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

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Washing Machine in Tennessee?

The short answer

A typical washing machine uses about 0.50 kWh per load, which costs $0.07 per load in Tennessee — about $1.49 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

Washing Machine 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 2.2 $0.01 $0.30 $3.57
3 loads/week 6.5 $0.03 $0.89 $10.72
5 loads/week 10.9 $0.05 $1.49 $17.87
7 loads/week 15.2 $0.07 $2.09 $25.02
10 loads/week 21.7 $0.10 $2.98 $35.74
14 loads/week 30.4 $0.14 $4.17 $50.04

Tennessee vs other states

At typical use, a washing machine costs $17.87 a year in Tennessee — $44.70 less than in Hawaii and $1.29 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 washing machine

The motor and pump in a washing machine use relatively little electricity: around 0.3–0.5 kWh per load for a cold wash. A hot wash with water from an electric water heater can push the total to 2 kWh or more per load. Front-loaders and high-efficiency top-loaders use less water and spin clothes drier, which also cuts dryer time.

  • Wash in cold water — modern detergents clean well, and it can cut energy per load by up to 90%.
  • Run full loads and use the high-spin setting to shorten drying time.
  • Use the eco cycle for lightly soiled clothes.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

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

A typical load uses about 0.50 kWh, which costs $0.07 at Tennessee’s average rate of 13.7¢/kWh. An efficient model can cost as little as $0.04 per load.

How many kWh does a washing machine use per month?

At 5 loads a week, a typical washing machine uses about 10.9 kWh a month. In Tennessee that costs $1.49.

Is it expensive to run a washing machine 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 washing machine here costs about $17.87 a year at typical use, compared with $23.87 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.

Washing Machine costs in nearby states

Cheapest and priciest states

Comparisons

Sources & method