How much does a dishwasher cost to run?
A typical dishwasher costs about 29.6p per cycle to run. At 5 cycles a week that is £1.48 a week, or £76.99 a year, based on 450 W for 2.5 hours (1.13 kWh) at 26.32p per kWh.
Adjust for your dishwasher
Worked example
450 W is 0.45 kW. Running for 2.5 hours uses 0.45 × 2.5 = 1.13 kWh. At 26.32p per kWh that costs 29.6p.
Five cycles a week comes to £76.99 a year. Waiting until the machine is full and running one fewer cycle a week would save about £15.40.
How to cut the cost
The eco programme runs longer at a lower temperature and normally uses the least electricity. Run it full, scrape plates instead of rinsing them under a hot tap, and open the door at the end of the cycle to let the dishes air-dry instead of using a heated drying phase.
Questions
How much electricity does a dishwasher use per cycle?
A typical cycle uses about 1.13 kWh, with eco programmes at the lower end. The energy label shows kWh per 100 cycles for the eco programme, so divide that figure by 100 for one cycle.
Is it cheaper to use a dishwasher than to wash up by hand?
A full machine on an eco programme often uses less hot water than washing the same dishes under a running tap. One cycle here costs 29.6p in electricity, so compare it with the cost of heating the water you would use by hand.
Other appliances
Electricity rate: Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026, Great Britain average, Direct Debit, default tariff: 26.32p per kWh. Your own tariff and region may differ, so change the rate above to match your bill. Appliance figures are typical estimates; your appliance's energy label or manual is more accurate. Last checked 2026-11-03. Next review: January 2027, when Ofgem announces the next quarter's cap.