How much does a dishwasher cost to run in Iowa?
$6.23 a month
- A day of use
- $0.29
- An hour of running
- $0.29
- A year
- $74.76
1,800 W, one 1-hour cycle, 5 days a week, at Iowa’s average rate of 15.9¢ per kWh (EIA, June 2026). How we calculate this
Change the watts, hours or rate
What it costs at other usage levels
| Use | A day | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour a day typical | $0.29 | $6.23 | $74.76 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.57 | $12.46 | $149.51 |
| 4 hours a day | $1.15 | $24.92 | $299.03 |
| 8 hours a day | $2.29 | $49.84 | $598.06 |
| 24 hours a day | $6.88 | $149.51 | $1,794.17 |
Models range from 1,200 W to 2,400 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 1,800 W, the middle of that range.
Iowa compared with other states
Iowa’s residential rate is the 23rd cheapest of 51 states and DC, 2.4¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−13%). Iowa’s rate is up 0.6¢ from June 2025 (15.3¢, +3.9%).
Ways to spend less
- Run it only when it is full. Saves about $1.25 a month.
- Turn off heated drying and let dishes air-dry.
- Use the eco cycle; it runs longer but heats less.
Questions
How much does it cost to run a dishwasher per hour?
About $0.29 an hour in Iowa. A dishwasher at 1,800 W uses 1.80 kWh per hour, and at Iowa’s average of 15.9¢ per kWh that comes to $0.29.
How much does a dishwasher add to your electric bill?
Used one 1-hour cycle, 5 days a week, about $6.23 a month in Iowa, or $74.76 a year.
How much does it cost to run a dishwasher 24 hours a day?
Running nonstop, a dishwasher would use 43.2 kWh a day and cost $6.88 a day, or $209.32 over an average month in Iowa.
How many watts does a dishwasher use?
Models range from 1,200 W to 2,400 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 1,800 W, the middle of that range. Check the label on yours: cost scales directly with watts, so a 20% lower wattage means a 20% lower bill.
Why does a dishwasher cost more or less to run in Iowa than elsewhere?
Iowa’s residential rate is the 23rd cheapest of 51 states and DC, 2.4¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−13%). Iowa’s rate is up 0.6¢ from June 2025 (15.3¢, +3.9%). The appliance uses the same energy everywhere; only the price per kWh changes.
Sources
- Virginia Cooperative Extension: Estimating appliance and home electronic energy use (reproduces U.S. Department of Energy sample wattages)
- Penn State EGEE 102: Typical range of power consumption (wattage)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: average price of electricity to ultimate customers, residential, June 2026 Figures transcribed from republications of this table on September 26, 2026; pending direct verification from the EIA API.
- Carrier page: June 2026 residential average price, citing EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A
Usage assumptions (hours a day, season) are ours and listed on the methodology page. Found an error? Tell us.