$400 – $1,678That is the typical dishwasher installation cost in 2026 when you replace a built-in dishwasher on connections that are already in place, new unit included. Fixr puts it at $400 – $1,500 (average $1,000) and Homewyse at $904 – $1,678. Putting a dishwasher where there was none costs far more: HomeServe gives $1,000 – $8,000 or more for the whole job, because the kitchen needs new water, drain and electrical lines and sometimes new cabinet work.
Our estimate: the headline range runs from the lowest low ($400, Fixr) to the highest high ($1,678, Homewyse) of the two 2026 guides’ ranges for a replacement. It is a combination of published figures, not a price we measured. The older HomeGuide guide (last modified January 2024; its page title says 2026) lists $600 – $1,700 for the same job.
The bill depends on two questions: do water, drain and power already reach the dishwasher spot, and how much dishwasher do you buy? If the answer to the first is yes, you are paying for a unit and a couple of hours of labor. If it is no, you are paying for a small plumbing, electrical and carpentry project. The sections below price each piece.
Dishwasher installation cost: replacing one vs. a first-time install
| Job | Fixr (Jan 2026) | Homewyse (May 2026) | HomeServe (June 2025) | HomeGuide (older, Jan 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Replacement, unit and installation | $400 – $1,500 (average $1,000) | $904 – $1,678 | — | $600 – $1,700 |
| Replacement, labor only | $150 – $300 in most cases | $292 – $354, plus $16 – $18 of supplies | $150 – $500 | $150 – $350 |
| First-time install, labor | up to $800 or more with a plumber and an electrician | — | — | $300 – $1,300 |
| First-time install, whole job | — | — | $1,000 – $8,000 or more | — |
| Moving an existing dishwasher, whole job | average $2,600 | — | — | — |
The guides agree on the shape of the price and differ on the details. For a replacement, Homewyse’s labor figure ($292 – $354 for 2.4 hours) sits above Fixr’s $150 – $300 and inside HomeServe’s $150 – $500. Homewyse’s total of $904 – $1,678 is the three lines for the unit ($596 – $1,306), basic labor and supplies added together; its removal and disposal lines are priced separately. An older Bob Vila guide (February 2023) gives $370 – $1,500 with a $970 average, close to the 2026 numbers.
By type, Fixr lists average installed costs of about $400 for a countertop model, $900 for a wheeled portable, $1,000 for a standard built-in and $1,800 for a drawer model. Fixr notes that portable models need no installation, though delivery may cost extra, so the real project is the built-in.
Estimate your dishwasher installation cost
Our estimate: the published ranges above multiplied out for your inputs. Not a quote. Ranges from HomeServe (June 2025), Fixr (Jan 2026) and Homewyse (May 2026). Older guides, HomeGuide (Jan 2024) and Bob Vila (Feb 2023), are used only as cross-checks. No state adjustment: most of the price is the appliance, and no source gives a labor share. How we calculate
Our estimate: the calculator adds up published ranges. Unit tiers are HomeServe’s economy ($250 – $800), mid-range ($800 – $1,200) and high-end ($1,200 – $3,500) bands. Labor is HomeServe’s $150 – $500, which covers Fixr’s $150 – $300 and sits close to Homewyse’s $292 – $354. Removal runs from Fixr’s lowest figure ($100) to Homewyse’s removal plus disposal at the top of both ($197 + $97 = $294). Cabinet work multiplies HomeServe’s $100 – $1,200 per linear foot by 2 feet, our assumption for a 24-inch opening. These are combined published figures, not measured prices.
Replacing a dishwasher: what the bill includes
In a replacement, the installer disconnects the old unit, slides in the new one, reconnects the water, drain and power, levels it and checks for leaks. Fixr says a pro takes about two hours for this, and HomeGuide puts it at 1 to 2 hours, or up to 6 hours when there are no existing connections. Doing it yourself saves $150 – $300 according to Fixr, but Fixr and HomeGuide both say to hire a pro when new plumbing or electrical hookups are involved, and Fixr warns that leaks from poor water and drain connections can cause water damage, mold growth and fires.
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher (popular under-cabinet model, retail) | $596 – $1,306 | Homewyse (May 2026) |
| Installation labor, basic (2.4 hours) | $292 – $354 | Homewyse (May 2026) |
| Job supplies (connectors, fittings, mounting hardware) | $16 – $18 | Homewyse (May 2026) |
| Removing the old dishwasher (1.4 hours, includes dump fee) | $162 – $197 | Homewyse (May 2026) |
| Debris disposal | $85 – $97 | Homewyse (May 2026) |
| Removal and disposal of the old unit | $100 – $250, or free with delivery | Fixr (Jan 2026) |
| Old appliance removal | $120 – $150 | HomeServe (June 2025) |
| Delivery | $100 – $200 at some companies; others deliver free | Fixr (Jan 2026) |
Delivery is worth checking. Bob Vila (older guide, February 2023) mentioned a fee of around $59, while Fixr says some companies charge $100 – $200 and others deliver free. Ask what the store or installer charges before you compare quotes.
Installing a dishwasher where there was none
A first-time dishwasher is a different job. HomeServe (June 2025) lists the three hookups: a hot-water supply, usually through a dual-outlet shut-off valve under the sink; a drain hose that ties into the sink drain; and a dedicated 120-volt circuit. If there is no 24-inch gap under the countertop, cabinets have to be removed or modified too.
| Item | HomeServe (June 2025) | HomeGuide (older, Jan 2024) | Bob Vila (older, Feb 2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New water supply line | $600 – $1,600 per fixture | $150 – $250 to run a supply line to the sink drain or disposal; rough-in plumbing $400 – $600 minimum | included in $1,270 – $3,200 first-time total with plumbing |
| Drain connection | included in the plumbing cost | included in the plumbing figures above | included in the same total |
| Dedicated circuit or outlet | $130 – $300 per outlet | circuit $250 – $900; outlet $150 – $350 | wiring $134 – $302 |
| Electrical panel upgrade, if needed | about $1,230 | — | — |
| Cabinet work | $100 – $1,200 per linear foot | cabinet removal $150 – $400 | kitchen retrofit $1,900 – $8,300 |
| Countertop adjustment | $10 – $40 per sq ft | — | — |
| Permits | $10 – $500 | $25 – $100 | cost varies by city |
The sources disagree on plumbing: HomeServe’s $600 – $1,600 per fixture is well above HomeGuide’s $400 – $600 minimum for rough-in, so get at least two written quotes. HomeServe says a new circuit is $130 – $300, in line with the older Bob Vila figure; HomeGuide’s older $250 – $900 depends on where the circuit has to run. If the panel is full, our electrical panel upgrade cost guide covers that bill, and our outlet installation cost guide prices a new outlet on its own. Old supply pipes under the sink are a separate matter: see our whole house repipe cost guide.
Fixr says a first-time install takes six to 10 hours of work and, because a plumber, an electrician and a cabinet installer have to be coordinated, can stretch over several days. If you are already tearing out cabinets, price the dishwasher inside the bigger job: our kitchen remodel cost guide shows where appliances fit in a full remodel.
Moving a dishwasher to a new spot
Fixr puts the average cost of installing a dishwasher in a different location at $2,600, which it says is about $1,000 more than standard installation. The extra goes to a new lower cabinet where the old unit stood, cabinet removal at the new spot, and rerouted plumbing and electrical lines. The same Fixr page elsewhere says relocating adds an average of $1,600, so treat the extra as roughly $1,000 – $1,600 and ask for an itemized quote. Fixr adds that you typically need licensed professionals to pull the permits for this work.
What stores say about installation fees
Of the big retailers, the one whose own pages we could read was Lowe’s, and it lists no flat installation price. Its Lowe’s dishwasher installation page says installation is done by a qualified third-party professional, requires an appointment and must be purchased. It includes connecting the dishwasher to an existing water source, leveling and testing it. Its Lowe’s appliance installation page adds that it will only install where the right hookups are already in place, and lists services that may cost extra: a permit if the city requires one, haul-away and disposal of the old appliance, replacing circuit breakers and minor carpentry. The page also says an installer may find unforeseen work once the old unit is out, such as shut-off valves, GFCI upgrades or code upgrades, and that extra charges may apply.
That matters for the cost. Because Lowe’s installs only where hookups already exist, a first-time install still needs a plumber and an electrician first. Fixr says home improvement stores tend to include haul-away at no cost; Lowe’s own page calls haul-away an additional cost added at checkout, so confirm it before you buy.
The dishwasher itself, and what it saves
| Tier | HomeServe (June 2025) | HomeGuide (older, Jan 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Economy / basic | $250 – $800 | $400 – $800 |
| Mid-range | $800 – $1,200 | $800 – $1,200 |
| High-end | $1,200 – $3,500 or more | $1,200 – $3,000 |
ENERGY STAR says a certified dishwasher uses less than half the energy of washing dishes by hand, saves 8,400 gallons of water a year and about $220 a year in utility bills, or $3,300 over its lifetime, compared with handwashing. Its key product criteria cap a standard-size certified model at 240 kWh a year and 3.2 gallons per cycle. Fixr says a certified model costs about $50 a year to run.
Before you replace one, compare the cost of a repair. HomeGuide puts dishwasher repair at $100 – $300 and a lifespan of 8 to 15 years; Bob Vila (February 2023) gives about $200 for a repair and 10 to 15 years, and suggests replacing a unit over 10 years old when the motor, pump or heating element fails. For the other big appliance on the plumbing side, see our water heater replacement cost guide, and if the new dishwasher drains slowly into a clogged line, our drain cleaning cost guide covers the fix.
For context on wages: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median pay of $63,800 a year, or $30.67 an hour, for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in May 2025, and notes that most states and some localities require plumbers to be licensed (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook). That is the worker’s wage, not what a plumbing company bills. HomeGuide (older guide) puts plumbers at $45 – $150 an hour for jobs that modify the water lines.
How to keep the bill down
- Buy the same size as the old one and keep it in the same place: Fixr says same-size dishwashers can save $500 or more, and relocating adds $1,000 – $1,600.
- Ask whether delivery and haul-away are included, since Fixr says some installers charge $100 – $250 for removal and $100 – $200 for delivery while others do not.
- Choose a basic or mid-range model unless you want the extras; HomeServe’s tiers span $250 to $3,500 or more.
- Replace the unit yourself only if it is a like-for-like swap with the hookups in place; Fixr says it saves $150 – $300.
- Bundle a first-time install with other plumbing or electrical work so the trades are mobilized once.
- Compare at least three itemized written estimates, and do not pay in full until the job is done (HomeGuide).
Questions to ask before you sign
- Is the price for installation only, or does it include the unit, delivery and haul-away of the old one?
- Do the connections under the sink and the outlet already meet what the dishwasher needs, or will you charge to fix them?
- For a first-time install, who handles the plumbing, the electrical circuit and the cabinet work, and are permits included?
- What happens if you find a worn shut-off valve or a damaged supply line once the old unit is out?
- Are you licensed and insured, and is there a warranty on the labor?
Sources
- Fixr, Dishwasher Installation Cost, updated January 22, 2026.
- Homewyse, Cost to Install a Dishwasher, May 2026.
- HomeServe, First-Time Dishwasher Installation Costs, June 9, 2025.
- HomeGuide, How Much Does Dishwasher Installation Cost?, last modified January 19, 2024 (older guide; page title says 2026).
- Bob Vila, How Much Does Dishwasher Installation Cost?, updated February 22, 2023 (older guide).
- Lowe’s, Dishwasher Installation Services and Appliance Installation Services.
- ENERGY STAR, Dishwashers and Key Product Criteria (specification effective July 19, 2023).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, pay data for May 2025.
