How much does a washing machine cost to run in Tennessee?
$0.98 a month
- A day of use
- $0.06
- An hour of running
- $0.06
- A year
- $11.74
400 W, one 1-hour load, 4 days a week (motor only), 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 | $0.06 | $0.98 | $11.74 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.11 | $1.96 | $23.48 |
| 4 hours a day | $0.23 | $3.91 | $46.95 |
| 8 hours a day | $0.45 | $7.83 | $93.91 |
| 24 hours a day | $1.35 | $23.48 | $281.72 |
Models range from 300 W to 500 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 400 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
- Wash in cold water; heating the water uses far more energy than the motor, and it is billed on your water heater.
- Wash full loads. Saves about $0.24 a month.
- Use the high-spin setting so clothes need less time in the dryer.
Questions
How much does it cost to run a washing machine per hour?
About $0.06 an hour in Tennessee. A washing machine at 400 W uses 0.400 kWh per hour, and at Tennessee’s average of 14.1¢ per kWh that comes to $0.06.
How much does a washing machine add to your electric bill?
Used one 1-hour load, 4 days a week (motor only), about $0.98 a month in Tennessee, or $11.74 a year.
How much does it cost to run a washing machine 24 hours a day?
Running nonstop, a washing machine would use 9.60 kWh a day and cost $1.35 a day, or $41.08 over an average month in Tennessee.
How many watts does a washing machine use?
Models range from 300 W to 500 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 400 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 washing machine 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)
- Southern California Edison: Appliance energy use
- 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.