Budgeting: Dishwasher vs hand washing: which costs less to run?
Comparing a dishwasher vs hand washing, a full, efficient dishwasher on an eco setting often uses less hot water and costs less per load. In a worked example, it costs about 70 a year less to run than washing the same dishes by hand.
By Wealtie Team · 3 min read
Key takeaways
- A full, efficient dishwasher on eco often costs less than washing by hand.
- In a worked example, it saves about 70 a year.
- The saving depends on running only full loads and not pre-rinsing.
- Hand washing in a bowl, not under a running tap, keeps costs down too.
Dishwasher vs hand washing: which is cheaper?
It depends on how you do each one, but a modern dishwasher used well is often cheaper. Running a full load on an eco setting uses a set amount of water and heats it efficiently. Washing the same dishes by hand, especially under a running hot tap, can use much more hot water. Heating water is usually the biggest cost of washing up, so the method that uses less hot water usually wins.
The picture changes with habits. A half-empty dishwasher on a hot programme, after pre-rinsing every plate under the tap, can cost more than careful hand washing in a bowl.
There are other differences too. A dishwasher saves time each day, which many households value as much as the money. Hand washing needs no appliance, no space under the counter and no repairs. Weighing these alongside the running costs gives a fairer answer for your home.
The size of your household matters too. A family producing a full load of dishes every day will find a dishwasher far better value than a single person who takes several days to fill one. For one or two people, careful hand washing in a bowl can be just as cheap, especially if the dishwasher would often run half empty. Thinking about how many dishes you use each day gives a good idea of which method suits you.
How much does each method cost?
Here's a worked example of a household's yearly washing-up costs, in round numbers that work in any currency:
| Method | A year |
|---|---|
| By hand | 200 |
| Dishwasher, full loads | 130 |
The hand washing figure covers hot water and washing-up liquid. The dishwasher figure covers electricity, water and tablets, running full loads on an eco setting. The dishwasher saves about 70 a year here, but this doesn't include the price of buying one. Your own figures depend on your energy and water prices, your dishwasher and your habits.
What makes a dishwasher cheaper to run?
Run full loads only
A dishwasher uses about the same water and energy whether it's full or half empty. Waiting until it's full makes each load far better value. Loading it carefully, with plates facing the centre and nothing blocking the spray arms, also means everything comes out clean the first time.
Use the eco setting
Eco programmes take longer but use lower temperatures, which saves energy. For everyday dishes, they clean just as well.
Skip the pre-rinse
Scraping food into the bin is enough for most modern dishwashers. Rinsing every plate under a hot tap first wipes out much of the saving.
Choose cheaper tablets
Own-brand tablets often work as well as big brands. Some people use half tablets for lighter loads. Buying in bulk when tablets are on offer cuts the cost further.
Keep it clean
Cleaning the filter regularly keeps the dishwasher working efficiently and avoids rewashing.
How do you hand wash more cheaply?
Wash in a bowl of hot soapy water rather than under a running tap. Wash the cleanest items first, like glasses, then cutlery, plates and finally pans. Rinse in a bowl of clean water, or let items drain, rather than rinsing each one under the tap. Use a small amount of washing-up liquid, since more doesn't clean better. Let pans soak instead of scrubbing with lots of hot water.
Is it worth buying a dishwasher to save money?
On running costs alone, a dishwasher can take many years to pay for itself, since the yearly saving is modest. Most people buy one for the time it saves and the convenience. If you already have one, using it well saves money. If you don't, buying one purely to cut bills is rarely worth it. Work out the cost per use if you're deciding.
Cut the water and energy bills too
Washing up is one part of your household bills. How to save money on your water bill, how to save money on your electric bill and how to save money on laundry cover more ways to cut water and energy use. How to save money on household essentials covers detergents and cleaning products.
How do you track household bills in Wealtie?
Add energy and water bills as recurring transactions, so they log themselves on their date. Keep household products in their own expense categories, and set a monthly budget to see how small changes add up.
Questions people ask
Often, if you run full loads on an eco setting and skip pre-rinsing. In a worked example, it saves about 70 a year.
Heating water. The method that uses less hot water is usually cheaper.
No. Scraping food into the bin is enough for most modern dishwashers, and rinsing wastes hot water.
Rarely on running costs alone, since the saving is modest. Most people buy one for the time it saves.
This article is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Your situation is your own; check the numbers that apply to you before you act on them.
