U.S. residential electricity EIA data: July 2026 US average 18.3¢/kWh Updated
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Kitchen · Tennessee

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dishwasher in Tennessee?

The short answer

A typical dishwasher uses about 1.50 kWh per load, which costs $0.21 per load in Tennessee — about $4.47 a month at 5 loads a week.

Tennessee’s average residential rate was 13.7¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 25% below the US average.

Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated

Dishwasher cost by number of loads in Tennessee

Cost at 13.7¢/kWh, the Tennessee average (EIA, Jul 2026)
UsagekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 load/week 6.5 $0.03 $0.89 $10.72
3 loads/week 19.6 $0.09 $2.68 $32.17
5 loads/week 32.6 $0.15 $4.47 $53.62
7 loads/week 45.6 $0.21 $6.26 $75.06
10 loads/week 65.2 $0.29 $8.94 $107
14 loads/week 91.3 $0.41 $12.51 $150

Tennessee vs other states

At typical use, a dishwasher costs $53.62 a year in Tennessee — $134 less than in Hawaii and $3.87 more than in Louisiana.

Tennessee has the 5th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Tennessee price per kWh · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Tennessee

13.7¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +3.8% from a year earlier.

How to lower the cost of running a dishwasher

Most of a dishwasher's electricity goes into heating water and running the heated-dry cycle; the pump and motor use comparatively little. A typical load uses around 1–2 kWh. ENERGY STAR models and eco cycles use less water and lower temperatures, and skipping heated dry can save around 15% per load. Running a full dishwasher generally uses less energy and water than washing the same dishes by hand.

  • Only run it when it's full, and use the eco or energy-saver cycle.
  • Turn off heated dry and let dishes air-dry with the door cracked open.
  • Scrape instead of pre-rinsing under hot water.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost per load to run a dishwasher in Tennessee?

A typical load uses about 1.50 kWh, which costs $0.21 at Tennessee’s average rate of 13.7¢/kWh. An efficient model can cost as little as $0.12 per load.

How many kWh does a dishwasher use per month?

At 5 loads a week, a typical dishwasher uses about 32.6 kWh a month. In Tennessee that costs $4.47.

Is it expensive to run a dishwasher in Tennessee?

Tennessee has the 5th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 13.7¢/kWh — one of the cheapest. Running a dishwasher here costs about $53.62 a year at typical use, compared with $71.61 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Tennessee right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Tennessee was 13.7¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 3.8% from a year earlier.

Is it cheaper to use a dishwasher or wash by hand?

A full, efficient dishwasher typically uses less hot water — and therefore less energy — than washing the same load by hand under a running tap.

Dishwasher costs in nearby states

Cheapest and priciest states

Sources & method