Laundry · Midwest
Cost to run a electric clothes dryer in Illinois
At Illinois’s average residential rate of 23.85¢ per kWh, a electric clothes dryer drawing 3000W for 1 hour a day costs about $18.51 a month. Change the numbers below to match how you actually use yours.
Quick answer
Based on 3000W at a 85% duty cycle (this equipment cycles on and off rather than drawing full power continuously) and 23.85¢/kWh, the Illinois average for May 2026.
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— per year
Why the cost differs in Illinois
Illinois has the 40th cheapest residential electricity of the 51 US states and territories we track, at 23.85¢ per kWh against a national average of 18.44¢. That is +29.3% compared with the national figure. Illinois has one of the largest nuclear fleets in the country, which keeps generation costs low, but PJM and MISO capacity charges have risen sharply and now drive most of the upward pressure on bills. Retail choice is available, so shopped rates differ from the average. Cold winters and humid summers both contribute meaningfully to annual consumption.
For this appliance specifically, the difference works out to an extra $50.35 a year over what the same electric clothes dryer would cost at the national average rate. Run the identical appliance in Hawaii and it would cost $484 a year; in Idaho it would cost $115. That spread of $369 is entirely down to location.
That is about 8.9% of a typical Illinois household's annual electricity bill from this one appliance, which is enough to be worth optimising.
Illinois sits above the national average, so the running cost of this electric clothes dryer is modestly higher than a typical US household would pay. Usage habits still matter more than location at this rate level.
Because Illinois has retail supplier choice, the state average blends many different contracted rates. If you have shopped for a plan, your own price per kWh is the number to put in the calculator.
| Location | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois this page | 23.85¢ | $18.51 | $222 |
| US average | 18.44¢ | $14.31 | $172 |
| Idaho cheapest state | 12.35¢ | $9.59 | $115 |
| Hawaii most expensive | 52.00¢ | $40.36 | $484 |
Illinois electricity rate trend
Rates in Illinois have moved from 18.29¢ to 23.85¢ per kWh over the last twelve months of published data. Nationally, residential rates rose about 6.2% year over year.
2025-06 to 2026-05 · cents per kWh
About running a electric clothes dryer
One of the most expensive loads in the home. Heat pump dryers use roughly half the energy of resistance models. Cleaning the lint filter and venting matters - restricted airflow extends cycle time and directly raises cost.
What actually changes the cost
- Models vary widely, from about 1800W to 5000W. Check the nameplate on your own unit rather than assuming an average, because the spread is more than 2x.
- If your utility offers time-of-use pricing, shifting this load off-peak can cut its cost substantially without using any less energy.
How we worked this out
The arithmetic is simple and we would rather show it than hide it. Divide watts by 1,000 to get kilowatts, multiply by hours of use and by the duty cycle to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your rate:
3000W ÷ 1000 × 1h × 85% = 2.550 kWh/day × 23.85¢ = $0.608 per day
One honest caveat: Illinois’s figure is a state average published by the EIA. Your own utility’s tariff, any time-of-use pricing, fixed monthly service charges and local taxes all shift the real number. Put your actual per-kWh rate into the calculator above for a figure that reflects your bill.
Questions about electric clothes dryer running costs
How many watts does a electric clothes dryer use?
A typical electric clothes dryer draws about 3000 watts while running, with most models falling between 1800W and 5000W. Check the nameplate label or manual for your specific unit - the range is wide enough that averages can mislead.
How much electricity does a electric clothes dryer use per day?
At around 1 hour of use a day and a 85% duty cycle, that works out to roughly 2.55 kWh per day, or about 77 kWh a month. Your actual figure depends on your usage and model.
Why does the cost differ so much between states?
Residential electricity rates across the US range from about 12.35 cents per kWh in North Dakota to 46.62 cents in Hawaii - nearly a fourfold difference. The same electric clothes dryer, used identically, therefore costs almost four times as much to run in the most expensive state as in the cheapest.
Is it cheaper to run a electric clothes dryer at night?
Only if you are on a time-of-use or variable tariff. On a flat rate, the time of day makes no difference to cost. If you are on time-of-use pricing, off-peak hours are typically materially cheaper, and shifting this load can reduce its cost without reducing usage.