What Does It Cost to Run a Dishwasher in Virginia?
Running a dishwasher in Virginia costs about $7.82 a month — $95.16 a year — at the state's average rate of 17.38 ¢/kWh. That's roughly $10.62 a year less than a household paying the national average pays for the exact same dishwasher. The estimate assumes a typical 1,500-watt dishwasher running 1 hours/day, at the all-in average rate (delivery, fixed charges, and utility fees already included; locally billed taxes vary by area).
Key metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average wattage assumption | 1,500 W |
| Typical usage assumption | 1 hours/day |
| Estimated monthly electricity use | 45.0 kWh |
| Estimated monthly cost | $7.82 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $95.16 |
Dishwasher cost vs U.S. average
At the state average rate, a dishwasher in Virginia costs $0.87 less a month than it would at the U.S. average rate.
How much electricity does a dishwasher use?
A dishwasher draws roughly 1,200-1,800 W; we use 1,500 watts running 1 hours/day. That comes to 1.50 kWh a day — 45.0 kWh a month, or 547.5 kWh over a year — using kWh = watts × hours ÷ 1000.
Most of a dishwasher's electricity goes to heating water, not spinning the spray arms — so a hot 'sanitize' or 'heated dry' cycle costs noticeably more than a quick eco wash. Virginia prices that energy at 17.38 ¢/kWh, against a 19.32 ¢/kWh national average.
Dishwasher operating cost estimate in Virginia
| Time period | Energy use | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Per hour | 1.50 kWh | $0.26 |
| Per day | 1.50 kWh | $0.26 |
| Per month | 45.0 kWh | $7.82 |
| Per year | 547.5 kWh | $95.16 |
These figures use the all-in average rate. Your actual bill can run higher when separately billed taxes, seasonal pricing, and fixed monthly fees apply.
What changes the cost the most?
Two things move this number: your state's rate, which you can't change, and how hard the appliance works, which you often can. For a dishwasher, that mostly comes down to heated dry setting, eco mode, number of cycles per week.
Using yours more lightly or heavily than our assumption? The state calculator and usage-cost pages below model your exact scenario at the same rate.
For calculator-style comparisons, use the Dishwasher calculator in Virginia to compare light, typical, and heavy usage profiles.
Comparison entry points
Browse related comparisons from the energy comparison hub:
City pages for selected metros in Virginia
These city pages add local rate context for the same appliance assumptions. City values are estimates.
| City | City rate | Monthly estimate | Yearly estimate | More detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | 17.55 ¢/kWh | $7.90 | $94.79 | City electricity context |
City electricity pages focus on local rate context. The table above uses the statewide average rate.
Related appliance cost pages for Virginia
- Refrigerator cost in Virginia — Typical 40-100 W estimate with state-specific pricing
- Electric Oven cost in Virginia — Typical 2,000-5,000 W estimate with state-specific pricing
- Microwave cost in Virginia — Typical 600-1,500 W estimate with state-specific pricing
- Toaster Oven cost in Virginia — Typical 1,200-1,800 W estimate with state-specific pricing
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a dishwasher in Virginia?
At 1 hours/day and the state average rate of 17.38 ¢/kWh, you'd pay about $7.82 a month.
Does this estimate include delivery fees and taxes?
Yes — the all-in average rate already includes delivery, fixed charges, and utility fees; locally billed taxes vary by area.
Where else can I compare this appliance?
See the appliance comparison guide, or the Virginia bill estimator for whole-household profiles.
State cost and bill pathways for Virginia
- Virginia electricity price per kWh — What a kWh of electricity costs in Virginia
- Virginia electricity rates & prices — Core authority page with statewide pricing context
- Virginia electricity cost analysis — State-level cost, affordability, and value overview
- Virginia Beach electricity estimate (Virginia) — City electricity page with methodology notes where city coverage is available
- Average electricity bill in Virginia — What a typical monthly bill looks like
- Virginia household bill estimator — Estimate your bill from your monthly usage
Historical and trend pages
- Virginia electricity price history — Historical context and trend interpretation
- Electricity inflation in Virginia — State electricity inflation analysis
- Virginia electricity price volatility — Volatility and rate movement profile
Fixed-usage and calculator pathways
- Electricity cost for 100 kWh in Virginia — Cost for this usage amount in the same state
- Electricity cost for 300 kWh in Virginia — Cost for this usage amount in the same state
- Electricity cost for 500 kWh in Virginia — Cost for this usage amount in the same state
- Virginia electricity cost calculator — Custom kWh and scenario cost calculation
Appliance and estimator pathways
- Refrigerator cost in Virginia — Appliance operating-cost page for this state
- Refrigerator calculator in Virginia — Calculator page for adjusting wattage and usage for this appliance
- Space Heater cost in Virginia — Appliance operating-cost page for this state
- Space Heater calculator in Virginia — Calculator page for adjusting wattage and usage for this appliance
- Window Ac cost in Virginia — Appliance operating-cost page for this state
- Window Ac calculator in Virginia — Calculator page for adjusting wattage and usage for this appliance
State comparison pathways for Virginia
- Virginia electricity comparisons — State-to-state comparison hub
- Virginia vs California electricity cost — Head-to-head comparison page
- Virginia vs Florida electricity cost — Head-to-head comparison page
Discovery and navigation hubs
- Virginia electricity hub — Guide to this state's electricity rate, usage, comparison, and tool pages
- Electricity cost scenario hub — Entry point for residential and industry scenario pages
- Virginia electricity cost overview — State-level electricity cost page with rates and typical bill context
- Virginia average electricity bill benchmark — Typical monthly bill estimate using a standard household usage assumption
- Virginia electricity bill estimator — Household profile bill scenarios for this state
- Electricity usage hubs — Browse cost pages by common household usage tiers
Consumer electricity drivers
- Price drivers in Virginia — Understand what influences state electricity prices
Source & Method
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Retail Sales of Electricity. Updated: April 2026. Estimates use the EIA all-in average residential rate — energy, delivery, fixed charges, and utility fees together, not just the electricity itself. Fees are inside the rate, not an extra on top; how your own bill splits fixed versus per-kWh charges varies by utility. For what's inside the all-in rate, see hidden electricity fees; for how rates and estimates are defined, see the methodology hub.