Home / Laundry & Cleaning / Cost to run Clothes dryer
How much does it cost to run a clothes dryer? ($15.30/mo)
Running a clothes dryer costs about $15.30 / month
($0.51/day at 1 h/day, $0.17/kWh).
($0.51/day at 1 h/day, $0.17/kWh).
Running cost calculator
Per hour—
Per day—
Per month—
Per year—
Energy/mo—
An electric clothes dryer is among the biggest energy users in the home, since it turns electricity straight into heat.
Cost at different electricity rates
| Electricity rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.10/kWh | $0.30 | $9.00 | $109.50 |
| $0.15/kWh | $0.45 | $13.50 | $164.25 |
| $0.20/kWh | $0.60 | $18.00 | $219.00 |
| $0.25/kWh | $0.75 | $22.50 | $273.75 |
| $0.30/kWh | $0.90 | $27.00 | $328.50 |
| $0.40/kWh | $1.20 | $36.00 | $438.00 |
Cost over time
| Per hour of use | $0.51 |
| Per day (1 h) | $0.51 |
| Per month | $15.30 |
| Per year | $186.15 |
How to spend less running a clothes dryer
- Cut the hours: A clothes dryer at 1 h/day runs about $15.30/month — trimming one hour saves roughly $15.30/month.
- Wash cold: most of the energy heats water, so cold or eco cycles cut the bill sharply.
- Upgrade efficiency: a newer clothes dryer near 1,800 W uses far less than an old 5,000 W one.
- Kill standby: a smart plug or timer removes the ~1 W it draws even when off.
Want the raw figure? See how many watts a clothes dryer uses.
FAQ
How many watts does a clothes dryer use?
Electric dryers typically draw 1800-5000 watts, averaging around 3000 W.
Is a heat pump dryer cheaper to run?
Yes - heat pump dryers use roughly half the energy of conventional electric dryers.
More in Laundry & Cleaning