How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dishwasher in Nova Scotia? (2026)
A dishwasher draws heavy power only while heating water and during the drying phase. Over a full cycle it averages 1 to 2 kWh, which is usually cheaper than washing the same dishes by hand with hot water.
A typical dishwasher (1,500 W) costs C$0.31 per hour, or about C$9.22 per month at 1 hour a day in Nova Scotia. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low 1,200 W | C$0.25 | C$0.25 | C$7.37 | C$89.70 |
| Typical 1,500 W | C$0.31 | C$0.31 | C$9.22 | C$112.13 |
| High 2,400 W | C$0.49 | C$0.49 | C$14.75 | C$179.40 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 1 h/day ≈ 548 kWh per year.
One hour of a dishwasher (1.5 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 8.3km in an electric car
- 15hours of TV
- 33hours of a laptop
- 167hours of an LED bulb
In Nova Scotia, with electricity at 20.5¢ per kWh (source: Hydro-Québec 2025 comparison, 2025-04), a typical dishwasher costs C$0.31 per hour and about C$112.13 per year at 1 hour a day. That is about 46% more than the national average for Canada (C$6.30 per month), because electricity in Nova Scotia costs 20.5¢ per kWh against 14.0¢ nationally. Each C$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 3.3 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a dishwasher
- Skip the heated dry option and open the door at the end of the cycle instead.
- Only run full loads, and use the eco program.
- Scrape plates but do not pre-rinse under hot water.
- Connect to cold water if your dishwasher has its own heater and your hot water is electric.
In standby it draws about 1 W, which adds roughly 9 kWh (C$1.79) per year if it is never unplugged.
Is an efficient dishwasher worth it?
Class G dishwasher, about 105 kWh per 100 cycles: about 295 kWh a year. Class A dishwasher, about 55 kWh per 100 cycles: about 155 kWh. The difference is worth C$28.67 a year in Nova Scotia.
- Replacing one that still works pays back in 24.4 years.
- When yours needs replacing anyway, the extra cost of the efficient model pays back in 7.0 years.
Usage assumed: 280 cycles a year. Typical prices: C$700.00 for the efficient model, C$200.00 more than a basic one. Work it out with your own prices
Frequently asked questions
Is a dishwasher cheaper than washing by hand?
Usually yes, if you run full loads. Hand washing with running hot water uses more energy and far more water.
How much does a dishwasher cycle cost?
About 1 to 1.5 kWh per cycle on a normal program. Use the hourly figure above as a per-cycle estimate.
What uses the most power in a dishwasher?
The water heating element, followed by the heated drying cycle.
Compare with
Cost by region
US states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Canadian provinces
Related appliances
Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz