Dishwasher Running Cost: $50/Year With State-by-State Breakdown
Written and checked with AI using the references below. This is not human expert review.
Quick answer
An ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher costs about $50 per year to run. That figure is based on normal use and average national energy prices. Your real cost depends on how often you run it and your local power rate. Rates range from about 12 cents per kWh in Louisiana to 48 cents in Hawaii. Using heated dry also adds to your bill.
The $50-per-Year Baseline and What It Covers
ENERGY STAR, the U.S. EPA’s efficiency certification program, states that a standard-size certified dishwasher costs about $50 per year to run. That figure is based on typical household use and a national average electricity price. It covers the electricity the machine draws to heat water, run the pump, and dry dishes. It does not include the cost of detergent, rinse aid, or the water itself, and it applies specifically to ENERGY STAR certified models. Older or non-certified machines may cost more, but no comparable dollar figure appears in the available evidence for those models.
To put $50 per year in perspective: that works out to roughly $4 per month. If you run the dishwasher once a day, the implied cost per cycle is around 14 cents at the national average rate. Note: this per-cycle figure is illustrative, derived by dividing $50 by the number of days in a year. The underlying kWh per cycle is not stated in the source, so treat this as a rough planning estimate only.
How Your Electricity Rate Changes the Number
The $50 figure uses a national average electricity price. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the U.S. residential average was 18.31 cents per kWh in July 2026. But rates vary sharply by state, and that variation directly shifts your dishwasher’s annual cost up or down.
| State | Rate (cents/kWh) |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | 48.00 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49 |
| California | 33.61 |
| U.S. average | 18.31 |
| Texas | 15.88 |
| Louisiana | 12.72 |
| North Dakota | 13.41 |
Hawaii has one of the highest electricity rates in the country. Its rate is well above the national average. So a dishwasher that costs $50 a year at the national average rate could cost much more there. Louisiana has one of the lowest rates, so households there would pay less. The EIA data above is from July 2026, and rates change each billing period. Check your own utility bill for the current rate in your area.
A Transparent Formula for Your Own Estimate
If you want to calculate your own annual dishwasher electricity cost, use this framework:
- Find the dishwasher’s annual energy use in kWh on its yellow EnergyGuide label.
- Find your electricity rate on your utility bill. It is listed in cents per kWh. Look for the supply or generation charge. That is the charge for the electricity itself. Delivery fees and taxes are listed separately, so don’t just divide your total bill by the kWh used.
- Multiply: Annual kWh × (rate in cents ÷ 100) = annual electricity cost in dollars.
For example (illustrative, using assumed inputs): if the EnergyGuide label shows 270 kWh per year and your rate is 20 cents per kWh, the calculation is 270 × 0.20 = $54 per year. Adjust the kWh and rate figures with your own numbers for a personalized result.
Reading the EnergyGuide Label to Compare Models
Every dishwasher sold in the U.S. must carry a yellow EnergyGuide label. The label shows how much energy the appliance uses and how it compares to similar models. It also shows an estimated annual operating cost, but that estimate uses a national average energy price, not your local rate. Your actual cost depends on how you use the appliance and your local energy price.
When shopping, use the label’s kWh figure rather than the dollar estimate, then multiply by your own rate using the formula above. This gives a more accurate picture than the label’s printed cost. You can find the label inside the appliance door or on the manufacturer’s website if it is not visible on the unit. Understanding which household costs are fixed and which vary can help you decide how much weight to give the annual operating cost when comparing models.
Dishwasher vs. Hand Washing: The Cost Comparison
ENERGY STAR states that switching from hand washing to a certified dishwasher can cut utility bills by about $220 per year, saving $3,300 over the machine’s lifetime. It also reports that a certified dishwasher saves 8,400 gallons of water per year compared to hand washing. ENERGY STAR is a government program. It has an interest in promoting certified products, so treat these numbers as a general guide, not a precise promise for your home.
The water savings matter for your total running cost because water and sewer charges appear on your utility bill. The excerpts do not provide a dollar figure for the water cost per cycle, so this article cannot give a precise combined electricity-plus-water cost. If you want to estimate it, check your water bill for the rate per gallon or per hundred cubic feet (ccf), then ask your dishwasher’s manufacturer for the gallons-per-cycle figure.
Habits That Reduce What You Actually Pay
Two simple changes can lower your dishwasher’s running cost without buying a new machine.
- Run full loads. ENERGY STAR notes that dishwashers use about the same amount of energy and water regardless of how many dishes are inside. A half-empty load wastes the same electricity as a full one, so waiting until the machine is full cuts your cost per dish in half.
- Skip the pre-rinse. Rinsing dishes under the tap before loading them adds water and energy use. Modern certified dishwashers and detergents are designed to handle food residue. Just scrape solids into the trash and load. If dishes sit overnight, use the dishwasher’s rinse-hold feature, which uses far less water than hand rinsing.
A third option, if your machine has it, is turning off the heated dry cycle and letting dishes air dry. Heated drying uses extra electricity. The exact amount is not known from the available information, but skipping it is a simple way to cut energy use.
Putting the Dishwasher Cost in Your Household Budget
At roughly $50 per year for a certified model, the dishwasher is one of the smaller appliance line items in a household electricity budget. The bigger variables in your monthly utility bill are heating, cooling, and water heating. If you are building a detailed household budget, the dishwasher’s annual cost is easy to estimate. Use the EnergyGuide kWh figure and multiply it by your current electricity rate. A step-by-step monthly budget can help you slot this and other utility costs into the right category.
If you are comparing the cost of running your current dishwasher against buying a new efficient model, factor in the purchase price alongside the annual savings. The $220-per-year savings figure from ENERGY STAR compares a certified dishwasher to hand washing. Savings from swapping one dishwasher for another will be smaller. The exact amount depends on the two specific models you are comparing. Check the EnergyGuide labels of both machines and use the formula above to calculate the difference at your local rate.
Frequently asked questions
Does the $50-per-year figure include water costs?
No. The ENERGY STAR $50-per-year figure covers electricity only. Water and sewer charges are separate. The excerpts do not provide a dollar figure for water cost per cycle, so you would need your water rate and the machine's gallons-per-cycle spec from the manufacturer to add that component.
How much does it cost to run a dishwasher in a high-rate state like Hawaii?
Hawaii's residential electricity rate was 48.00 cents per kWh in July 2026, compared to the U.S. average of 18.31 cents. Because the rate is higher, your annual dishwasher cost will be proportionally higher than the $50 ENERGY STAR baseline. Use the EnergyGuide kWh figure and multiply by your actual Hawaii rate for a precise estimate.
Is it cheaper to hand wash dishes than to use a dishwasher?
No. Switching from hand washing to a certified dishwasher can cut utility bills by about $220 per year and saves 8,400 gallons of water annually. Treat these as directional figures, but the direction is clear: a modern efficient dishwasher costs less than hand washing.
Does running a half-empty dishwasher cost less than a full load?
No. ENERGY STAR states that dishwashers use about the same amount of energy and water regardless of how many dishes are inside. Running a half-empty load wastes the same electricity as a full one, so always wait for a full load to get the lowest cost per dish.
How do I find the actual energy use of my specific dishwasher model?
Check the yellow EnergyGuide label attached to the machine or inside the door. It shows annual energy use in kWh and an estimated operating cost. The cost estimate uses a national average rate, so multiply the kWh figure by your own local electricity rate for a more accurate personal estimate.
Sources
- Dishwashers · ENERGY STAR (energystar.gov)
- How To Use the EnergyGuide Label To Shop for Home Appliances · Consumer Advice (consumer.ftc.gov)
- Electric Power Monthly - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) · eia.gov
Written by AI; checked through automated evidence and editorial review. References retrieved October 11, 2026.
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