Dishwasher Cost Calculator: How Much Does a Load Cost?

The short answer

A standard ENERGY STAR dishwasher, rated 240 kWh a year or less, uses about 1.12 kWh a load including its hot water, about 20 cents at the U.S. average electricity rate (18.16¢, August 2026). At 4 loads a week that's $42.31 a year; at one a day, $74.04. An older model at the 307 kWh federal maximum costs $54.12 a year at 4 loads a week.

The same dishwasher in every state

A 240 kWh dishwasher, 4 loads a week, at each state's average rate (August 2026).

How it works

The formula

Assumptions

• The EnergyGuide kWh comes from DOE's dishwasher test (appendix C1): 215 cycles a year, counting the machine, its drying and the hot water it uses, heated electrically.
• ENERGY STAR caps standard dishwashers at 240 kWh a year and 3.2 gallons a cycle (since July 2023); the federal maximum is 307 kWh and 5.0 gallons.
• The label's yearly figure includes a little standby power; we spread the whole figure across loads, so the cost a load is an estimate that runs slightly high if you run many loads and slightly low if you run few.
• With a gas water heater your electricity use is lower than shown, since the hot water is heated with gas instead; the total depends on your gas price.

Worked example: an ENERGY STAR dishwasher

Ways to cut the cost

• Run full loads: unless your model has a half-load setting or load sensor, a cycle uses about the same energy however full the racks are.
• Air-dry instead of heated dry where your model allows it.
• Check the label when you replace one: the kWh a year is on the yellow EnergyGuide tag.