Electric clothes dryer: electricity cost calculator
Quick answer: a typical electric clothes dryer costs about $17/month while in use at the U.S. average electricity price (18.44¢/kWh) — about $202 per year. Your number depends on wattage, runtime and your state — calculate it below.
Electric dryers draw 2,500–4,000 W. The preset models one 60-minute load per day; scale hours to your laundry habits.
3.00 kWh/day used · 91 kWh/month in use · 1096 kWh/year at 18.44¢ per kWh
Low, typical and heavy use
Monthly cost while in use, at the U.S. average price of 18.44¢/kWh.
| Scenario | Watts | Hours/day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light use | 2,500 W | 0.6 h | $8.42 |
| Typical | 3,000 W | 1.0 h | $16.84 |
| Heavy use | 4,000 W | 1.5 h | $33.68 |
Common questions
How much does one load cost to dry?
At 3,000 W for an hour, one load is 3 kWh — about $0.55 at the U.S. average price. A heavy-use family drying 8+ loads a week can spend $15–25 per month.
Cost in every state
Monthly cost of a typical electric clothes dryer (3,000 W, 1h/day) at each state's average residential price, May 2026.
| State | Avg price | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.77¢ | $15.31 |
| Alaska | 28.23¢ | $25.78 |
| Arizona | 15.23¢ | $13.91 |
| Arkansas | 14.36¢ | $13.11 |
| California | 33.25¢ | $30.36 |
| Colorado | 16.16¢ | $14.76 |
| Connecticut | 27.37¢ | $24.99 |
| Delaware | 19.38¢ | $17.70 |
| District of Columbia | 25.40¢ | $23.19 |
| Florida | 15.17¢ | $13.85 |
| Georgia | 15.84¢ | $14.46 |
| Hawaii | 52.00¢ | $47.48 |
| Idaho | 12.35¢ | $11.28 |
| Illinois | 23.85¢ | $21.78 |
| Indiana | 18.15¢ | $16.57 |
| Iowa | 14.14¢ | $12.91 |
| Kansas | 15.13¢ | $13.82 |
| Kentucky | 14.98¢ | $13.68 |
| Louisiana | 14.15¢ | $12.92 |
| Maine | 28.63¢ | $26.14 |
| Maryland | 21.77¢ | $19.88 |
| Massachusetts | 28.82¢ | $26.32 |
| Michigan | 22.01¢ | $20.10 |
| Minnesota | 16.95¢ | $15.48 |
| Mississippi | 16.16¢ | $14.76 |
| Missouri | 13.68¢ | $12.49 |
| Montana | 14.67¢ | $13.40 |
| Nebraska | 13.59¢ | $12.41 |
| Nevada | 13.60¢ | $12.42 |
| New Hampshire | 27.33¢ | $24.96 |
| New Jersey | 23.27¢ | $21.25 |
| New Mexico | 14.12¢ | $12.89 |
| New York | 29.93¢ | $27.33 |
| North Carolina | 15.09¢ | $13.78 |
| North Dakota | 13.61¢ | $12.43 |
| Ohio | 19.52¢ | $17.82 |
| Oklahoma | 13.38¢ | $12.22 |
| Oregon | 16.27¢ | $14.86 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.55¢ | $19.68 |
| Rhode Island | 29.46¢ | $26.90 |
| South Carolina | 16.18¢ | $14.77 |
| South Dakota | 15.73¢ | $14.36 |
| Tennessee | 14.47¢ | $13.21 |
| Texas | 16.44¢ | $15.01 |
| Utah | 12.96¢ | $11.83 |
| Vermont | 24.89¢ | $22.73 |
| Virginia | 17.61¢ | $16.08 |
| Washington | 14.95¢ | $13.65 |
| West Virginia | 16.80¢ | $15.34 |
| Wisconsin | 19.74¢ | $18.03 |
| Wyoming | 14.80¢ | $13.51 |
Related calculators
Electric water heater Second-largest electricity user in most all-electric homes.
~4,500 W · 3h/day →
Heat pump water heater Same hot water for about a third of the electricity.
~550 W · 4h/day →
Electric tankless water heater Enormous draw, but only while hot water is flowing.
~18,000 W · 1h/day →
Washing machine Cold washes make it one of the cheapest appliances.
~500 W · 0.75h/day →
Heat pump dryer Slower cycles, less than half the energy per load.
~900 W · 1.5h/day →
Well pump A ½–2 HP motor that runs whenever water flows.
~1,000 W · 2h/day →
Methodology & sources
Cost = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × price per kWh. Electricity prices are average residential prices by state from the EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (May 2026). EIA averages include delivery charges and taxes but are not any specific utility tariff — for an exact figure, use the rate from your own bill. Wattage presets reflect common product ranges; check your appliance's nameplate or a plug-in power meter for its true draw.
Last verified: July 30, 2026. Prices refresh automatically each month when EIA publishes new data.