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How many watts does a clothes dryer use? (3,000 W)
A clothes dryer uses about 3,000 W
Typical range 1,800–5,000 watts, plus ~1 W on standby.
Typical range 1,800–5,000 watts, plus ~1 W on standby.
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.
Clothes dryer power specs
| Typical running power | 3,000 W |
| Typical range | 1,800–5,000 W |
| Standby draw | 1 W |
| Energy use | 3.00 kWh/day · 90.0 kWh/mo |
What affects the wattage
- Model size, age and energy rating.
- Settings and how hard it works (heat, speed, load).
- How many hours a day you run it.
Running cost at $0.17/kWh
| 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 |
See the full breakdown of what it costs to run a clothes dryer, or what size power station runs a clothes dryer.
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.
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