How much does a dishwasher control board replacement cost?#
Expect $180 to $450 for a dishwasher control board, with most jobs landing near $315. Because the electronic part carries almost the entire bill, the figure climbs with an original component from a premium brand or an awkward mounting location, and eases with an aftermarket equivalent on a mainstream unit. Even at the top of that span it sits well under the $400 to $1,200 a replacement machine costs installed, so a failed panel rarely forces you into buying new.
Before the most expensive part in the machine#
The control board is where a dishwasher's money is, so it is also the part most often replaced without proof. Everything below produces a machine that looks electronically dead or electronically confused, and only two of the rows are the board.
| What the machine is doing | What it usually is | Is it the board? |
|---|---|---|
| Completely dead — no lights, no beep, nothing | The supply. A tripped breaker, or the switched outlet under the sink | Not yet. Check that a working appliance runs from the same outlet before anything else. |
| Lights come on, but pressing start does nothing | The door latch switch, which tells the board the door is shut | No. The board is awake and waiting for a signal it is not getting. |
| Some buttons respond and others never do | The touchpad membrane, which on many machines is a separate part from the board behind it | Often not — and the two are priced very differently. Ask which one was found faulty. |
| Cycles start and quit partway through | A thermistor, a heater, or a fill fault the board is reacting to correctly | No. A board stopping a cycle for a reason is a board doing its job. |
| One function is dead — no dry, no drain, no fill | That function's own component | No. A board failure rarely takes out exactly one output and leaves the rest intact. |
| A code on the display | Whatever the code names | Decode it first. A code is the machine telling you where to look, and it is free. |
| Visible scorching on the board, or a relay chattering | The board, visibly | Yes. This is the case the price on this page is for. |
| Behaviour that is random and changes week to week, everything else ruled out | The board, intermittently | Yes, most likely — and this is the one diagnosis worth a second opinion, because it is the hardest to prove and the most expensive to get wrong. |
Denominator: the $180 to $450 on this page is one figure for one job — a dishwasher control board, part plus labour, fitted by a shop — against $400 to $1,200 for a new machine installed. Two figures, not a survey across brands or regions, and none of the cheaper faults above is inside them: a door latch switch, a touchpad and a thermistor are separate parts, and a tripped breaker is not a part at all.
Dishwasher control board replacement cost
- What it does: the control board runs the electronics and cycle logic.
- Signs it is failing: a dead panel, unresponsive buttons, or cycles that quit partway.
- The repair job: diagnosing the board, fitting an OEM replacement, and confirming every cycle.
- DIY or pro: usually a technician job — a wrong board or a missed reprogram wastes the part.
| What you pay for | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Part plus basic labor | $180 |
| Typical repair | $315 |
| Premium part or hard access | $450 |
| A new dishwasher, installed | $400–$1,200 |
Against a new dishwasher at $400–$1,200 installed, a control board repair at $180–$450 is usually the cheaper fix — unless the dishwasher is already old or has other faults.
Pro note: a technician rules out a failed door switch or a loose harness before condemning the board, since those mimic a dead board for far less money.
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Is replacing the control board on a dishwasher worth it?#
In most homes this repair earns its keep. Weighed against the $400 to $1,200 of a new machine, spending toward $315 to bring the electronics back to life is the cheaper route unless the appliance is already past roughly nine years and the estimate crowds the high end. On anything newer, restoring the brain of the machine and keeping a unit you already trust beats gambling on a fresh purchase.
Dishwasher Control board replacement cost: FAQ#
How much does a dishwasher control board replacement cost?#
Plan on $180 to $450, typically about $315 with parts and labor. A genuine part for a premium brand lands at the upper end, while an aftermarket equivalent on a common model keeps you nearer the bottom.
Is replacing the control board on a dishwasher worth it?#
Usually yes. Set beside the $400 to $1,200 of a new dishwasher, the repair is clearly the cheaper move; it only loses its edge once the appliance is old enough that pumps, seals, or racks are also wearing out.
What makes the control board fail on a dishwasher?#
The electronics give out from power surges, from the heat and steam that seep into the door over years, and from simple age. Telltale signs are a dark unresponsive panel, buttons that do nothing, or a wash that quits halfway.
Can I replace a dishwasher control board myself?#
This one is best left to a technician. The part has to be matched to your exact model and occasionally reprogrammed, and fitting the wrong version wastes the money; a pro also eliminates a cheap door switch or loose harness before condemning it.
How long does a dishwasher control board replacement take?#
Once the correct part is in hand the work runs about one to two hours, covering the diagnosis, the swap, and a full test of every wash and dry cycle to confirm the fix held.
Appliance Repair Technician · 8 years experience
Experienced technician with 8 years specializing in dishwasher repairs and European appliance brands including Bosch and Thermador.
