Running costs · price cap 1 July to 30 September 2026
How much does a dishwasher cost to run?
At the current price cap of 26.11p per kWh, each cycle in a dishwasher costs about 26p. Used 5 times a week, that is £5.62 a month or £67.46 a year. The figures are based on Which? lab tests, which found an average of about 0.99 kWh per cycle.
Prices checked against Ofgem on .
Per cycle
26p
0.99 kWh
Per week
£1.30
5 cycles
per year
£67.46
258 kWh
Unit rate
26.11p
per kWh, price cap
Dishwasher running cost by how often you use it
At 26.11p per kWh and about 0.99 kWh per cycle.
| Usage | Per week | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cycle a week | 26p | £1.12 | £13.49 |
| 2 cycles a week | 52p | £2.25 | £26.98 |
| 3 cycles a week | 78p | £3.37 | £40.47 |
| 4 cycles a week | £1.04 | £4.50 | £53.97 |
| 5 cycles a week | £1.30 | £5.62 | £67.46 |
| 7 cycles a week | £1.82 | £7.87 | £94.44 |
| 10 cycles a week | £2.59 | £11.24 | £134.91 |
| 14 cycles a week | £3.63 | £15.74 | £188.88 |
Dishwasher running cost by electricity price
Monthly and yearly cost at the same usage. Fixed deals vary, so check the unit rate on your bill.
| Tariff | Unit rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July to 30 September 2026 price cap | 26.11p | £5.62 | £67.46 |
| 1 October to 31 December 2026 price cap | 26.32p | £5.67 | £68.00 |
| A 20p per kWh fixed deal | 20p | £4.31 | £51.67 |
| A 24p per kWh fixed deal | 24p | £5.17 | £62.01 |
| A 30p per kWh fixed deal | 30p | £6.46 | £77.51 |
Each extra cycle
One more cycle a week adds about £13.49 to your yearly bill. Running fuller loads less often is the simplest way to cut the cost.
From 1 October
The price cap changes to 26.32p per kWh from 1 October to 31 December 2026. At the usage above, a dishwasher would cost £68.00 a year, 54p more than now.
Guides and definitions
- Energy price cap explained: rates from 1 October 2026 and your bill (Guide)
- Is Economy 7 worth it? Hours, price cap and the night-use break-even (Guide)
- Standing charge vs unit rate: which energy tariff is cheaper for you? (Guide)
- Economy 7 (Economy 7 is an electricity tariff with seven cheaper off-peak hours, usually overnight, and a dearer daytime rate; Ofgem assumes 42% of use falls off-peak.)
- Typical domestic consumption values (TDCVs) (Typical domestic consumption values are Ofgem's yearly usage figures for a typical home, 2,500 kWh electricity and 9,500 kWh gas from 1 July 2026.)
- Energy price cap (The energy price cap is Ofgem’s limit on unit rates and standing charges for default tariffs; typical bill £1,723 from 1 October 2026.)
- Standing charge (A standing charge is the fixed daily amount on an energy bill, paid whatever you use; the capped average is 54.83p a day for electricity.)
Other appliances
- Washing machine (running costs)
- Tumble dryer (running costs)
- Electric oven (running costs)
- Air fryer (running costs)
- Kettle (running costs)
- Fridge freezer (running costs)
- TV (running costs)
- Electric shower (running costs)
- Immersion heater (running costs)
- Electric heater (running costs)
Appliance running cost calculator · Use your own wattage and unit rate
Common questions
How much does it cost to run a dishwasher per cycle?
About 26p at 26.11p per kWh, using around 0.99 kWh.
How much does a dishwasher cost to run a year?
About £67.46 if you use it 5 times a week, which is the usage Which? assumes for an average household.
How many kWh does a dishwasher use?
Around 0.99 kWh per cycle on average, or 258 kWh a year at 5 cycles a week. Efficient models use less.
Sources and assumptions
- Prices use the Ofgem price cap for 1 July to 30 September 2026: 26.11p per kWh, the average for Direct Debit customers in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is not covered by the cap.
- Energy use comes from Which? lab tests of typical models. Your own model may use more or less.
- The daily standing charge (57.19p a day) is paid whatever you use, so it is not included.
- Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges
- Which?: how much your appliances cost to run (26 August 2026)
These are estimates. Your bill depends on your tariff, your region and how you use the appliance.