How much does it cost to run a dishwasher? (2026–27)
At typical draw · official state tariffs
Typical household use (7 loads a week at 1.2 kWh per load) runs $120–$183 a year depending on your state's tariff.
Wattage basis: Draws 1,200–2,400 W while the heating element runs; ~1.2 kWh per normal cycle.
| State | Model | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales33.1c/kWh · Ausgrid | Efficient (1,200 W) | $0.40 | $1.59 | $48.35 | $581 |
| Typical (1,800 W) | $0.60 | $2.39 | $72.53 | $871 | |
| High (2,400 W) | $0.80 | $3.18 | $96.71 | $1,161 | |
| Victoria27.5c/kWh · Jemena | Efficient (1,200 W) | $0.33 | $1.32 | $40.08 | $481 |
| Typical (1,800 W) | $0.49 | $1.98 | $60.13 | $722 | |
| High (2,400 W) | $0.66 | $2.64 | $80.17 | $963 | |
| Queensland28.0c/kWh · Energex | Efficient (1,200 W) | $0.34 | $1.34 | $40.82 | $490 |
| Typical (1,800 W) | $0.50 | $2.01 | $61.23 | $735 | |
| High (2,400 W) | $0.67 | $2.69 | $81.64 | $980 | |
| South Australia41.9c/kWh · SA Power Networks | Efficient (1,200 W) | $0.50 | $2.01 | $61.16 | $734 |
| Typical (1,800 W) | $0.75 | $3.02 | $91.73 | $1,101 | |
| High (2,400 W) | $1.01 | $4.02 | $122.31 | $1,469 | |
| Western Australia33.3c/kWh · Western Power (SWIS) | Efficient (1,200 W) | $0.40 | $1.60 | $48.54 | $583 |
| Typical (1,800 W) | $0.60 | $2.39 | $72.80 | $874 | |
| High (2,400 W) | $0.80 | $3.19 | $97.07 | $1,166 | |
| Tasmania28.0c/kWh · TasNetworks | Efficient (1,200 W) | $0.34 | $1.34 | $40.79 | $490 |
| Typical (1,800 W) | $0.50 | $2.01 | $61.19 | $735 | |
| High (2,400 W) | $0.67 | $2.68 | $81.58 | $980 | |
| Australian Capital Territory37.0c/kWh · Evoenergy | Efficient (1,200 W) | $0.44 | $1.77 | $53.92 | $647 |
| Typical (1,800 W) | $0.67 | $2.66 | $80.88 | $971 | |
| High (2,400 W) | $0.89 | $3.55 | $107.85 | $1,295 | |
| Northern Territory31.7c/kWh · Power and Water | Efficient (1,200 W) | $0.38 | $1.52 | $46.23 | $555 |
| Typical (1,800 W) | $0.57 | $2.28 | $69.34 | $833 | |
| High (2,400 W) | $0.76 | $3.04 | $92.45 | $1,110 |
This table costs a constant draw at 4 h a day. The typical-use yearly figures below use the appliance's measured energy per use (1.2 kWh per cycle (normal program)) instead.
Where a dishwasher costs more
- South Australia is the dearest state to run one: $0.75 an hour at 1,800 W on its 41.9c/kWh rate, against $0.49 in Victoria. Over a year of typical use that gap is $63 (52.6% more).
- By yearly running cost at typical use it ranks 13th of the 26 appliances costed on this site (1st costs the most): $145 a year at the NSW rate.
- At the 1 July 2026 price reset, typical-use cost fell $10 in VIC (Jemena usage rate 29.7c to 27.5c/kWh) and rose $4 in WA (Western Power (SWIS) usage rate 32.4c to 33.3c/kWh).
| Rank | State | Usage rate | Typical year | Above the cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victoria | 27.5c | $120 | — |
| 2 | Tasmania | 28.0c | $122 | +$2 |
| 3 | Queensland | 28.0c | $122 | +$2 |
| 4 | Northern Territory | 31.7c | $138 | +$18 |
| 5 | New South Wales | 33.1c | $145 | +$25 |
| 6 | Western Australia | 33.3c | $145 | +$25 |
| 7 | Australian Capital Territory | 37.0c | $161 | +$41 |
| 8 | South Australia | 41.9c | $183 | +$63 |
Rates by state (each state's capital-city network): NSW: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); VIC: ESC Victorian Default Offer 2026–27; QLD: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); SA: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); WA: WA Government Standard Electricity Prices 2026–27 (Synergy Home Plan A1); TAS: OTTER-approved Aurora Energy Standing Offer 2026–27 (approved 25 June 2026) — Tariff 31; ACT: ICRC retail electricity price recalibration 2026–27 (ActewAGL standing offer); NT: NT Electricity Pricing Order 2026–27 (Jacana Energy standard residential). All effective 1 July 2026.
Appliance running-cost calculator
NSWDishwasher: 1,200–2,400 W typical range.
The energy-label basis is 7 cycles/week; eco programs use 0.5–0.8 kWh, intensive 1.2–1.8 kWh.
- Per day (4 h)
- $2.39
- Per month
- $72.53
- Per year (365 days)
- $870.85
Tariff: 33.1c/kWh — AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8) for the Ausgrid network, effective 1 July 2026. Wattage basis: EcoFlow AU — dishwasher power consumption. Full dishwasher costs in NSW →
Cutting the cost
Run it only when it's full, and use the eco or auto cycle, which washes longer at a lower temperature to save water and heat. Scrape the plates instead of pre-rinsing them under a hot tap. Skip the heated-dry option and crack the door open at the end to let everything air-dry. If your plan has cheaper off-peak hours, use the delay-start to land the cycle in that window.
Frequently asked questions
- How is the running cost calculated?
- Watts ÷ 1,000 × the electricity rate = cost per hour. A dishwasher drawing 1,800 W on NSW's 33.1c/kWh rate costs $0.60 an hour; the calculator below lets you change every input. For this appliance the yearly figure uses its measured energy per use rather than a constant draw.
- Does a higher star rating cut the cost?
- Yes. The star rating compresses the power draw or energy per use, which scales these figures directly. The low–high band in the table (1,200–2,400 W) roughly spans efficient to inefficient models.
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Costs use each state's representative-zone reference usage rate, effective 1 July 2026. The energy-label basis is 7 cycles/week; eco programs use 0.5–0.8 kWh, intensive 1.2–1.8 kWh.