How many watts does a dishwasher use?
A typical dishwasher uses 852–1,440 watts when running and draws 7.1–12 amps at 120 volts.
Dishwasher watts, amps and circuit
| Running watts | 852–1,440 W |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 120 V |
| Running amps | 7.1–12 A |
| Circuit | 20 A breaker, dedicated circuit |
| Wire size (copper, NM-B cable) | 12 AWG |
| Energy per year | 200–275 kWh |
| Energy per day, average | 0.5–0.8 kWh |
| Cost per year at $0.18/kWh | $36–$50 |
Also called: built-in dishwasher.
What size generator runs a dishwasher?
A dishwasher needs a generator that supplies at least 1,440 running watts. A 2,000 W generator covers it with its running rating alone; add the watts of anything else you run at the same time.
How long a portable power station runs a dishwasher
| Battery capacity, Wh | At 1,440 W, h | At 852 W, h |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| 1,000 | 0.6 | 1 |
| 2,000 | 1.2 | 2 |
| 3,600 | 2.1 | 3.6 |
A 500 Wh portable power station runs a dishwasher drawing 1,440 W for about 0.3 hours at 85% inverter efficiency. Runtime = capacity × 85% ÷ watts; the 85% efficiency is an assumption. The power station's AC output must be at least 1,440 W.
What it costs to run a dishwasher
A dishwasher uses 200–275 kWh a year, which costs $36–$50 a year at $0.18 per kWh, the US average residential price for August 2026, or about $3.00–$4.13 a month.
Your bill's total ÷ kWh used. 0.18 is the US residential average.
- Per day
- $0.12
- Per year
- $45
- Energy per day
- 0.69 kWh
- Energy per month
- 20.9 kWh
How it is calculated
- kWh per day = 1,146 W × 0.6 h ÷ 1,000 = 0.688
- Per month = 0.688 kWh × 30.4 days × $0.18 = $3.76
What affects dishwasher power use
The heating element that warms water and dries the dishes draws most of the power; the pump motor adds a little. Heated dry and high-temperature cycles raise the draw, air dry lowers it. A built-in dishwasher is usually on its own 15 A or 20 A circuit.
How the amps are calculated
Amps = watts ÷ volts. For 1,440 W at 120 V that is 12 A. The 852–1,440 W range covers typical models; the nameplate on a dishwasher gives the exact figure.