What Does Dishwasher Repair Cost?
Dishwasher repair typically costs $150 to $450, averaging around $250. A diagnostic or service call runs $80 to $150 and is often credited toward the repair. Minor repairs to seals, valves, and switches run $150 to $300. Major component work on motors and control boards runs $300 to $650.
Diagnostic or Service Call: $80 to $150
Most appliance technicians charge $80 to $150 to visit and diagnose the problem. The fee covers travel and diagnostic time and is separate from parts and labor, though most companies credit it toward the repair if you proceed. Confirm the policy when you book.
Common Minor Repairs: $150 to $300
Door seals, valves, switches, and thermostats all fall in this tier. These are the most frequent dishwasher service calls and the range where repair is clearly worthwhile relative to replacement cost: when a technician diagnoses a minor issue, the all-in bill lands here. (For more on this, see What Affects the Cost of Dishwasher Repair?.)
| Repair | Cost | Symptom it fixes |
|---|---|---|
| Door latch or door switch | $150 to $300 | Will not start; door not recognized as closed |
| Spray arm | $150 to $300 | Poor cleaning from a damaged or clogged arm |
| Door gasket | $150 to $300 | Leaking at the door |
| Float switch | $150 to $300 | Overfilling |
| Water inlet valve | $150 to $300 | Does not fill, or overfills |
Cost figures on this page were checked against published pricing on August 25, 2026. How we source cost data.
Major Component Repairs: $300 to $650
Wash pump motor: $300 to $650 in parts plus labor. This is the most expensive common dishwasher repair.
Control board: $300 to $650 in parts plus labor, and the symptoms vary depending on which function has failed.
At this price point the repair-versus-replace calculation becomes real. On a mid-range dishwasher costing $600 to $800 new, a $350 pump motor repair approaches 50 percent of replacement cost, which is the threshold where replacement deserves consideration, particularly on units over 8 years old. (For more on this, see Dishwasher Repair vs. Replacement: How to Decide.)
Check These Before You Call
A significant share of dishwasher-not-working service calls are resolved by three checks that cost nothing and take 5 to 10 minutes. Clean the filter, since a clogged filter causes the poor cleaning and drainage problems that look like appliance failure. Check that the door latch fully engages, because a latch that appears closed but does not register will stop the machine entirely. Confirm the dishwasher has power and the breaker has not tripped. Work through all three before paying the $80 to $150 diagnostic fee. None of them require tools, and a tripped breaker or a filter full of debris produces symptoms that look identical to a failed pump.
Repair or Replace?
For repairs under $200 on a dishwasher in otherwise good condition, repair is almost always the right call. For pump motor or control board work at $300 to $650, apply the 50 percent rule against replacement cost, which runs $500 to $1,500 for a new dishwasher depending on tier. A $300 pump repair on a $1,200 Bosch is clearly worth it; the same repair on a $500 basic unit is borderline. (For more on this, see Hidden Costs of Dishwasher Repair.)
Age is the other half of the calculation. Standard dishwashers last 9 to 12 years, and premium units from Bosch, Miele, or Thermador often reach 12 to 15 years or more with maintenance. Individual component failures such as a latch, spray arm, or gasket are expected maintenance events across that service life. A pump motor failure before 8 years is premature; after 10 years it is ordinary aging. The longer expected life of a premium unit is also what justifies spending more to keep it running. A dishwasher more than eight to ten years old that needs major component work is often near the end of its reliable life, and the repair may buy only a few more years.
What Else Affects the Cost
The specific component that failed, parts availability, brand and model, local labor rates, and whether the job requires significant disassembly all move the total. Parts for premium or less common brands cost more and take longer to source than parts for widely sold brands, so repairs on mainstream models are typically cheaper than on specialty or high-end ones. Remember that the quoted repair figure is parts plus labor on top of the diagnostic fee unless that fee is credited back.
Evaluating the Quote
A firm quote after diagnosis, not a range over the phone, is the right basis for the decision. The difference between a minor and a major component repair is several hundred dollars and cannot be determined from a symptom description alone.
A good repair quote names the failed component, lists parts and labor separately, and states whether the parts are in stock or must be ordered. A vague total with no itemization does not give you what you need. Before approving anything at the upper end of the range, look up the current retail price of a comparable model so you have the denominator for the 50 percent rule. If the repair exceeds half of replacement cost on an appliance more than five or six years old, get a replacement quote alongside the repair quote.
When comparing quotes from multiple companies, confirm each covers the same diagnosed component, the same in-stock or ordered parts, and the same labor guarantee. Large differences usually reflect different diagnoses or warranty terms rather than price competition, so scrutinize a substantially lower quote for what it omits. The diagnostic fee is worth paying even if you end up replacing the unit: knowing that a ten-year-old dishwasher failed at the control board, rather than from an installation error, tells you something useful about what to buy next.
Frequently Asked Questions
$150 to $450, averaging $250. A diagnostic call runs $80 to $150, minor repairs such as a door latch, spray arm, gasket, or float switch run $150 to $300, and major component repairs to the pump motor or control board run $300 to $650.
Yes. The $80 to $150 diagnostic fee covers travel and diagnostic time and is charged whether or not you proceed. Most companies credit it toward the repair if you do. Confirm the policy when booking.
For repairs under $200 on a unit in good condition, almost always. For pump motor or control board work at $300 to $650, apply the 50 percent rule against a replacement cost of $500 to $1,500. A $300 pump repair on a $1,200 Bosch is clearly worth it; on a $500 basic dishwasher it is borderline.
Clean the filter, since a clogged filter causes poor cleaning and drainage problems that mimic failure. Check that the door latch fully engages, and confirm the unit has power and the breaker has not tripped. These three checks take 5 to 10 minutes and resolve a significant share of service calls before you pay the diagnostic fee.
Door latch or door switch failure, where the dishwasher will not start because the door is not recognized as closed even though it appears latched. It costs $150 to $300 to fix. Door gasket replacement for leaks and water inlet valve replacement for filling problems are the next most common.
Most often a door latch or switch failure, a tripped thermal fuse after an overheating event, a failed water inlet valve so no water enters, or a failed control board, where symptoms depend on which function died. The latch and the breaker are worth checking yourself before calling.
9 to 12 years for standard models, and 12 to 15 years or more for premium brands like Bosch, Miele, and Thermador with maintenance. Latch, spray arm, and gasket failures are expected across that life. A pump motor failure before 8 years is premature; after 10 years it is normal aging.
Yes. Parts for premium or less common brands cost more and take longer to source than parts for widely sold brands, so repairs on mainstream models are typically less expensive than on specialty or high-end ones.
