Can I run a dishwasher on a 15-amp circuit?

Not comfortably. At about 15 A it exceeds the 12 A continuous limit of a 15 A circuit: use a 20 A circuit, and sharing the circuit with other loads will trip the breaker.

What size breaker does a dishwasher need?

Guidance for a dedicated circuit is a 20 A breaker with 12 AWG copper wire (75°C terminations). Always size from the nameplate and confirm with a licensed electrician: conductor length, ambient temperature, and local code change the answer.

How many watts does a dishwasher use?

Dishwasher typically draws about 1,800 running watts. See what that costs on our cost-to-run page, or use the wattage chart for other appliances.

Does a dishwasher need a dedicated circuit?

Yes, in normal practice, and most manufacturers specify one. At 15 A while the heating element runs, a dishwasher uses most of a 15 A circuit on its own, which is why a dedicated 20 A circuit is the common installation.

Can a dishwasher and garbage disposal share a circuit?

Sometimes, but it depends on both nameplates and on your local code, and it is frequently not permitted. The combined draw when the heating element and the disposal motor run together is what decides it. This is a question for the installation instructions and your inspector, not a rule of thumb.

Does skipping heated dry reduce the amps?

It reduces the energy, not the peak. The heating element still runs during the wash to bring the water up to temperature, so the highest current draw is unchanged. Air-dry simply removes the drying stage, which is where a large share of the cycle's total energy goes.

How Many Amps Does a Dishwasher Use?

Dishwasher draws about 15 amps at 120 volts (1,800 watts running). At 15 A, a dishwasher is too much for a shared 15 A circuit under the 80% rule; it belongs on a 20 A circuit, ideally with little else running on it.

Power (watts)

Voltage

Amps = watts ÷ volts. Enter the wattage from your appliance's nameplate or label for an exact figure.

Current draw: a dishwasher

15 A

At 120 V: 1,800 W
Typical breaker: 15 A

Breaker figure is guidance for a simple resistive load; confirm against the nameplate and a licensed electrician.

Dishwasher amperage at 120 V and 240 V

Same 1,800 W load: the current halves when the voltage doubles. Dishwasher is typically a 120 V appliance in US homes.

Draw	Watts	Amps at 120 V	Amps at 240 V
Running	1,800 W	15 A	7.5 A

The 1800 W figure is the peak, and that peak is the heating element: warming the water and, on a heated-dry cycle, drying the dishes. The pump and motor draw a fraction of it. A dishwasher therefore spends most of its cycle well below 15 A and only approaches it while the element is on.

Dishwasher amps by wattage rating

Find the watts on the plate inside the door frame and read across. Models with a heated-dry cycle and an internal water heater sit at the high end.

Rated watts	Amps at 120 V	Fans per 15 A circuit
1200 W	10 A	1
1500 W	13 A	0
1800 W (typical)	15 A	0
2000 W	17 A	0
2400 W	20 A	0

Per-circuit counts use the 12 A continuous limit (80% of a 15 A breaker) and assume nothing else is on the circuit.

Breaker and circuit for a dishwasher

At 15 A, a dishwasher is too much for a shared 15 A circuit under the 80% rule; it belongs on a 20 A circuit, ideally with little else running on it. For a dedicated circuit, guidance is a 20 A breaker with 12 AWG copper (75°C terminations).

Guidance only: actual circuit sizing depends on your unit's nameplate, wire run length, and local code. Confirm with a licensed electrician. See the wire & breaker size chart for the full NEC ampacity table.

Measure what a dishwasher actually draws

The figures above are typical ratings, and this load is usually hardwired or on a 240 V circuit, so a plug-in meter can't reach it. A clamp meter reads the current on one conductor at the disconnect or panel without breaking the circuit; opening a panel is work for someone qualified, and the voltage pen confirms a circuit is dead first.

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Clamp meter

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Non-contact voltage tester

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Frequently asked questions

Dishwasher typically draws about 15 amps at 120 volts, based on a typical rating of 1,800 watts (amps = watts ÷ volts). Check the nameplate on your specific unit: ratings vary by model.

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How Many Amps Does a Dishwasher Use?

Dishwasher amperage at 120 V and 240 V

Dishwasher amps by wattage rating

Breaker and circuit for a dishwasher

Measure what a dishwasher actually draws

Fluke 323

Klein Tools NCVT-3P

Frequently asked questions