kitchen · 1200W typical
Running a dishwasher costs about $5.94/month.
That's the typical dishwasher at 1200W, run 2 hours a day at the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh. Change any of those and the number moves — use the calculator below to see yours.
Estimated cost
A dishwasher draws full power only while the thermostat/compressor is running — about 1.0 effective hours at 1200W across your 2-hour window.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same dishwasher can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
daily run
$5.94
per month
one full cycle per day averaging ~1.5 kWh
every other day
$2.97
per month
run 3-4 times per week
heavy family
$8.91
per month
two cycles/day in large households
Where you live
$10.76 spread between the cheapest and priciest states.
Same appliance, same hours of use, different zip code — the monthly cost varies this much.
| State | Rate | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 41.2¢ | $14.83 | $180.46 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $11.30 | $137.53 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $11.09 | $134.90 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $10.33 | $125.71 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $10.04 | $122.20 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $8.86 | $107.75 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $8.75 | $106.43 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $8.03 | $97.67 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $7.96 | $96.80 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $7.74 | $94.17 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $6.95 | $84.53 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $6.88 | $83.66 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $6.62 | $80.59 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $6.52 | $79.28 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $6.41 | $77.96 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $6.26 | $76.21 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $6.19 | $75.34 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $6.08 | $74.02 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $5.98 | $72.71 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $5.87 | $71.39 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $5.69 | $69.20 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $5.65 | $68.77 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $5.62 | $68.33 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $5.54 | $67.45 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $5.47 | $66.58 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $5.47 | $66.58 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $5.44 | $66.14 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $5.33 | $64.82 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $5.33 | $64.82 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $5.29 | $64.39 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $5.29 | $64.39 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $5.26 | $63.95 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $5.11 | $62.20 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $5.08 | $61.76 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $5.00 | $60.88 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $4.90 | $59.57 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $4.82 | $58.69 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $4.79 | $58.25 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $4.75 | $57.82 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $4.72 | $57.38 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $4.72 | $57.38 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $4.57 | $55.63 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $4.46 | $54.31 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $4.39 | $53.44 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $4.36 | $53.00 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $4.36 | $53.00 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $4.28 | $52.12 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $4.18 | $50.81 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $4.14 | $50.37 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $4.10 | $49.93 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $4.07 | $49.49 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $92.14/year difference across the wattage range.
Swapping a high-draw model for an efficient one pays for itself. Here's what that looks like annually at typical usage.
Most efficient
270W
$1.34 per month
$16.26 per year
Typical
1200W
$5.94 per month
$72.27 per year
High draw
1800W
$8.91 per month
$108.41 per year
When it hits hardest
year-round peak
Slight uptick during holidays and entertaining seasons.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Skip heated dry — air dry instead
Saves 15-50% per cycle
- 2
Run full loads only, use Eco mode for lightly soiled
Half as many cycles cut annual kWh 40-50%
- 3
Skip pre-rinsing — modern detergents work better on food debris
Saves 15+ gallons of hot water per load
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Bosch | SHPM78Z55N 800 Series | 1200W |
| Miele | G 7316 SCU | 1300W |
| KitchenAid | KDPM804KPS | 1400W |
Picks that actually move the needle
Three products worth comparing if you're thinking about upgrading or supplementing what you have.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy, we may earn a small commission — it never changes the price you pay, and we only recommend picks we would stand behind.
See also
Related appliances
Sources: www.energystar.gov · www.energy.gov
Last updated: 2026-04-13