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: 18.2¢/kWh · US average · EIA, August 2026 (data as of 2026-10-25) ·
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 15.9¢/kWh that's $0.19 a load, $5.79 a month and $69.49 a year.
Reference
Reference table
Dryer cost per month at 18.2¢/kWh (US average)
| 3 a week | 5 a week | 7 a week | 10 a week | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric · 3.0 kWh/load | $7.08 | $11.80 | $16.53 | $23.61 |
| Heat pump · 1.2 kWh/load | $2.83 | $4.72 | $6.61 | $9.44 |
Questions
FAQ
How much does it cost to dry one load?
At the US average rate of 18.2¢/kWh, an electric dryer costs an estimated $0.54 a load. In California at 29.8¢/kWh it's $0.89.
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. 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 $4.72 a month instead of $11.80.
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.
Related