Dishwasher vs. Hand Washing: Which Costs Less? Water, Energy & 10-Year Cost
Is it actually cheaper to use a dishwasher than to wash dishes by hand? For many U.S. households, a modern efficient dishwasher can use surprisingly little water and energy. But the real cost depends on how you wash dishes, how often you run the dishwasher, your local water and sewer rates, and how much hot water you use at the sink. That means the useful question is not simply whether a dishwasher uses less water. You need to compare water, sewer, electricity, and water-heating costs together. The calculator below lets you do exactly that using your own household numbers. Quick answer: For full loads, a modern efficient dishwasher will often use substantially less water than washing the same dishes under running water by hand. ENERGY STAR says a new certified dishwasher uses less than half as much energy as washing dishes by hand and can save about 8,400 gallons of water per year. But your actual dollar savings depend heavily on your hand-washing habits, hot-wat...