How Much Electricity Does a Clothes Dryer Use?
The dryer is one of the hungriest appliances in the house while it runs, but it runs for less than an hour at a time. The cost per load is the useful number.
Quick answer
An electric clothes dryer draws between 1,800 and 5,000 watts while heating. A full-size electric dryer that just meets the ENERGY STAR standard uses about 2.15 kWh to dry the 8.45-pound test load, which costs about 39 cents at the U.S. average rate of 18.31 cents per kWh. At five loads a week that is roughly $100 a year. Heat pump dryers use around 70 percent less.
- Difficulty
- Easy DIY
- Electric dryer draw
- 1,800 to 5,000 W
- One load at 2.15 kWh
- About 39¢
- Heat pump dryer
- About 70% less energy (ENERGY STAR)
- Rate used
- 18.31¢/kWh, U.S. average (EIA)
On this page
About 80 percent of American homes have a clothes dryer, according to ENERGY STAR. An electric one draws more power than almost anything else that plugs in: Virginia Cooperative Extension lists the typical range as 1,800 to 5,000 watts.
Two ways to work out the cost
From the wattage. The dryer’s nameplate, usually inside the door opening, lists watts or amps. Multiply amps by 240 volts for a full-size electric dryer.
Cost per hour = watts ÷ 1,000 × your rate per kWh
A 3,000-watt dryer: 3 kWh per hour of continuous heating × $0.1831 = about 55 cents. Because the heating element cycles off once the drum is hot, a real cycle uses less than the nameplate figure suggests.
From the efficiency rating. Dryers are rated by combined energy factor (CEF): the pounds of laundry dried per kWh of electricity, measured with a standard test load. To earn the ENERGY STAR label, a standard-size electric dryer must reach a CEF of at least 3.93, and the standard test load weighs 8.45 pounds. Dividing one by the other gives the energy for that load:
8.45 lb ÷ 3.93 lb per kWh = about 2.15 kWh per load, or about 39 cents at 18.31¢ per kWh.
A less efficient dryer, a heavier load or wetter clothes will use more.
Cost per load and per year
Calculated for five loads a week, 260 loads a year.
| Energy per load | Per load at 18.31¢ | Per year at 12¢ | Per year at 18.31¢ | Per year at 25¢ | Per year at 35¢ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 kWh | 27¢ | $46.80 | $71.41 | $97.50 | $136.50 |
| 2.15 kWh | 39¢ | $67.08 | $102.35 | $139.75 | $195.65 |
| 3 kWh | 55¢ | $93.60 | $142.82 | $195.00 | $273.00 |
| 4.5 kWh | 82¢ | $140.40 | $214.23 | $292.50 | $409.50 |
The 18.31¢ column is the U.S. average residential rate for July 2026 reported by the Energy Information Administration. For your own numbers, use the appliance energy cost calculator.
Heat pump and gas dryers
- Heat pump dryers reuse the heat in the drum instead of venting it outdoors. ENERGY STAR states that certified heat pump dryers use around 70 percent less energy than conventional dryers.
- Gas dryers make their heat by burning gas. They still use electricity for the motor, blower, igniter and controls, but most of the running cost is gas.
- ENERGY STAR electric dryers. ENERGY STAR estimates that a full-size certified electric dryer saves about $210 in energy bills over its life.
Ways to use less
- Dry full loads. ENERGY STAR points out that drying a single towel for 30 minutes costs about as much as drying a full load for the same time.
- Use the moisture sensor cycle instead of a fixed time, so the dryer stops when the clothes are dry.
- Clean the lint screen every load. If you use dryer sheets, ENERGY STAR suggests scrubbing the screen once a month to remove the film they leave.
- Keep the vent clear. A restricted vent stretches every cycle. If loads need a second cycle, see why a dryer takes too long to dry.
- Spin faster in the washer. Clothes that go in with less water need less heat to dry.
If the bill rose and the dryer is only one suspect, see how to find why an electric bill jumped. For a much smaller load, see how much electricity a TV uses.
If the drum turns but there is no heat at all, the cause is a fault, not a setting: see dryer not heating.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a dryer for one hour?
Multiply the dryer's watts by your rate. A 3,000-watt dryer uses 3 kWh in an hour of continuous heating, about 55 cents at the U.S. average rate of 18.31 cents per kWh. The heating element cycles on and off during a load, so a one-hour cycle usually uses less than that.
Does a gas dryer use electricity?
Yes, but far less. A gas dryer burns gas to make the heat and uses electricity only for the drum motor, the blower, the igniter and the controls. Most of its running cost is on the gas bill.
Does a hair dryer use a lot of electricity?
It draws a lot, 1,200 to 1,875 watts according to Virginia Cooperative Extension, but only for minutes. Ten minutes at 1,500 watts is 0.25 kWh, about 5 cents at the U.S. average rate.
Why does my dryer take two cycles to dry a load?
The most common cause is restricted airflow from a clogged lint screen or vent. A dryer that runs twice uses twice the electricity, and a blocked vent is a fire hazard.
Sources
- Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use (publication 2901-9014) Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech
- Clothes Dryers Key Product Criteria ENERGY STAR
- Clothes Dryers ENERGY STAR
- Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers U.S. Energy Information Administration
First published October 8, 2026. Last reviewed October 8, 2026. Spot an error? Tell us and we will check it against the source.