How much does a dishwasher cost to run in Tennessee?
$5.50 a month
- A day of use
- $0.25
- An hour of running
- $0.25
- A year
- $66.03
1,800 W, one 1-hour cycle, 5 days a week, at Tennessee’s average rate of 14.1¢ per kWh (EIA, June 2026). How we calculate this
Change the watts, hours or rate
What it costs at other usage levels
| Use | A day | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour a day typical | $0.25 | $5.50 | $66.03 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.51 | $11.00 | $132.06 |
| 4 hours a day | $1.01 | $22.01 | $264.11 |
| 8 hours a day | $2.03 | $44.02 | $528.23 |
| 24 hours a day | $6.08 | $132.06 | $1,584.68 |
Models range from 1,200 W to 2,400 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 1,800 W, the middle of that range.
Tennessee compared with other states
Tennessee’s residential rate is the 5th cheapest of 51 states and DC, 4.3¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−23%). Tennessee’s rate is up 0.3¢ from June 2025 (13.8¢, +1.8%).
Ways to spend less
- Run it only when it is full. Saves about $1.10 a month.
- Turn off heated drying and let dishes air-dry.
- Use the eco cycle; it runs longer but heats less.
Questions
How much does it cost to run a dishwasher per hour?
About $0.25 an hour in Tennessee. A dishwasher at 1,800 W uses 1.80 kWh per hour, and at Tennessee’s average of 14.1¢ per kWh that comes to $0.25.
How much does a dishwasher add to your electric bill?
Used one 1-hour cycle, 5 days a week, about $5.50 a month in Tennessee, or $66.03 a year.
How much does it cost to run a dishwasher 24 hours a day?
Running nonstop, a dishwasher would use 43.2 kWh a day and cost $6.08 a day, or $184.88 over an average month in Tennessee.
How many watts does a dishwasher use?
Models range from 1,200 W to 2,400 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 1,800 W, the middle of that range. Check the label on yours: cost scales directly with watts, so a 20% lower wattage means a 20% lower bill.
Why does a dishwasher cost more or less to run in Tennessee than elsewhere?
Tennessee’s residential rate is the 5th cheapest of 51 states and DC, 4.3¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−23%). Tennessee’s rate is up 0.3¢ from June 2025 (13.8¢, +1.8%). The appliance uses the same energy everywhere; only the price per kWh changes.
Sources
- Virginia Cooperative Extension: Estimating appliance and home electronic energy use (reproduces U.S. Department of Energy sample wattages)
- Penn State EGEE 102: Typical range of power consumption (wattage)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: average price of electricity to ultimate customers, residential, June 2026 Figures transcribed from republications of this table on September 26, 2026; pending direct verification from the EIA API.
- Carrier page: June 2026 residential average price, citing EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A
Usage assumptions (hours a day, season) are ours and listed on the methodology page. Found an error? Tell us.