How Much Does a Dishwasher Cost per Cycle? (2026 Data)

The median certified dishwasher in WattCost's current data costs about 21¢ of electricity per cycle at the April 2026 U.S. average residential rate. The estimate comes from 239 kWh/year divided by the DOE's 215-cycle annual test basis, then priced at 18.83¢/kWh.

Key takeaways

• The current certified dishwasher median is 239 kWh/year across 677 models.
• 239 kWh/year ÷ 215 test cycles equals about 1.11 kWh per cycle.
• At 18.83¢/kWh, 1.11 kWh works out to about $0.21 per cycle.
• The annual test figure includes machine energy, water heating, drying, and standby under the test method.

How much electricity does one dishwasher cycle use?

The current certified-model median works out to about 1.11 kWh per DOE-basis cycle. The electricity cost is about 21¢ at the cited U.S. average rate. The figure is a standardized comparison value: a hotter program, heated dry, a partial load, or a different water-heating setup can change an actual household's energy use.

How the calculation works

WattCost divides the 239 kWh/year category median by 215 cycles/year, the DOE test basis used for current dishwasher annual-energy calculations. That produces 1.11 kWh per test-basis cycle. Multiplying 1.11 by $0.1883 per kWh yields roughly $0.21.

The site uses the same transparent calculation in its methodology.

What makes dishwasher cost per cycle go up or down?

The label's annual kWh is the right starting point because it accounts for the standardized energy calculation, but real programs can differ. Heated drying, sanitizing options, water temperature, soil level, and how often the machine runs all matter. A compact dishwasher may also need more runs to handle the same number of dishes as a standard-capacity model.

How to get a more useful number

Check the exact model's annual kWh, then use your utility's all-in cents-per-kWh price. Comparing the annual label number is more reliable than assuming every normal or eco cycle consumes the same fixed number of kWh.

Start with all certified dishwashers on WattCost.

For the related buying decision, see the dishwasher-versus-hand-washing guide.

FAQ

Does the dishwasher estimate include water heating? Yes. ENERGY STAR describes the annual dishwasher figure as including machine energy, water-heating energy, and standby energy under the test method. A household with a different fuel source or program selection can see a different utility bill.

How much does a dishwasher cost per month? At the current certified-model median and the U.S. average rate, the annual estimate is about $45, or roughly $3.75 per month. The cost per cycle is more useful when a household runs a different number of loads than the test basis.

Is an eco cycle always the cheapest dishwasher cycle? An eco program often reduces energy and water use, but the model's manual is the source for its actual program energy. Use the certified annual kWh to compare appliances, then check your exact cycle options for household use.

Are compact dishwashers automatically cheaper to run? No. Capacity alone does not decide annual energy use. A compact machine may need to run more often, so compare certified annual kWh and the number of loads your household will actually need.

Data notes & sources

The per-cycle calculation uses WattCost's July 2026 certified-model snapshot, the DOE's 215-cycle annual basis, and EIA's April 2026 U.S. average residential price.

Product-test context: ENERGY STAR dishwasher criteria and DOE test basis.

Electricity-rate context: U.S. EIA April 2026 residential electricity-price table.