Energy costs · October 2026 prices
How much does it cost to run a clothes dryer?
A typical clothes dryer uses about 3,400 watts, so it costs about 65¢ an hour to run at the U.S. average electricity price of 19.0¢ per kWh (October 2026). Used one 1-hour load, four times a week, that is about $10.34 a month, or $124.03 a year.
Key figures
- 1,800–5,000 Wtypical wattage (U.S. Department of Energy)
- 65¢per hour at 19.0¢/kWh
- $10.34per month, used one 1-hour load, four times a week
- 54.4 kWhper month at that use
An electric clothes dryer is one of the largest electricity users in most homes. Gas dryers use gas for heat and much less electricity. Drying full loads, cleaning the lint filter and using a moisture sensor setting all shorten drying time.
Cost by region
| Region | Price per kWh | Per hour | Per month (one 1-hour load, four times a week) | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. average | 19.0¢ | 65¢ | $10.34 | $124.03 |
| Northeast | 26.6¢ | 90¢ | $14.47 | $173.64 |
| Midwest | 19.3¢ | 66¢ | $10.50 | $125.99 |
| South | 16.2¢ | 55¢ | $8.81 | $105.75 |
| West | 20.1¢ | 68¢ | $10.93 | $131.21 |
Cost per hour in every state (August 2026)
| State | ¢ per kWh | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.3¢ | 56¢ | $8.88 |
| Alaska | 29.4¢ | $1.00 | $16.00 |
| Arizona | 15.1¢ | 51¢ | $8.19 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | 49¢ | $7.82 |
| California | 29.8¢ | $1.01 | $16.18 |
| Colorado | 17.2¢ | 58¢ | $9.34 |
| Connecticut | 24.5¢ | 83¢ | $13.33 |
| Delaware | 18.7¢ | 64¢ | $10.17 |
| District of Columbia | 26.0¢ | 88¢ | $14.13 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | 51¢ | $8.15 |
| Georgia | 15.9¢ | 54¢ | $8.65 |
| Hawaii | 47.2¢ | $1.60 | $25.67 |
| Idaho | 13.4¢ | 45¢ | $7.27 |
| Illinois | 19.3¢ | 66¢ | $10.51 |
| Indiana | 17.0¢ | 58¢ | $9.26 |
| Iowa | 17.1¢ | 58¢ | $9.28 |
| Kansas | 15.5¢ | 53¢ | $8.42 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | 47¢ | $7.51 |
| Louisiana | 12.9¢ | 44¢ | $7.00 |
| Maine | 32.1¢ | $1.09 | $17.47 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | 73¢ | $11.64 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | $1.04 | $16.58 |
| Michigan | 23.0¢ | 78¢ | $12.51 |
| Minnesota | 17.2¢ | 58¢ | $9.36 |
| Mississippi | 14.4¢ | 49¢ | $7.85 |
| Missouri | 16.0¢ | 54¢ | $8.71 |
| Montana | 15.6¢ | 53¢ | $8.47 |
| Nebraska | 13.5¢ | 46¢ | $7.37 |
| Nevada | 12.7¢ | 43¢ | $6.92 |
| New Hampshire | 27.6¢ | 94¢ | $15.04 |
| New Jersey | 24.6¢ | 84¢ | $13.39 |
| New Mexico | 16.5¢ | 56¢ | $8.98 |
| New York | 28.7¢ | 97¢ | $15.59 |
| North Carolina | 15.0¢ | 51¢ | $8.13 |
| North Dakota | 13.3¢ | 45¢ | $7.24 |
| Ohio | 19.4¢ | 66¢ | $10.54 |
| Oklahoma | 14.8¢ | 50¢ | $8.06 |
| Oregon | 15.9¢ | 54¢ | $8.66 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.8¢ | 74¢ | $11.84 |
| Rhode Island | 28.2¢ | 96¢ | $15.33 |
| South Carolina | 15.8¢ | 54¢ | $8.57 |
| South Dakota | 15.2¢ | 52¢ | $8.24 |
| Tennessee | 13.4¢ | 46¢ | $7.30 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | 54¢ | $8.66 |
| Utah | 13.3¢ | 45¢ | $7.24 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | 81¢ | $12.97 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | 60¢ | $9.60 |
| Washington | 14.6¢ | 50¢ | $7.96 |
| West Virginia | 16.3¢ | 55¢ | $8.87 |
| Wisconsin | 19.4¢ | 66¢ | $10.56 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | 49¢ | $7.85 |
State prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, residential customers.
Running cost calculator
Cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh (the DOE formula). The wattage on your appliance’s label or in its manual gives the most accurate result; appliances that cycle on and off (heaters with a thermostat, dehumidifiers) use less than their rated wattage.
Clothes dryers in our catalogue by wattage
| Model | Watts | Per hour | Per month (one 1-hour load, four times a week) |
|---|---|---|---|
| LG DLE3400W 7.4 cu ft Electric Dryer, White | 3,400 W | 65¢ | $10.34 |
| Samsung 7.5 cu ft Electric Dryer DVE45T6000W, White | 6,000 W | $1.14 | $18.24 |
Wattage as listed by the manufacturer for each model; at the U.S. average price.
Compared with other appliances
| Appliance | Cost per hour of use |
|---|---|
| Clothes dryers | 65¢ |
| Dishwashers | 34¢ |
| Hair dryers | 29¢ |
| Space heaters | 29¢ |
| Electric kettles | 29¢ |
| Clothes irons | 27¢ |
| Toaster ovens | 23¢ |
| Vacuum cleaners | 23¢ |
| Toasters | 21¢ |
More about clothes dryers
- Washers & Dryers: models and list prices
- Safety: 7 CPSC recalls since 2010 mention clothes dryers or similar products. Search recalls
- Running costs of other appliances
Sources: electricity prices from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price Data, “Electricity per kWh” (about the data); U.S. Department of Energy typical wattages (Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use, Virginia Cooperative Extension BSE-301NP, developed with DOE, 2020). Cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh. Your own price per kWh, including delivery charges and taxes, is on your electricity bill.