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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dishwasher in California? (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 $0.52 per hour, or about $15.75 per month at 1 hours a day in California. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (1,200 W) | $0.42 | $0.42 | $12.60 | $153.30 |
| Typical (1,500 W) | $0.52 | $0.52 | $15.75 | $191.62 |
| High (2,400 W) | $0.84 | $0.84 | $25.20 | $306.60 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 1 h/day ≈ 548 kWh per year.
In California, with electricity at $0.35 per kWh (source: EIA Table 5.6.A, 2026-06), a typical dishwasher costs $0.52 per hour and about $191.62 per year at 1 hours a day. That is about 94% more than the US national average of $8.10 per month, because electricity in California costs $0.35 per kWh against $0.18 nationally. Each $1.00 of electricity buys roughly 1.9 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 ($3.07) per year if it is never unplugged.
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
- United States (average)
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India