These days our homes consume huge amounts of energy through water heaters, furnaces, and air conditioning units, so we often miss opportunities to cut down on our utility costs. One appliance people rarely consider when thinking of ways to reduce excessive energy consumption is their dishwasher. While dishwashers use a fair amount of energy, their main by-product is heating, which requires a decent amount of power to produce. This article will look at how much electricity a dishwasher uses?

How much does it cost to run a dishwasher?

Most dishwashers use an average of 1,800 watts, and water rates depend on your local area, the time of year, and even the time of day. A dishwasher's base electricity usage is pretty cheap; for an 1,800-watt model and an hour-long load, you’ll use approximately 1.8 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity.

Is it better to run the dishwasher or wash my dishes by hand?

On average, most modern dishwashers use between 11 and 13 liters of water per cycle3, while hand-washing can use up to nine times that amount. So, if you have a dishwasher, use it! Not only does it save money, but it also saves energy in the process, leaving you with a lighter bill and a more energy-efficient household. Simply put, in the argument of dishwasher versus hand-washing cost, dishwashers come out on top.