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The most energy-efficient dishwashers

How to get the best wash for the least energy.

using an energy efficient dishwasher
Last updated: 28 April 2022

There's no question that dishwashers are efficient users of water – they're more water efficient than washing by hand – but how do they fare in terms of energy efficiency? Shouldn't you just look at the energy star rating to tell?

Well, it's complicated. And unfortunately energy star ratings aren't always a helpful way to tell how much energy a dishwasher uses (see below to find out why).

So what's an environmentally or budget conscious consumer to do? 

CHOICE whitegoods expert Ashley Iredale talks us through the ins and outs of energy efficiency. 

Plus, for CHOICE members, we'll tell you which dishwashers are the most energy-efficient, and which ones you should buy (hint: they're quite different lists). 

Energy star ratings vs energy efficiency

The energy star rating system was designed to be a simple way to assess how energy-guzzling an appliance is. But unfortunately it's not quite as simple as it seems. 

If you want an energy efficient dishwasher, you just look for one with a high energy star rating, correct? No.

"Good star ratings sell a lot of machines, because it's a clear signal to consumers about how efficient an appliance is," says Ashley.

We test using the default, normal or auto mode because that's what most dishwasher owners use, so our results will reflect real-world use

Ashley Iredale, CHOICE whitegoods expert

"Manufacturers know this and they want the best star rating possible, so they design special programs that just barely meet performance requirements to use as little water and electricity as possible. In an act of marketing genius they rebadge these registration programs as 'eco' modes. 

"But we test using the default, normal or auto mode because that's what most dishwasher owners use, so our results will reflect real-world use. It's also why our energy and water consumption figures may be different from what's on the star labels."

CHOICE tip: If you look at the star ratings they'll actually state what program and settings were used when calculating the savings. 

How energy efficient is a great wash?

Here's the bad news: if you want stellar performance, you'll probably need to give up on your dreams of energy efficiency. 

"Our tests show that machines that dry the dishes well tend to be less energy efficient, indicating that good drying performance usually comes at the cost of higher energy use," says Ashley. 

"That's because dishwashers use the last rinse cycle to build up a heat load in your crockery, which is how they dry – better drying means more heat, which uses more energy.

"Few dishwashers manage to score very well for energy efficiency when tested on the 'normal' cycle, which most people use."

It's a matter of having to compromise on either performance or energy efficiency

So it's a matter of having to compromise on either performance or energy efficiency, depending on what your priorities are. 

"If you want better performance, select a more intensive program with the knowledge that it's going to use more energy," says Ashley. 

"Equally, if you want to be more energy efficient, select a lower intensity program but be aware that performance may suffer."

How to find the most energy-efficient dishwasher

When you're shopping for a new dishwasher, don't just look at the energy star rating – it'll only give you part of the picture. 

But don't buy solely on performance either if energy efficiency is important to you. 

Try to find the sweet spot between energy efficiency and performance

A dishwasher that's energy efficient won't necessarily give you the best performance – and a dishwasher that delivers the best performance probably won't be especially energy efficient. 

"There's an inverse relationship between energy efficiency and performance," says Ashley. 

The energy/efficiency sweet spot

Your best bet is to try to find the sweet spot between energy efficiency and performance. We test for both performance and energy efficiency (as well as running costs, water use, energy use and more). To find the most energy-efficient, high-performing dishwasher, check our expert dishwasher reviews

Or if you're a CHOICE member, read on – we'll share the most energy-efficient dishwashers, plus the top performers in our tests that are also efficient on energy. 

If you're not a member, consider joining CHOICE to access thousands of independent reviews, or check out our free buying guides.

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The five most energy-efficient dishwashers from our tests

Bear in mind that a dishwasher's energy-efficiency score differs from the energy star rating because we test dishwashers using their 'normal' or 'default' modes, as these are the cycles most people use. 

And don't forget that an energy-efficient dishwasher isn't necessarily one that'll give you the best wash. (See below for the dishwashers that hit that sweet spot between performance and energy efficiency.)

kogan kagdws15cta

The Kogan KAGDWS15CT: one of the most energy efficient but also one of the lowest performing in our tests.

These dishwashers received the highest scores for energy efficiency in our expert tests. The energy efficiency score is based on the amount of energy used per place setting by the dishwasher on the tested program. 

But wait! Don't rush out to buy these models.

Although these are the most energy efficient dishwashers in our test, many of them are among the lowest performing. 

For instance, the Kogan KAGDWS15CTA may have the highest score for energy efficiency, but it also came second last in our test, with a CHOICE Expert Rating of 67%. Similarly, the Inalto IDW604S is very energy efficient but scores poorly – just 68% overall. 

"You'll notice that many of the more energy efficient models also have the lowest overall scores," says Ashley. "That's because the hotter the wash, the better the wash – and heat requires energy."

The five best-performing energy-efficient dishwashers from our tests

We've analysed the best performing dishwashers from our tests and pulled out the ones that are most energy efficient, hitting that sweet spot. If energy efficiency and performance are important to you, these are the ones to look out for. 

These machines will give you a good balance between energy efficiency and performance

Ashley Iredale, CHOICE whitegoods expert

"These machines will give you a good balance between energy efficiency and performance," says Ashley. 

"They get the job done without browning out the neighbourhood."

Each of these models is recommended by our experts, and has an energy efficiency score of 72% or higher. 

miele g 7319 scu xxl

This Miele dishwasher marries performance with energy efficiency.

1. Miele G 7319 SCU XXL

  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 84%
  • Energy-efficiency score: 78%
  • Price: $2999.

2. Miele G 7104 SCU CLST

  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 81%
  • Energy-efficiency score: 74%
  • Price: $2399.

3. Ikea RENGORA 604.756.32

  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 80%
  • Energy-efficiency score: 79%
  • Price: $699.

4. Kleenmaid DW6030

  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 78%
  • Energy-efficiency score: 73%
  • Price: $1899.

Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.