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How much does a dishwasher cost to run?

By Last reviewed

About $0.32 a load on normal for a typical machine: 0.88 kWh (label ÷ 365 × 1.3) plus 13.8 litres of water. Eco is $0.25 a load.

Your dishwasher

Pick a size

Pick a program

Between 0 and 21

Hot water and hand washing

It heats the water for hand washing and hot fill.

Pick a system

Only 5 of the 460 models on sale take a hot water connection. Read your manual.

Pick one

Pick one

Advanced settings
Advanced

From the Energy Rating label. It assumes 365 washes a year.

Between 50 and 600

From the water rating label.

Between 2 and 40

Between 0 and 200

Usage charge only. Add sewage if your bill charges it per kL.

Between 0 and 10

Gas hot water only.

Between 0 and 20

See result ↓

Your result

A load costs

$0.32

Typical (AU median) on Normal or auto: 0.88 kWh and 13.8 litres a load at 32c/kWh.

A year
$67
Eco would be
$0.25a load
Electricity a load
$0.28
Water a load
$0.04
Washing by hand
$1.32a load

Washing by hand (Typical (one sink, rinsing)) would cost $208 a year more.

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Every program, a load
ProgramEnergy × ecoA load
Eco (the label program)× 1$0.25
Normal or auto× 1.3$0.32
Quick (about 1 hour, hot)× 1.4$0.34
Short or light (30 to 45 minutes, cool)× 0.8$0.21
Intensive× 1.6$0.40

How we calculated this

  1. Take the label and scale it for your program

    The Energy Rating label gives kWh for 365 washes a year on the label program, eco on most models. Label kWh ÷ 365 = one eco load. Other programs multiply that energy and the label litres (table below).

    0.88 kWh and 13.8 L a load

  2. Price one load

    kWh × your electricity rate, plus litres ÷ 1,000 × your water price a kilolitre. Only the usage price counts: fixed water and sewerage charges do not change when you run a load. A dishwasher always pays the general rate, never controlled load.

    $0.28 power + $0.04 water = $0.32

  3. Add up a year

    Cost a load × loads a week × 52 weeks.

    208 loads: $67

  4. Compare washing by hand

    Hand washing is measured as the heat in the water, not what your hot water system used. We multiply that heat by what your system buys per kWh of heat (table below), then add the water.

    $1.32 by hand (Electric storage tank)

Dishwasher presets (Energy Rating register medians)
MachineLabel kWh a yearLabel litres a washChecked
Typical (AU median)24611.5Official source
6 place settings1647.4Official source
8 place settings2059.4Official source
10 place settings18911Official source
12 place settings26710.7Official source
13 place settings29511.8Official source
14 place settings267.512Official source
15 place settings245.512Official source
16 place settings241.511.75Official source
Programs against the label (eco)
ProgramEnergyWaterCheckedWhere it comes from
Eco (the label program)× 1× 1Official sourceThe label program: the one the maker recommends for a normally soiled load (EECA). An eco program on most models (register)
Normal or auto× 1.3× 1.2Dated third-party sourceTopten International lab tests, May 2017 (3 EU models, 62 tests): other programs 25 to 35% more energy. Which? (19 Jan 2026): main program × 1.36 energy, × 1.22 water
Quick (about 1 hour, hot)× 1.4× 1.2Dated third-party sourceWhich? lab test, 19 Jan 2026 (3 models): quick wash × 1.42 energy and × 1.18 water of eco
Short or light (30 to 45 minutes, cool)× 0.8× 1.1Dated third-party sourceTopten International lab tests, May 2017 (3 EU models, 62 tests): short programs use about 20% less energy than eco, for lightly soiled loads
Intensive× 1.6× 1.5Dated third-party sourceTopten International lab tests, May 2017 (3 EU models, 62 tests): intensive programs 50 to 70% more energy than the label program
Washing 12 place settings by hand
HowWaterHeat in the waterCheckedWhere it comes from
Typical (one sink, rinsing)103 L2.5 kWhDated third-party sourceStamminger et al., University of Bonn, EEDAL 2003: average of 113 people washing 12 place settings (paper read on a third-party copy)
Careful (two sinks, no running tap)35 L0.9 kWhOfficial sourceBerkholz, Kobersky and Stamminger, University of Bonn (2013): lowest country average, 12 place settings (publisher abstract)
Under a running tap150 L3.5 kWhEstimateOur estimate, not measured: the typical preset scaled up, about 1.5 times its water (150 against 103 litres) and 1.4 times its heat (3.5 against 2.5 kWh), rounded. Bonn (2013) found washing under a running tap uses the most water, but the abstract gives no figure
Energy bought per kWh of heat in the water (Zone 3 heat pump)
Hot water systemBoughtChecked
Electric storage tank1.25 kWh of electricityEstimate
Heat pump0.42 kWh of electricityEstimate
Gas storage tank5.81 MJ of gasOfficial source
Instant gas4.86 MJ of gasOfficial source

From the same hot water model as our heat pump calculator: an electric or heat pump tank also makes up its own heat loss, and gas uses the register's median efficiency. A heat pump uses your capital city's zone.

Water usage prices (capital cities)
CityA kilolitreWhich priceChecked
Sydney (Sydney Water)$3.41One usage price. Wastewater is a fixed charge, not per kLOfficial source
Melbourne (Yarra Valley Water)$3.8313Step 1 (up to 440 L a day), water and sewer usage combined. South East Water and Greater Western Water not readOfficial source
Brisbane (Urban Utilities)$4.498Tier 1: Urban Utilities $0.981 plus State Bulk Water $3.517. The 2026-27 tier 1 page was not readableNot yet checked
Adelaide (SA Water)$2.52Tier 1, derived: the recycled water price ($2.268) is 90% of tier 1. Sewerage is based on property valueNot yet checked
Perth (Water Corporation)$2.809Tier 2 (151 to 500 kL a year). A family passes 150 kL a year, so its next litre is tier 2Estimate
Hobart (TasWater)$1.608Water $1.41/kL plus sewerage $0.22/kL × 90% discharge factorOfficial source
Canberra (Icon Water)$2.94Tier 1 (up to 200 kL a year)Dated third-party source

The label assumes a load every day, and standby is already inside it (about 1.5% of the label: Estimate), so we add no standby. A hot one-hour quick wash and a cool short or light program are not the same: the first costs more than eco, the second less. Hot fill moves about 20% of the heat to your hot water system, which costs more on an electric tank. Only 5 of the 460 models on sale take a hot water connection. Compare kWh, not stars: the star scale changed with the new label.

Sources

Questions

How do I get kWh a load from the label?

Divide the kWh a year by 365. The label assumes a load every day on the label program, usually eco (EECA). Then scale it for the program you run.

Does the label include heating the water?

Yes. A dishwasher heats its own water, and the label kWh includes it (EECA).

How many kWh does a dishwasher use?

The median dishwasher on sale is 246 kWh a year on its label, 0.67 kWh an eco load. The middle 80% of models run from 182 to 295 kWh a year (Energy Rating register).

Is it cheaper to run it at night?

Only on a time-of-use plan. On a flat rate every hour costs the same. Delay start helps on a time-of-use plan or with midday solar.

Does a half load save much?

Not much: about 10% less energy (Topten). Wait for a full load.

Can I put my dishwasher on controlled load?

No. Controlled load is a separate circuit for hard-wired hot water or heating. A plug-in dishwasher always pays the general rate.