How much does a toaster cost to run in Tennessee?
$0.47 a month
- A day of use
- $0.02
- An hour of running
- $0.15
- A year
- $5.65
1,100 W, 6 minutes a day, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes a day typical | $0.02 | $0.47 | $5.65 |
| 1 hour a day | $0.15 | $4.71 | $56.49 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.31 | $9.42 | $112.98 |
| 4 hours a day | $0.62 | $18.83 | $225.96 |
| 8 hours a day | $1.24 | $37.66 | $451.93 |
| 24 hours a day | $3.71 | $112.98 | $1,355.79 |
Models range from 800 W to 1,400 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 1,100 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
- Toast in a toaster, not the oven or toaster oven; it heats only the bread.
- Empty the crumb tray; built-up crumbs slow it down.
- Toast both slices at once.
Questions
How much does it cost to run a toaster per hour?
About $0.15 an hour in Tennessee. A toaster at 1,100 W uses 1.10 kWh per hour, and at Tennessee’s average of 14.1¢ per kWh that comes to $0.15.
How much does a toaster add to your electric bill?
Used 6 minutes a day, about $0.47 a month in Tennessee, or $5.65 a year.
How much does it cost to run a toaster 24 hours a day?
Running nonstop, a toaster would use 26.4 kWh a day and cost $3.71 a day, or $112.98 over an average month in Tennessee.
How many watts does a toaster use?
Models range from 800 W to 1,400 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 1,100 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 toaster 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.