Electric Clothes Dryer electricity cost calculator
In this example, a electric clothes dryer at 3000W and 85% duty cycle costs $0.463 per scheduled hour. At 1.00 hour per day, that is $14.10 per 30.44 use days, using the August 2026 US average of 18.16¢/kWh. Adjust the calculator for your appliance and electricity bill.
Electric Clothes Dryer electricity cost calculator
Use watts and running time, or enter energy from a label, meter or completed load. Your inputs stay on this device.
Enter a number within each field’s limits to calculate your cost.
Your estimated energy cost
931 kWh across 365 use days per year
Power mode includes your selected duty cycle. The monthly figure assumes 30.44 use days; the annual total uses your selected use days. These are estimates at the entered rate.
Energy charges only. Fixed utility fees, purchase, installation and maintenance are excluded. See the calculation method and sources.
Running cost at different usage times
These examples hold 3000W, 85% duty cycle and 18.16¢/kWh constant. They illustrate the arithmetic, not recommended schedules. Follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions.
| Hours per use day | kWh per day | Cost per day | 30.44 use days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 1.275 kWh | $0.23 | $7.05 |
| 1 | 2.550 kWh | $0.46 | $14.10 |
| 4 | 10.200 kWh | $1.85 | $56.38 |
| 8 | 20.400 kWh | $3.70 | $113 |
How to estimate your electric clothes dryer electricity use
Dryer energy is often easiest to compare per load. The heating element can cycle during a load, and wetness, load size, cycle choice and dryer technology change the result.
This is an electricity estimate for an electric dryer. For a gas dryer, gas consumption is a separate cost. Water removal before drying and the chosen dryness setting affect each load.
- For a measured load, cost per load equals kWh used by that cycle times your electricity price. An illustrative 3 kWh load at $0.20/kWh costs $0.60.
- Multiply cost per load by the number of loads to estimate a week or year. If using hours/day, convert your weekly dryer hours to a daily average by dividing by seven.
- Use a representative average cycle wattage at 100% duty, or active element watts with a suitable duty factor. A maximum nameplate rating is not a measured cycle average.
- A heat-pump dryer and an electric resistance dryer can have different energy and cycle lengths. Compare kWh for comparable loads rather than watts alone.
Calculation and data sources
Daily kWh = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × duty cycle ÷ 100. Multiply kWh by your rate in dollars per kWh to get cost. The wattage, hours and duty cycle above are editable example assumptions, not EIA measurements of this appliance.
The US and state average prices come from the EIA for August 2026. A state average is a starting point; your bill is the better source for your tariff.
Electricity running cost by state
Sorted by average electricity price. These reference figures use 1.00 hours per day at 85% duty cycle, for 30.44 days per month and 365 days per year. Seasonal use will cost less than this year-round scenario. Click a state to load its rate.
| State | Rate /kWh | Per month | Per year | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $9.87 | $118 | |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $9.99 | $120 | |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $10.33 | $124 | |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $10.33 | $124 | |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $10.38 | $124 | |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $10.42 | $125 | |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $10.51 | $126 | |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $10.71 | $128 | |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $11.15 | $134 | |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $11.20 | $134 | |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $11.20 | $134 | |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $11.36 | $136 | |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $11.50 | $138 | |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $11.60 | $139 | |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $11.64 | $140 | |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $11.68 | $140 | |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $11.76 | $141 | |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $12.01 | $144 | |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $12.09 | $145 | |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $12.23 | $147 | |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $12.34 | $148 | |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $12.35 | $148 | |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $12.36 | $148 | |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $12.44 | $149 | |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $12.66 | $152 | |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $12.68 | $152 | |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $12.82 | $154 | |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $13.21 | $158 | |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $13.24 | $159 | |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $13.33 | $160 | |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $13.35 | $160 | |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $13.69 | $164 | |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $14.52 | $174 | |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $15.00 | $180 | |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $15.04 | $180 | |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $15.07 | $181 | |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $16.61 | $199 | |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $16.90 | $203 | |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $17.85 | $214 | |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $18.51 | $222 | |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $19.03 | $228 | |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $19.10 | $229 | |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $20.17 | $242 | |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $21.45 | $257 | |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $21.87 | $262 | |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $22.24 | $267 | |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $22.83 | $274 | |
| California | 29.75¢ | $23.09 | $277 | |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $23.66 | $284 | |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $24.92 | $299 | |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $36.62 | $439 |
Common questions
How much electricity does a electric clothes dryer use?
In this example, 3000 watts at a 85% duty cycle uses 2.550 kWh per scheduled hour. At 1.00 hours per day, that is 2.550 kWh per use day. Your model and operating conditions can differ.
How much does it cost to run a electric clothes dryer for an hour?
The default example costs $0.463 per scheduled hour at the US average of 18.16¢/kWh for August 2026. This includes the selected duty cycle. Enter your watts, duty cycle and electricity price for your own estimate.
Does the annual cost assume I use it every day?
The reference tables use 365 days at the stated daily hours; monthly figures use 30.44 days. These are comparison scenarios, not forecasts. For a heater used on 90 days, enter 90 use days per year in the calculator.
Why does electricity running cost vary by state?
For August 2026, the EIA state averages range from 12.72¢/kWh in Nevada to 47.18¢/kWh in Hawaii. Equal electricity use costs more at a higher rate. Your utility tariff can differ from the state average.
How do I calculate the electricity cost per dryer load?
Multiply measured kWh per cycle by your electricity price. An illustrative 3 kWh load at $0.20/kWh costs $0.60. For a watts-based estimate, multiply average kW by cycle hours first.
Should I use the dryer heating-element wattage for the full cycle?
Only if it actually draws that power throughout. Many dryers cycle or vary heating. Use measured cycle energy, average input, or an explicit duty estimate.
How do I estimate four dryer loads per week?
Multiply cost per load by four for a weekly estimate, or by 208 for a 52-week year. This assumes the same representative load throughout the year.