Dishwasher vs. garbage disposal: running cost
A garbage disposal is cheaper to run: about $1 a year versus $46 for a dishwasher at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $45 difference.
| Dishwasher | Garbage disposal | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 1,800 W | 500 W |
| Watt range | 1,200–2,400 W | 300–1,000 W |
| Typical use | 4 cycles a week | 2 minutes a day |
| Energy per year | 255 kWh | 5 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 22¢ | 9.0¢ |
| Cost per day | 13¢ | 0.3¢ |
| Cost per month | $3.82 | $0.08 |
| Cost per year | $46 | $1 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $111 | $2 |
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What drives the difference
- Dishwasher: A typical dishwasher uses about 1-1.5 kWh per normal cycle including water heating by the internal heater and heated dry; ENERGY STAR models average about 0.75-1 kWh. This excludes energy from your water heater.
- Garbage disposal: A 1/2 hp disposal draws about 500 W but runs only 1-2 minutes a day, so its electricity cost is a few dollars a year.
Ways to cut either cost
Keeps food scraps out of the disposal and the water treatment system.
See options on AmazonCertified dishwashers use about 270 kWh a year or less and under 3.5 gallons per cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a dishwasher or a garbage disposal?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a dishwasher costs about $46 a year versus $1 for a garbage disposal. That's $45 more, or 46.5× as much.
How many watts do dishwasher and garbage disposal use?
A dishwasher typically draws 1,800 W (range 1,200–2,400 W). A garbage disposal draws 500 W (range 300–1,000 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.