Most efficient · Dishwashers
Most Energy-Efficient Dishwashers in 2026
We ranked 200 ENERGY STAR certified dishwashers by percentage below the federal energy standard. The Loch L1126 comes first: it is listed at 80 kWh a year, about $12.87 to run at the median U.S. state price, EIA July 2026.
Quick answer: the top 3
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Most efficient
Loch L1126
80 kWh/yr · Below std 64 · 2 settings
$12.87 per year
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Rank 2
Fisher & Paykel DD24STX6I1
114 kWh/yr · Below std 49 · 7 settings
$18.34 per year
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Rank 3
Fisher & Paykel DD24STX6PX1
114 kWh/yr · Below std 49 · 7 settings
$18.34 per year
Most of the electricity a dishwasher uses goes into heating water, so an efficient one is mainly a machine that cleans with less hot water and less drying heat. ENERGY STAR lists each certified dishwasher with its estimated annual energy use, its capacity in place settings and how far it sits below the federal energy standard for its size. That last figure is what orders the list below, because it lets a compact model and a full-size model be compared fairly.
Annual kWh is still what appears on your bill, so it is shown beside the ranking together with the yearly cost at your electricity rate. Standard-size and compact dishwashers are different products with different standards, so the table shows capacity for every model, and you should compare like with like.
Enter your state or your own rate in the calculator, and add your current dishwasher's yearly kWh to see what a newer model would save.
Running cost calculator
Prices in the table use the median U.S. state price, EIA July 2026: 16.09 ¢/kWh.
Full replacement calculator with payback time · Cost to run a dishwasher in every state
How this is calculated
- Yearly cost = the model’s ENERGY STAR annual kWh × your rate. Ten-year cost keeps today’s rate; prices will change.
- Savings = (your current dishwasher’s yearly kWh − the new one’s) × your rate. Find yours on the yellow EnergyGuide label or measure it with a plug-in meter.
- Statewide averages are not your utility’s tariff. Use the rate on your bill for a closer number.
The 10 most efficient dishwashers
Showing 10 of 200 ranked models. See all dishwashers with these filters →
Best in each type
| Type | Top model | kWh/yr | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact | Loch L1126 | 80 | $12.87 |
| Standard | Fisher & Paykel DW24UT2I3 | 210 | $33.79 |
Models of different types and sizes are not like for like, so each type has its own leader.
Cost of the top 10 per year
All 200 ranked models by annual energy use; the top 10 are highlighted
How we ranked them
Models come from the ENERGY STAR certified dishwashers list published by the U.S. EPA. We keep only the current listing for each model, and only models that state an annual energy figure. They are ordered by percentage below the federal energy standard (higher is better), a figure ENERGY STAR already adjusts for size, with annual kWh as the tie-break.
Which is calculated with U.S. Department of Energy test procedures and does not include the water heating done by your water heater. Your use will differ with how many loads you run and which cycle you choose. Prices are U.S. EIA statewide residential averages. We do not test products and we do not show retailer prices. See the methodology and data sources.
What to look for in dishwashers
Capacity first
A dishwasher that is too small makes you run extra loads, and every load costs the same energy to heat the water. Check the place-settings column and choose the size that fits how you cook, then compare ratings at that size.
Look past the rating at how you will use it
Running only full loads, scraping rather than rinsing, and skipping the heated dry cycle all cut energy use more than the difference between two certified models. If a model offers an air-dry or fan-dry option, use it.
Water heating counts too
The energy figure covers the machine. If your water heater is electric, the hot water a dishwasher draws also costs electricity, so a dishwasher that uses less water saves a little more than its own kWh figure suggests.
What the Loch L1126 costs by state
80 kWh a year at each state’s average residential price.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most energy-efficient dishwasher?
Of the 200 ENERGY STAR certified dishwashers in our data, the Loch L1126 ranks first by percentage below the federal energy standard, with below federal standard of 64 %. It is listed at 80 kWh a year.
How much does the most efficient dishwasher cost to run?
At the median U.S. state price, EIA July 2026 (16.09 cents per kWh), the Loch L1126 costs about $12.87 a year, or $1.07 a month. It runs from about $10.18 a year in Louisiana to $38.40 in Hawaii. Enter your own state or rate in the calculator for a closer figure.
How are these dishwashers ranked?
Models are ordered by percentage below the federal energy standard from the ENERGY STAR certified product list, using only models that list an annual energy figure. Which is calculated with u.s. department of energy test procedures and does not include the water heating done by your water heater. your use will differ with how many loads you run and which cycle you choose. We do not test products and we do not show retail prices.
How many place settings does it hold?
ENERGY STAR lists this model at 2 place settings. A place setting is the set of dishes and utensils one person uses for a meal. Compact dishwashers hold fewer than the standard size.
How does it compare with the federal standard?
ENERGY STAR lists this model as using 64% less energy than the federal standard for its size. That percentage is published by ENERGY STAR and is not recalculated here.
Is it worth replacing an old dishwasher?
It can be, if the old one uses a lot more electricity. Enter its yearly kWh in the calculator above to see the saving per year and over ten years, or use the dishwasher replacement calculator for the full comparison.
Is a dishwasher more efficient than washing by hand?
A full load in a certified dishwasher generally uses less water and energy than washing the same dishes by hand with running hot water. The saving shrinks if you rinse first or run half-empty loads.