Calculators · Cost to run
How much does it cost to run an electric dryer?
A standard electric dryer uses about 3 kWh per load — it's a 240-volt appliance with a heating element that cycles. The natural way to think about it is cost per load, not per hour. A newer heat-pump dryer uses roughly half the energy for the same laundry.
240 V; heat-pump dryers use far less.
per hour
37¢
per day
$0.37
per month
$11.38
per year
$136.45
Running a 3000W electric clothes dryer 1 hours a day costs about $0.37/day or $11.38/month at 12.46¢/kWh.
Runs entirely in your browser — nothing you type is sent anywhere. Estimates only; your actual bill depends on your usage and includes delivery charges on top of the supply rate.
What it costs per load, at real rates
Based on one full cycle on a standard vented dryer (~3 kWh), priced at three of the utilities we track:
| Utility | Rate | Cost per load |
|---|---|---|
| PECO (PA) | 10.789¢/kWh | 32¢ |
| BGE (MD) | 14.609¢/kWh | 44¢ |
| ComEd (IL) | 10.399¢/kWh | 31¢ |
Supply rate only; delivery charges are extra. Use the calculator above for your own utility and usage.
Dryer type and energy per load
| Dryer type | Energy per load | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard vented (electric) | ~3 kWh | Most common; heating element cycles |
| Heat-pump dryer | ~1.5 kWh | ~50% less; gentler on clothes, dries slower |
| Compact / 120 V dryer | ~2 kWh | Smaller loads, longer cycles |
Energy per load varies with load size, moisture, and cycle. Heat-pump models cost more upfront but far less to run.
How to cut the cost
- 1
Dry full loads, back-to-back
Drying full loads spreads the energy over more clothes, and consecutive loads reuse the heat already in the drum.
- 2
Use the moisture sensor, not a timer
Auto-dry stops when the clothes are dry instead of over-drying on a fixed timer — saves energy and wear on fabrics.
- 3
Clean the lint filter every load
A clogged filter chokes airflow so the dryer runs longer for the same load. Clean it every time.
- 4
Line-dry when you can
Even drying half your loads on a rack or line roughly halves the dryer's share of the bill.
Common questions
- How much does it cost to run a dryer per load?
- About 3 kWh for a standard electric dryer — roughly 35–50¢ per load depending on your rate. Pick your utility above for the exact figure.
- How much does a dryer cost per month?
- At about 3 kWh per load and, say, 5 loads a week (~65 loads/month), that's roughly 195 kWh — about $25–$33 a month at typical rates. A heat-pump dryer would roughly halve it.
- Is a gas or electric dryer cheaper to run?
- Gas dryers usually cost less per load to operate where natural gas is cheap, but they cost more to buy and need a gas hookup. An efficient heat-pump electric dryer narrows the gap considerably.
- Do heat-pump dryers really save money?
- Yes — they use roughly half the energy of a standard vented dryer for the same laundry. They cost more upfront and dry more slowly, but cut the per-load running cost meaningfully over years of use.
Hiring out the wiring?
Before you pay anyone to touch your panel or wiring, make sure they're actually licensed. You can check a contractor's license on StateCreds — our sister site.
Verify a contractor's license by state →If your bill jumped more than your usage explains, your rate may have risen too.