Clothes Dryer Cost Per Load Calculator
Pick your dryer type and how many loads you run a week, and get the cost per load, per month and per year in your state.
Clothes dryer cost
A10Scenario A
Sets the electricity rate. Pick US average if you're not sure.
From EIA for US average. Use the rate on your bill if you know it.
Rate used: 18.4¢/kWh · US average · EIA reference 2025–26 (data as of 2026-09-26) ·
Estimated cost per month
Estimate. Formula and sources are under “How it works”. Change any input; the result updates as you type.
Formula
How it works
- kWh per month = kWh per load × loads per week × 52 ÷ 12
- kWh per load: electric 3.0 · heat pump 1.2
- Cost per load = kWh per load × rate
A standard electric dryer draws 5,000–5,600 W for 35–45 minutes, which is about 3 kWh per load. A heat pump dryer recycles its heat and uses about 1.2 kWh. Loads per week × 52 ÷ 12 converts your weekly habit into an average month.
Sources: 3 kWh per electric load (DOE); 1.2 kWh per heat pump load. Electricity rate: EIA Electric Power Monthly table 5.6.A.
Worked example
A worked example
Seven loads a week in a heat pump dryer is 1.2 kWh × 7 × 52 ÷ 12 = 36.4 kWh a month. At the Texas rate of 15.5¢/kWh that's $0.19 a load, $5.64 a month and $67.70 a year.
Reference
Reference table
Dryer cost per month at 18.4¢/kWh (US average)
| 3 a week | 5 a week | 7 a week | 10 a week | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric · 3.0 kWh/load | $7.18 | $11.96 | $16.74 | $23.92 |
| Heat pump · 1.2 kWh/load | $2.87 | $4.78 | $6.70 | $9.57 |
Questions
FAQ
How much does it cost to dry one load?
At the US average rate of 18.4¢/kWh, an electric dryer costs an estimated $0.55 a load. In California at 32.0¢/kWh it's $0.96.
Is a gas dryer cheaper per load than an electric one?
Usually. A gas dryer burns about 0.25 therm per load and still uses about 0.3 kWh for the drum and fan. At the US average prices ($1.55 a therm and 18.4¢/kWh) that's about $0.44 a load, against $0.55 for electric. The result depends on your state's gas and electricity prices.
How much does a heat pump dryer save?
It uses about 1.2 kWh a load instead of 3.0, which is 60% less. At the US average rate and 5 loads a week, that's about $4.78 a month instead of $11.96.
Why does my dryer cost more than this?
Heavy loads, clogged lint filters and blocked vents make each cycle longer. The 3 kWh figure is for a typical load; if your cycles run over an hour, the kWh per load go up.
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