How much does a dishwasher cost to run?
A dishwasher using about 0.8 kWh on its eco programme costs about 21p per load at the Ofgem cap rate of 26.32p/kWh. An intensive or 65°C programme using around 1.5 kWh costs about 39p. Run once a day on eco, that is roughly £76.85 a year.
Prices last checked: 26 September 2026 · Source: Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 · Great Britain average, standard variable tariff, paid by Direct Debit
Cost per load by programme
| Programme | Example energy | Cost per load | Once a day, per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eco (energy label programme) | 0.8 kWh | 21p | £76.85 |
| Auto / normal | 1.1 kWh | 29p | £106 |
| Quick 30–40 min | 0.9 kWh | 24p | £86.46 |
| Intensive / 65–70°C | 1.5 kWh | 39p | £144 |
Eco mode: longer, but cheaper
The eco programme often runs for three hours or more, which feels wasteful. It's the opposite. The long soak at a lower temperature lets the detergent do more of the work, so the heater runs less. Quick programmes finish fast by using hotter water and more energy.
Dishwasher vs washing up by hand
This depends on how you wash up. The cost of hand washing is mostly the cost of the hot water, and that depends on how your water is heated:
- Gas combi boiler: hot water is heated with gas at 7.97p/kWh at the cap, much cheaper per kWh than electricity. A single sink of water once a day can be cheap.
- Electric immersion or electric instant water heater: hot water costs the full electricity rate, so a dishwasher on eco often compares well. See immersion heater costs.
- Running the hot tap continuously while rinsing each item usually uses far more hot water than a full eco load.
A full dishwasher on eco is usually as cheap as, or cheaper than, careful hand washing for a family's worth of dishes. For one person's plate and mug, a sink of hot water can be cheaper.
Cutting the cost per load
- Only run it full. The energy per load barely changes with how full it is.
- Scrape, don't pre-rinse. Pre-rinsing under a hot tap adds hot water you've already paid for.
- Use eco by default, and intensive only for baked-on pans.
- Clean the filter so the machine doesn't need a second go.
- Delay start into the cheap period if you're on a time-of-use tariff.
Common mistakes
- Using the rated wattage × programme length. The heater is only on for parts of the cycle.
- Judging programmes by duration. The shortest programme is rarely the cheapest.
Limits of this estimate
kWh per programme varies by model, water temperature and load. Costs use the Ofgem cap average unit rate (Great Britain, Direct Debit, standard variable tariff).
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a dishwasher once?
About 21p on a typical eco programme using 0.8 kWh, and about 39p on intensive.
Is it cheaper to run the dishwasher at night?
Only if your tariff has a cheaper night or off-peak rate. On a single-rate tariff, the time doesn't matter.
Should I use the drying setting?
Heated drying adds energy. Opening the door a little at the end of the cycle and letting the dishes air-dry is free.