Dishwasher Electricity Cost Calculator
A dishwasher's electricity cost is modest per cycle but adds up with daily use — and most of the energy goes not to the machine's motor but to heating water. A typical dishwasher draws around 1,200 watts during a cycle, with the heated-dry option adding more. This calculator estimates the cost per load and per month so you can see what running the dishwasher really costs, and where the savings hide.
watts × hours × duty ÷ 1000
at your state rate
this appliance
Results update live as you type. For planning and field-check estimates — always verify against applicable standards and equipment ratings.
What actually drives dishwasher electricity use
A dishwasher's energy consumption is dominated by two things: water heating and the heated drying cycle. The pump motor and control electronics are minor draws by comparison. A 1,200 W rated dishwasher running a 90-minute normal cycle doesn't draw 1,200 W throughout — the heating element runs in bursts, but when running a full cycle at 100% duty (meaning the full cycle time), it averages about 1.2 kWh per load.
Switching to air-dry or eco-dry mode eliminates the electric drying element entirely and typically reduces per-cycle energy use by 15–20%. Running the dishwasher only when full (rather than half-full) maximizes the efficiency per dish cleaned. For households with a water heater set at 120°F, the dishwasher's internal booster heater does less supplemental work, which also saves a small amount per cycle.
Frequently asked questions
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