How Many Gallons of Water Does a Dishwasher Use in a Normal Cycle

Using the dishwasher is more eco-friendly than washing dishes by hand. However, most people have no idea how much water their dishwasher uses per cycle. So, how much water does a dishwasher use? Let us find out that answer from this page.

How Many Gallons of Water Does a Dishwasher Use in a Normal Cycle?

On average, the standard-size dishwasher uses 4.2 gallons of water per cycle, and compact dishwasher uses 3.5 gallons per cycle. Based on EnergyStar.gov, dishwashers which obtain the “Energy Star” label are more efficient. The Standard-size dishwasher with Energy Star certified uses 3.2 gallons of water per cycle. While compact models with Energy Star certified use 2.7 gallons per cycle.

The average water usage is very helpful to learn, but real examples are even more useful. Well, in this page, we are going to share some real examples showing you how much water dishwashers actually use per cycle.

Actual Water Usage of Popular Dishwashers

In the chart below, you are going to find 25 of the most popular dishwashers compared by water usage and type.

Some things to note about the data in the chart below:

• • ENERGY STAR keeps a database of lots of dishwasher models, and the information below is a sampling of that more extensive database.
  • All dishwashers below are ENERGY STAR certified and manufactured since 2015s.
  • Water Usage is based on one normal cycle under particular conditions.

Dishwasher Water Usage by Brand

According to the ENERGY STAR database, the most water-efficient dishwasher brands are Beko, Viking and Electrolux. When comparing standard-size models, Beko dishwashers use 2.59 gallons per cycle, Viking dishwashers use an average of 2.58 gallons per cycle, and Electrolux dishwashers use 2.65 gallons per cycle.

Here are some best brands stack up in terms of water usage (For Standard-size dishwashers only):

Dishwasher Water Usage by Cycle Type

One of the most significant factors that impact how much water a dishwasher uses is the cycle type. For example, a rinse cycle is able to use as little as 1 gallon of water, while a heavy-wash cycle is able to use up to 9 gallons. Most new dishwasher types have sensors which will be able to monitor the level of soil in the unit during the wash cycle. Therefore, the wash time and water usage will not be the same for every load, even when you select the same cycle.

In the text below, we are going to share some popular dishwashers to see how much water each cycle uses.

KitchenAid (Top Control Built-In Tall Tub Dishwasher)

Water usage per cycle:

• • ProWash: 3.8 – 7.7 gallons
  • Tough: 8.4 gallons
  • Normal: 2.7 – 7.9 gallons
  • Light: 2.7 – 7.9 gallons
  • Express Wash: 6.2 gallons
  • Rinse Only: 2.4 gallons
  • Specialty Cycle: Up to 7.87 gallons
  • Sani Wash: 1.2 – 6.2 gallons
  • Hi-Temp Wash: 0 – 3 gallons

Frigidaire (Built-In Tall Tub Top Control Dishwasher)

Water usage per cycle:

• • Heavy Wash: 7 – 9 gallons
  • Normal Wash: 4 – 7 gallons
  • Top Rack: 4 gallons
  • Rinse Only: 2 gallons

Whirlpool (Top Control Tall Tub Built-In Dishwasher)

Water usage per cycle:

• • Sensor: 3.38 – 7.4 gallons
  • Heavy: 7.4 gallons
  • Normal: 2.4 – 7.4 gallons
  • One-Hour Wash: 7.87 gallons
  • Soak and Clean: 7.4 gallons
  • Hi Temp Wash: 0 – 3.86 gallons
  • Sani Rinse: 0 – 3.86 gallons

Maytag (Front Control Built-In Tall Tub Dishwasher)

Water usage per cycle:

• • PowerBlast: 9 gallons
  • Auto: 4.5 – 6.9 gallons
  • Normal: 3 – 7.4 gallons
  • Light: 3 – 7.4 gallons
  • Quick: 5.5 gallons
  • Rinse: 1.3 gallons
  • High Temp: 0 – 3.3 gallons
  • Sanitize: 0 – 3.7 gallons

Bosch (Front Control Tall Tub Dishwasher)

Water usage per cycle:

• • Heavy: 4.9 – 6.4 gallons
  • Auto: 3.4 – 6.4 gallons
  • Normal: 2.3 – 5.5 gallons
  • Speed 60: 3.8 gallons
  • Rinse: 1.1 gallons
  • Sanitize Heavy: 4.9 – 6.4 gallons
  • Sanitize Auto: 3.4 – 6.4 gallons
  • Sanitize Normal: 2.3 – 5.5 gallons
  • Extra Dry Heavy: 4.9 – 6.4 gallons
  • Extra Dry Auto: 3.5 – 6.5 gallons
  • Extra Dry Speed 60: 3.8 gallons
  • Half load Heavy: 4.7 gallons
  • Half load Auto: 2.7 – 4.4 gallons
  • Half load Normal: 2.8 – 3.7 gallons

Samsung (Front Control Dishwasher)

Water usage per cycle:

• • Auto: 3 – 6 gallons
  • Normal: 3 – 6 gallons
  • Heavy: 7.3 gallons
  • Express: 4 gallons

LG (Front Control Built-In Tall Tub Dishwasher)

• • Water usage per cycle:
  • Auto: 3.6 – 5.9 gallons
  • Heavy: 5.4 gallons
  • Delicate: 5.2 gallons
  • Normal: 2.4 – 5.2 gallons
  • Turbo: 7.3 gallons
  • Express: 4.5 gallons
  • Rinse: 1.8 gallons
  • Machine Clean: 3.2 gallons

Factors Impacting Water Usage

When running a dishwasher cycle, there are some factors that will impact water usage.

• • Dishwasher Age
  • Dishwasher Cycle
  • Pre-rinsing Dishes
  • Dirty Dishes

Well, the text above is an explanation about how much water their dishwasher uses per cycle. Please read other articles on our site if you want to get more information related to dishwasher.

Alfin Dani

AUTHOR BIO

On my daily job, I am a software engineer, programmer & computer technician. My passion is assembling PC hardware, studying Operating System and all things related to computers technology. I also love to make short films for YouTube as a producer. More at about me…