Is a dishwasher or washing by hand cheaper? We do the sums

Is it cheaper to put your dishes in a machine or wash them by hand? We’ve done the calculations so you don’t have to.

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Daisy Daisy
By Camilla Sharman | Published - 18 Mar 2025 | Updated - 10 Sep 2025
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A glass dish being washed in a washing up bowl full of soapy bubbles
Image credit: Shutterstock/Morten Watkins
A finger pointing to the buttons on a dishwasher
Image credit: Shutterstock/InFocus.ee
A hand doing the washing up manually using a sponge and washing up liquid
Image credit: Shutterstock/goffkein.pro
An open dishwasher displaying recently cleaned dishes
Image credit: Shutterstock/Leszek Glasner
Camilla Sharman

Written by: Camilla Sharman

With her 30 years of experience, Camilla Sharman has covered a wide range of sectors within the business and consumer industries both as a feature, content, and freelance writer. As a business journalist, Camilla has researched articles for many different sectors from the jewellery industry to finance and tech, charities, and the arts.

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