APPLIANCE RUNNING COSTS · OCT–DEC 2026
How much does a dishwasher cost to run?
Most of a dishwasher’s electricity goes on heating water, so the eco programme on its energy label is the cheapest way to run it. At the GB average price-cap electricity rate of 26.32p per kWh for October–December 2026, a dishwasher costs about 22p per cycle.
PER CYCLE
22p0.85 kWhPER WEEK
89p4 cycles a week (assumed)PER YEAR
£47177 kWh at the assumed useWork out your own cost
Choose your region or type in your own unit rate, then change the energy per cycle and number of cycles to match your appliance and how you use it. It starts with a week at our assumed use.
3.4 kWh over 4 cycles · about £0.22 per cycle
How much electricity it uses
- Energy labels for full-size dishwashers sold in the UK show 0.55 to 0.94 kWh per eco cycle: 0.550 kWh (Hotpoint H8FHS61WUK, class A), 0.849 kWh (Bosch SMS2HVW67G, class D) and 0.936 kWh (Indesit IN2FE13CNO7WUK, class E).
- Eco programmes are long by design: 4 hours 30 minutes on the Bosch and 5 hours 10 minutes on the Hotpoint. They save energy by washing at lower temperatures for longer.
- Households with a dishwasher ran it a median of four times a week in the 2011 Energy Follow-Up Survey.
| Example | Energy per cycle | Per cycle | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower | 0.55 kWh | 14p | £30 |
| Typical | 0.849 kWh | 22p | £47 |
| Higher | 0.936 kWh | 25p | £51 |
Usage assumption: Four eco cycles a week, the median for households with a dishwasher in the 2011 Energy Follow-Up Survey. This is our illustration, not a measured average; change it in the calculator.
What drives the cost
- Programme: hot or intensive programmes use more than eco.
- How full it is: half loads cost nearly as much as full ones.
- Energy class.
How it compares
| Appliance | Typical use | Energy | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher | 1 cycle | 0.85 kWh | 22p |
| Washing machine | 1 wash | 0.57 kWh | 15p |
| Kettle | 1 boil, 2 minutes | 0.10 kWh | 2.6p |
Ways to spend less
- The Energy Saving Trust says running the dishwasher only when it is full, and cutting one run a week, could save about £10 a year in Great Britain.
- It also recommends the eco setting where available.
Unit rates vary by region: this period they run from 25.36p per kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and Northern Wales. See every region’s rate →
Questions
How much does a dishwasher cost per cycle?
At 26.32p per kWh (the GB average price-cap rate, October–December 2026, Direct Debit, 0% VAT), 0.849 kWh per cycle costs about 22p. Across the figures we cite (0.55 to 0.936 kWh) that is 14p to 25p.
How much does a dishwasher cost to run a year?
It depends on how much you use it. Our assumption is four eco cycles a week, the median for households with a dishwasher in the 2011 Energy Follow-Up Survey. At 26.32p per kWh that comes to about £47 a year (177 kWh). Change the hours or uses in the calculator to match your own.
Why does the eco programme take so long if it saves energy?
It uses less heat and gives the detergent more time to work, which needs less electricity than heating water to a higher temperature for a short wash.
Does the cost depend on where I live?
Yes, a little. Price-cap electricity unit rates for October–December 2026 range from 25.36p per kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and Northern Wales. Pick your region in the calculator, or enter the unit rate from your bill if you are on a fixed or time-of-use tariff.
About these figures
Running costs are energy used × unit rate. They exclude the daily standing charge, which you pay whether or not the appliance runs. Energy per cycle comes from energy label or product data measured on a standard test programme; other programmes use more or less. Power ratings and energy figures are examples from the sources below, not a measured UK average.
Other appliances
Sources
- EPREL product information sheet: Hotpoint H8FHS61WUK dishwasher ↗0.550 kWh per eco cycle, 15 place settings, class A, eco programme 5 h 10 min.
- EPREL product information sheet: Bosch SMS2HVW67G dishwasher ↗0.849 kWh per eco cycle, 14 place settings, class D, eco programme 4 h 30 min.
- EPREL product information sheet: Indesit IN2FE13CNO7WUK dishwasher ↗0.936 kWh per eco cycle, 13 place settings, class E.
- Energy Follow-Up Survey 2011, report 9: domestic appliances (DECC, 2013, PDF) ↗Median washing, drying and dishwasher loads per week; wash temperatures.
- Energy Saving Trust: quick tips to save energy at home ↗Savings tips for kettles, washing machines, dishwashers, drying and standby (page last updated 6 October 2026).
- Energy Saving Trust: what appliances drive up electricity bills most ↗Fridge and freezer share of bills and lifespan; washing, dishwasher and microwave advice.
- Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges ↗GB average electricity unit rate and VAT basis, October–December 2026.
Last updated 11 October 2026. Figures are dated benchmarks taken from the sources above. How we use sources →