How long does a dishwasher last?

Published figures for a dishwasher run from 9 to 15 years. The home builders’ survey gives 9 years of use by the first owner. The US Department of Energy’s analysis, which counts machines until they leave service, uses an average of 15.2.

What the published figures say

YearsSourceWhat the figure is
9NAHB and Bank of America Home Equity, Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components (2007)Survey of manufacturers and trade groups. Its appliance figures describe use by the first owner.
15.2US Department of Energy, energy conservation standards for dishwashers, final rule (2024)Average lifetime in the Department’s cost analysis, built from household survey data.

The sources measure different things, which is why they differ. A survey of first owners gives a shorter figure than an analysis that follows units until they are scrapped. All of them describe typical equipment. A given unit can fail sooner or run far longer, and age alone is not a reason to replace anything that works safely.

How old is yours?

The build date is coded into the serial number. Where to find it: How old is my appliance?

Find the age from the serial number

Look for “Serial”, “Serial No.” or “S/N” on the rating plate. It is not the model number. What you type stays in your browser.

What shortens or extends its life

  • Hard water, which leaves scale on the heating element, the spray arms and the pump.
  • A filter that is never cleaned.
  • Racks whose coating has worn through, which rust and shed particles into the pump.

Signs that replacement is near

  • Water on the floor, or rust inside the tub or on the bottom of the door.
  • Dishes that come out dirty or wet after the filter and spray arms have been cleaned.
  • Water left in the bottom after the cycle.
  • A door that will not latch.
  • A pump, motor or control-board repair on an old machine. It often costs a large share of a new dishwasher.

Sources

Other equipment

Figures last checked against their sources on October 5, 2026. Method and sources.