$2.90	$34.80
North Dakota	13.31¢	$3.00	$35.99
Utah	13.31¢	$3.00	$35.99
Idaho	13.37¢	$3.01	$36.15
Tennessee	13.42¢	$3.02	$36.29
Nebraska	13.54¢	$3.05	$36.61
Kentucky	13.80¢	$3.11	$37.32
Arkansas	14.37¢	$3.24	$38.86
Mississippi	14.43¢	$3.25	$39.02
Wyoming	14.43¢	$3.25	$39.02
Washington	14.63¢	$3.30	$39.56
Oklahoma	14.82¢	$3.34	$40.07
North Carolina	14.95¢	$3.37	$40.42
Florida	14.99¢	$3.38	$40.53
Arizona	15.05¢	$3.39	$40.70
South Dakota	15.15¢	$3.41	$40.97
Kansas	15.47¢	$3.49	$41.83
Montana	15.57¢	$3.51	$42.10
South Carolina	15.76¢	$3.55	$42.62
Georgia	15.90¢	$3.58	$42.99
Texas	15.91¢	$3.59	$43.02
Oregon	15.92¢	$3.59	$43.05
Missouri	16.02¢	$3.61	$43.32
West Virginia	16.31¢	$3.68	$44.10
Alabama	16.33¢	$3.68	$44.16
New Mexico	16.51¢	$3.72	$44.64
Indiana	17.02¢	$3.84	$46.02
Iowa	17.06¢	$3.84	$46.13
Colorado	17.17¢	$3.87	$46.43
Minnesota	17.20¢	$3.88	$46.51
Virginia	17.64¢	$3.97	$47.70
Delaware	18.70¢	$4.21	$50.56
Illinois	19.32¢	$4.35	$52.24
Ohio	19.38¢	$4.37	$52.40
Wisconsin	19.41¢	$4.37	$52.48
Maryland	21.40¢	$4.82	$57.87
Pennsylvania	21.77¢	$4.91	$58.87
Michigan	22.99¢	$5.18	$62.16
Vermont	23.84¢	$5.37	$64.46
Connecticut	24.51¢	$5.52	$66.28
New Jersey	24.61¢	$5.55	$66.55
District of Columbia	25.98¢	$5.85	$70.25
New Hampshire	27.64¢	$6.23	$74.74
Rhode Island	28.18¢	$6.35	$76.20
New York	28.65¢	$6.46	$77.47
Alaska	29.41¢	$6.63	$79.52
California	29.75¢	$6.70	$80.44
Massachusetts	30.48¢	$6.87	$82.42
Maine	32.11¢	$7.24	$86.83
Hawaii	47.18¢	$10.63	$127.57

How much homes actually use, by region

Average annual electricity used by a dishwasher in homes that have one, from the EIA's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), and what that use costs at today's U.S. average rate.

Region	kWh per year	Cost per year
United States	112	$20.34
New England	120	$21.79
Middle Atlantic	113	$20.52
East North Central	115	$20.88
West North Central	120	$21.79
South Atlantic	110	$19.98
East South Central	112	$20.34
West South Central	106	$19.25
Mountain North	133	$24.15
Mountain South	103	$18.70
Pacific	108	$19.61

How the cost is calculated

kWh per use × uses per week × 52 ÷ 12 = kWh per month, then multiply by your rate.

How to lower the cost

Run it only when it is full.
Use the eco cycle and turn off heated dry, or crack the door open to let dishes air-dry.
Scrape plates instead of pre-rinsing them under hot water.

Quick answers 3 common questions

How much does it cost to run a dishwasher per month?

At the U.S. average residential rate of 18.16¢ per kWh (August 2026), 4 uses a week at 1.3 kWh each uses about 23 kWh and costs about $4.09 a month, or $49.10 a year if used the same way all year.

Where is it cheapest to run a dishwasher?

Electricity prices vary a lot by state. In August 2026, Nevada had the lowest average residential rate (12.72¢/kWh) and Hawaii the highest (47.18¢/kWh). The same use costs $2.87 a month in Nevada and $10.63 in Hawaii.

How much electricity does a dishwasher use in an average home?

According to the EIA's Residential Energy Consumption Survey, U.S. households that have a dishwasher used about 112 kWh a year for it in 2020. At today's average rate that is about $20.34 a year.

Sources

Last reviewed November 2, 2026. Rates refreshed automatically when EIA publishes a new month.

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See everything

These are estimates. State rates are EIA averages (total residential revenue ÷ kWh sold), so they include fixed monthly charges spread across usage; your own price per kWh, time-of-use rates and taxes can differ. Real appliance use depends on the model, settings, climate and habits.