How much does it cost per year?

With 5 times a week it uses about 208 kWh a year: about $37 · £54 at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh.

Use the Eco programme: it takes longer but uses about a third less than intensive. Don’t pre-rinse under hot water: just scrape off leftovers.

🍽️ Dishwasher

How much electricity does a dishwasher use? Cost per cycle vs washing by hand

Dishwasher electricity use per cycle and per year, Eco and intensive programmes, and how it compares with washing up by hand.

Per cycle

0.8 kWh

Cost per cycle

$0.144 · £0.208

Per year · 208 kWh

$37 · £54

With 5 times a week, electricity at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh all-in.

Again, nearly all the energy goes into heating water. An Eco cycle on a modern dishwasher uses about 0.7 kWh and 9–11 litres of water.

Washing the same dishes by hand takes 40–100 litres of hot water on average: a full dishwasher uses less energy than washing up by hand.

Type	Usage	kWh/year	Cost/year
Eco programme, class B–C	0.7 kWh / cycle	182	$33 · £47
Auto programme	0.95 kWh / cycle	247	$44 · £64
Quick 45 minutes	0.9 kWh / cycle	234	$42 · £61
Intensive 70 °C	1.5 kWh / cycle	390	$70 · £101
Old dishwasher (over 12 years)	1.3 kWh / cycle	338	$61 · £88

Yearly cost with 5 times a week.

Work out your cost

Energy per cyclekWhTimes per weektimesElectricity price$/kWh

The price is a typical all-in figure for your country: replace it with yours (bill total ÷ kWh).

Use the Eco programme: it takes longer but uses about a third less than intensive.
Don’t pre-rinse under hot water: just scrape off leftovers.
Open the door at the end instead of using heated drying, if your model has it.

How much electricity does a dishwasher use?: About 0.8 kWh per cycle, from 0.5 kWh to 1.7 kWh depending on model and programme.
How much does it cost per year?: With 5 times a week it uses about 208 kWh a year: about $37 · £54 at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh.
How can I reduce it?: Use the Eco programme: it takes longer but uses about a third less than intensive. Don’t pre-rinse under hot water: just scrape off leftovers.

And what does your whole home use?

The calculator estimates heating, hot water and appliances and tells you what to change first.