How much does it cost to run a clothes dryer?
A clothes dryer drawing 3,000 watts, used about 45 minutes a day, uses about 2.25 kWh per day and costs about $0.44 per day, $13.29 per month, and $159.40 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.4¢/kWh. Enter your own wattage, hours, and state below for an exact figure.
Estimates only — based on typical wattages and average state rates, not your actual bill.
What drives the cost
An electric dryer draws around 3,000 watts but runs in short bursts — typically 45 minutes per load. Cost therefore scales with loads per week rather than hours per day. Heat-pump dryers use substantially less energy but take longer per cycle.
Cost at different daily usage
Same clothes dryer at 3,000 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 min/day | 1.14 kWh | $0.22 | $6.74 | $80.77 |
| 45 min/day | 2.25 kWh | $0.44 | $13.29 | $159.40 |
| 1.5 h/day | 4.50 kWh | $0.87 | $26.59 | $318.81 |
| 3 h/day | 9.00 kWh | $1.75 | $53.18 | $637.62 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 45 min/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 2,000 W | 1.50 kWh | $0.29 | $8.86 |
| Typical | 3,000 W | 2.25 kWh | $0.44 | $13.29 |
| High-draw model | 5,000 W | 3.75 kWh | $0.73 | $22.16 |
Cost by state
A clothes dryer at 3,000 W for 45 min/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $0.38 | $11.49 | $137.72 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $0.64 | $19.33 | $231.84 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $0.34 | $10.43 | $125.08 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $0.32 | $9.84 | $117.93 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $0.75 | $22.77 | $273.07 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $0.36 | $11.07 | $132.71 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $0.62 | $18.75 | $224.78 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $0.44 | $13.27 | $159.16 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $0.57 | $17.40 | $208.60 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $0.34 | $10.39 | $124.58 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $0.36 | $10.85 | $130.09 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $1.17 | $35.61 | $427.05 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $0.28 | $8.46 | $101.42 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $0.54 | $16.33 | $195.87 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $0.41 | $12.43 | $149.06 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.32 | $9.68 | $116.12 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $0.34 | $10.36 | $124.26 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $0.34 | $10.26 | $123.02 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $0.32 | $9.69 | $116.21 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $0.64 | $19.61 | $235.12 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $0.49 | $14.91 | $178.79 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $0.65 | $19.74 | $236.68 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $0.50 | $15.07 | $180.76 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $0.38 | $11.61 | $139.20 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $0.36 | $11.07 | $132.71 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $0.31 | $9.37 | $112.35 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $0.33 | $10.05 | $120.48 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $0.31 | $9.31 | $111.61 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $0.31 | $9.31 | $111.69 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $0.61 | $18.72 | $224.45 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $0.52 | $15.94 | $191.10 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $0.32 | $9.67 | $115.96 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.67 | $20.50 | $245.80 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $0.34 | $10.34 | $123.93 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $0.31 | $9.32 | $111.77 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.44 | $13.37 | $160.31 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $0.30 | $9.16 | $109.88 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $0.37 | $11.14 | $133.62 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $0.48 | $14.76 | $176.98 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $0.66 | $20.18 | $241.94 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $0.36 | $11.08 | $132.88 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $0.35 | $10.77 | $129.18 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $0.33 | $9.91 | $118.83 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $0.37 | $11.26 | $135.01 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $0.29 | $8.88 | $106.43 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $0.56 | $17.05 | $204.41 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.40 | $12.06 | $144.62 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $0.34 | $10.24 | $122.78 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $0.38 | $11.51 | $137.97 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $0.44 | $13.52 | $162.11 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $0.33 | $10.14 | $121.55 |
How to cut the cost
- Clean the lint filter every load and check the vent duct yearly; restricted airflow lengthens every cycle.
- Use the moisture sensor rather than a timed dry, so the machine stops when clothes are actually dry.
- Spin clothes at a higher speed in the washer — less retained water means less drying time.
- Dry consecutive loads while the drum is still warm, and line-dry when weather allows.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
How much does it cost to dry one load of laundry?
At roughly 3,000 watts for 45 minutes, one load uses about 2.25 kWh. Multiply by your rate — the state table below shows monthly cost for daily drying.
Are heat pump dryers cheaper to run?
Yes, typically using around half the energy of a conventional vented dryer, though cycles run longer and purchase prices are higher.
How do you calculate what a clothes dryer costs to run?
Multiply its wattage by the hours it runs per day, divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your electricity rate. For a clothes dryer: 3,000 W × 0.75 h ÷ 1,000 = 2.25 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $0.44 per day.
How many watts does a clothes dryer use?
Typically 3,000 watts, with most models falling between 2,000 and 5,000 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.