How much does a dishwasher cost to run?
Updated August 2026 · average residential rates
Quick answer: a dishwasher (1,200–1,800 W during heated cycles) costs about 23.7¢ per hour to run at the US average rate. With one cycle/day (~1 h heated), that's 23.7¢/day, $7.19/month and $86.36/year — using ~1.4 kWh a day. Your state's rate can move this from $4.77 to $17.92 monthly.
Run your own numbers
1,200–1,800 W during heated cycles · default assumes one cycle/day (~1 h heated)
Uses about 1.4 kWh/day at 15.6¢/kWh (Texas). National average would be $7.19/month.
Dishwasher cost by state
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15.6¢/kWh | 21.8¢ | $6.64 |
| Alaska | 24.9¢/kWh | 34.9¢ | $10.60 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢/kWh | 21.3¢ | $6.47 |
| Arkansas | 12.7¢/kWh | 17.8¢ | $5.41 |
| California | 31.8¢/kWh | 44.5¢ | $13.53 |
| Colorado | 15.3¢/kWh | 21.4¢ | $6.51 |
| Connecticut | 32.3¢/kWh | 45.2¢ | $13.75 |
| Delaware | 16.8¢/kWh | 23.5¢ | $7.15 |
| District of Columbia | 17.6¢/kWh | 24.6¢ | $7.49 |
| Florida | 15.1¢/kWh | 21.1¢ | $6.43 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢/kWh | 19.9¢ | $6.04 |
| Hawaii | 42.1¢/kWh | 58.9¢ | $17.92 |
| Idaho | 11.6¢/kWh | 16.2¢ | $4.94 |
| Illinois | 16.4¢/kWh | 23.0¢ | $6.98 |
| Indiana | 15.7¢/kWh | 22.0¢ | $6.68 |
| Iowa | 13.7¢/kWh | 19.2¢ | $5.83 |
| Kansas | 14.3¢/kWh | 20.0¢ | $6.09 |
| Kentucky | 13.1¢/kWh | 18.3¢ | $5.58 |
| Louisiana | 12.1¢/kWh | 16.9¢ | $5.15 |
| Maine | 25.6¢/kWh | 35.8¢ | $10.90 |
| Maryland | 18.1¢/kWh | 25.3¢ | $7.70 |
| Massachusetts | 31.2¢/kWh | 43.7¢ | $13.28 |
| Michigan | 19.4¢/kWh | 27.2¢ | $8.26 |
| Minnesota | 15.1¢/kWh | 21.1¢ | $6.43 |
| Mississippi | 13.6¢/kWh | 19.0¢ | $5.79 |
| Missouri | 12.6¢/kWh | 17.6¢ | $5.36 |
| Montana | 12.8¢/kWh | 17.9¢ | $5.45 |
| Nebraska | 12.1¢/kWh | 16.9¢ | $5.15 |
| Nevada | 15.4¢/kWh | 21.6¢ | $6.55 |
| New Hampshire | 25.2¢/kWh | 35.3¢ | $10.73 |
| New Jersey | 19.6¢/kWh | 27.4¢ | $8.34 |
| New Mexico | 14.6¢/kWh | 20.4¢ | $6.21 |
| New York | 24.6¢/kWh | 34.4¢ | $10.47 |
| North Carolina | 14.1¢/kWh | 19.7¢ | $6.00 |
| North Dakota | 11.2¢/kWh | 15.7¢ | $4.77 |
| Ohio | 16.3¢/kWh | 22.8¢ | $6.94 |
| Oklahoma | 12.2¢/kWh | 17.1¢ | $5.19 |
| Oregon | 14.8¢/kWh | 20.7¢ | $6.30 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.4¢/kWh | 25.8¢ | $7.83 |
| Rhode Island | 30.4¢/kWh | 42.6¢ | $12.94 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢/kWh | 20.6¢ | $6.26 |
| South Dakota | 12.6¢/kWh | 17.6¢ | $5.36 |
| Tennessee | 13.2¢/kWh | 18.5¢ | $5.62 |
| Texas | 15.6¢/kWh | 21.8¢ | $6.64 |
| Utah | 11.7¢/kWh | 16.4¢ | $4.98 |
| Vermont | 21.6¢/kWh | 30.2¢ | $9.19 |
| Virginia | 14.6¢/kWh | 20.4¢ | $6.21 |
| Washington | 12.3¢/kWh | 17.2¢ | $5.23 |
| West Virginia | 14.8¢/kWh | 20.7¢ | $6.30 |
| Wisconsin | 17.2¢/kWh | 24.1¢ | $7.32 |
| Wyoming | 11.8¢/kWh | 16.5¢ | $5.02 |
FAQ
How much electricity does a dishwasher use?+
A typical dishwasher draws 1,200–1,800 W during heated cycles. At one cycle/day (~1 h heated), that's about 1.4 kWh per day.
How much does a dishwasher cost to run per month?+
About $7.19 per month at the US average residential rate of 16.9¢/kWh — ranging from roughly $4.77 in North Dakota to $17.92 in Hawaii.
Is it expensive to leave a dishwasher on?+
Running it costs about 23.7¢ per hour at average rates. Multiply by your actual hours — and check your state's rate above, since electricity prices vary almost 4× across the US.