Energy costs · October 2026 prices
How much does it cost to run a hair dryer?
A typical hair dryer uses about 1,550 watts, so it costs about 29¢ an hour to run at the U.S. average electricity price of 19.0¢ per kWh (October 2026). Used 10 minutes a day, that is about $1.47 a month, or $17.67 a year.
Key figures
- 1,200–1,875 Wtypical wattage (U.S. Department of Energy)
- 29¢per hour at 19.0¢/kWh
- $1.47per month, used 10 minutes a day
- 7.8 kWhper month at that use
Hair dryers draw a lot of power, but only for a few minutes at a time, so they cost little to run. The rated wattage is for the hottest, fastest setting; lower settings use less.
Cost by region
| Region | Price per kWh | Per hour | Per month (10 minutes a day) | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. average | 19.0¢ | 29¢ | $1.47 | $17.67 |
| Northeast | 26.6¢ | 41¢ | $2.06 | $24.74 |
| Midwest | 19.3¢ | 30¢ | $1.50 | $17.95 |
| South | 16.2¢ | 25¢ | $1.26 | $15.07 |
| West | 20.1¢ | 31¢ | $1.56 | $18.69 |
Cost per hour in every state (August 2026)
| State | ¢ per kWh | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.3¢ | 25¢ | $1.27 |
| Alaska | 29.4¢ | 46¢ | $2.28 |
| Arizona | 15.1¢ | 23¢ | $1.17 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | 22¢ | $1.11 |
| California | 29.8¢ | 46¢ | $2.31 |
| Colorado | 17.2¢ | 27¢ | $1.33 |
| Connecticut | 24.5¢ | 38¢ | $1.90 |
| Delaware | 18.7¢ | 29¢ | $1.45 |
| District of Columbia | 26.0¢ | 40¢ | $2.01 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | 23¢ | $1.16 |
| Georgia | 15.9¢ | 25¢ | $1.23 |
| Hawaii | 47.2¢ | 73¢ | $3.66 |
| Idaho | 13.4¢ | 21¢ | $1.04 |
| Illinois | 19.3¢ | 30¢ | $1.50 |
| Indiana | 17.0¢ | 26¢ | $1.32 |
| Iowa | 17.1¢ | 26¢ | $1.32 |
| Kansas | 15.5¢ | 24¢ | $1.20 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | 21¢ | $1.07 |
| Louisiana | 12.9¢ | 20¢ | $1.00 |
| Maine | 32.1¢ | 50¢ | $2.49 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | 33¢ | $1.66 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | 47¢ | $2.36 |
| Michigan | 23.0¢ | 36¢ | $1.78 |
| Minnesota | 17.2¢ | 27¢ | $1.33 |
| Mississippi | 14.4¢ | 22¢ | $1.12 |
| Missouri | 16.0¢ | 25¢ | $1.24 |
| Montana | 15.6¢ | 24¢ | $1.21 |
| Nebraska | 13.5¢ | 21¢ | $1.05 |
| Nevada | 12.7¢ | 20¢ | 99¢ |
| New Hampshire | 27.6¢ | 43¢ | $2.14 |
| New Jersey | 24.6¢ | 38¢ | $1.91 |
| New Mexico | 16.5¢ | 26¢ | $1.28 |
| New York | 28.7¢ | 44¢ | $2.22 |
| North Carolina | 15.0¢ | 23¢ | $1.16 |
| North Dakota | 13.3¢ | 21¢ | $1.03 |
| Ohio | 19.4¢ | 30¢ | $1.50 |
| Oklahoma | 14.8¢ | 23¢ | $1.15 |
| Oregon | 15.9¢ | 25¢ | $1.23 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.8¢ | 34¢ | $1.69 |
| Rhode Island | 28.2¢ | 44¢ | $2.18 |
| South Carolina | 15.8¢ | 24¢ | $1.22 |
| South Dakota | 15.2¢ | 23¢ | $1.17 |
| Tennessee | 13.4¢ | 21¢ | $1.04 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | 25¢ | $1.23 |
| Utah | 13.3¢ | 21¢ | $1.03 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | 37¢ | $1.85 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | 27¢ | $1.37 |
| Washington | 14.6¢ | 23¢ | $1.13 |
| West Virginia | 16.3¢ | 25¢ | $1.26 |
| Wisconsin | 19.4¢ | 30¢ | $1.50 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | 22¢ | $1.12 |
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.
Hair dryers in our catalogue by wattage
| Model | Watts | Per hour | Per month (10 minutes a day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revlon 1875W Infrared Hair Dryer | 1,875 W | 36¢ | $1.78 |
| Conair 1875W Hair Dryer | 1,875 W | 36¢ | $1.78 |
| Conair InfinitiPRO 1875W Hair Dryer | 1,875 W | 36¢ | $1.78 |
| BaBylissPRO Porcelain Ceramic 2000W Hair Dryer | 2,000 W | 38¢ | $1.90 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Hair dryers | 29¢ |
| Clothes dryers | 65¢ |
| Dishwashers | 34¢ |
| Space heaters | 29¢ |
| Electric kettles | 29¢ |
| Clothes irons | 27¢ |
| Toaster ovens | 23¢ |
| Vacuum cleaners | 23¢ |
| Toasters | 21¢ |
More about hair dryers
- Hair Styling Tools: models and list prices
- Safety: 19 CPSC recalls since 2010 mention hair 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.