🧺 Laundry
How Much Does a Electric Dryer Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.8¢/kWh (April 2026), a electric dryer costs about $12.25 per month at typical usage — 5 uses/week at 3 kWh each.
Per use
$0.56
3 kWh per use
Per day
$0.40
5 uses/week at 3 kWh each
Per month
$12.25
65 kWh
Per year
$147
782 kWh
A conventional electric dryer is one of the most power-hungry appliances in the house, drawing around 5,000 watts and using 2.5–4 kWh per load. For a family drying five loads a week, it's frequently a top-three line item on the bill.
Calculate it for your home
Per use
$0.56
Per day
$0.40
Per month
$12.25
Per year
$147
Uses 65 kWh/month at 18.8¢ per kWh.
Cheapest and most expensive states
Monthly cost at typical usage, using each state's current average residential rate.
Cost in every state
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Per use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.4 | $0.37 | $8.08 | $96.99 |
| Idaho | 12.7 | $0.38 | $8.27 | $99.33 |
| Nebraska | 13.3 | $0.40 | $8.66 | $104 |
| Oklahoma | 13.3 | $0.40 | $8.66 | $104 |
| Utah | 13.3 | $0.40 | $8.66 | $104 |
| Iowa | 13.9 | $0.42 | $9.05 | $109 |
| Montana | 13.9 | $0.42 | $9.05 | $109 |
| Missouri | 14.0 | $0.42 | $9.12 | $110 |
| Arkansas | 14.2 | $0.43 | $9.25 | $111 |
| Nevada | 14.3 | $0.43 | $9.32 | $112 |
| Louisiana | 14.4 | $0.43 | $9.38 | $113 |
| Washington | 14.4 | $0.43 | $9.38 | $113 |
| South Dakota | 14.5 | $0.43 | $9.45 | $113 |
| Wyoming | 14.7 | $0.44 | $9.58 | $115 |
| Tennessee | 14.9 | $0.45 | $9.71 | $117 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.45 | $9.77 | $117 |
| New Mexico | 15.2 | $0.46 | $9.90 | $119 |
| Florida | 15.4 | $0.46 | $10.03 | $120 |
| Georgia | 15.4 | $0.46 | $10.03 | $120 |
| Arizona | 15.5 | $0.46 | $10.10 | $121 |
| Kansas | 15.8 | $0.47 | $10.29 | $124 |
| Oregon | 15.8 | $0.47 | $10.29 | $124 |
| West Virginia | 16.1 | $0.48 | $10.49 | $126 |
| North Carolina | 16.3 | $0.49 | $10.62 | $127 |
| Minnesota | 16.4 | $0.49 | $10.68 | $128 |
| Colorado | 16.5 | $0.49 | $10.75 | $129 |
| Mississippi | 16.8 | $0.50 | $10.94 | $131 |
| Texas | 17.0 | $0.51 | $11.07 | $133 |
| South Carolina | 17.1 | $0.51 | $11.14 | $134 |
| Alabama | 17.4 | $0.52 | $11.33 | $136 |
| Virginia | 17.4 | $0.52 | $11.33 | $136 |
| Indiana | 17.9 | $0.54 | $11.66 | $140 |
| Delaware | 18.8 | $0.56 | $12.25 | $147 |
| Wisconsin | 19.2 | $0.58 | $12.51 | $150 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.58 | $12.70 | $153 |
| Illinois | 20.5 | $0.61 | $13.35 | $160 |
| Michigan | 21.4 | $0.64 | $13.94 | $167 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5 | $0.65 | $14.01 | $168 |
| Maryland | 22.1 | $0.66 | $14.40 | $173 |
| New Jersey | 23.5 | $0.70 | $15.31 | $184 |
| Vermont | 24.6 | $0.74 | $16.03 | $192 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $0.76 | $16.55 | $199 |
| New Hampshire | 27.2 | $0.82 | $17.72 | $213 |
| Alaska | 27.4 | $0.82 | $17.85 | $214 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.85 | $18.44 | $221 |
| Maine | 28.4 | $0.85 | $18.50 | $222 |
| Massachusetts | 29.5 | $0.89 | $19.22 | $231 |
| New York | 29.5 | $0.89 | $19.22 | $231 |
| Connecticut | 32.2 | $0.97 | $20.98 | $252 |
| California | 35.3 | $1.06 | $23.00 | $276 |
| Hawaii | 46.6 | $1.40 | $30.36 | $364 |
How to lower the cost
- Clean the lint filter every load and the vent duct yearly — restricted airflow directly extends every cycle.
- Use the moisture sensor setting instead of timed dry; overdrying is pure waste.
- Dry consecutive loads back-to-back to reuse residual heat.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a electric dryer use?
A typical electric dryer uses about 3 kWh per use. At 5 uses per week, that's roughly 65 kWh per month.
How much does one use of a electric dryer cost?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.8¢/kWh, each use costs about $0.56. That ranges from $0.37 in North Dakota to $1.40 in Hawaii.
How much does a electric dryer cost to run per month?
With typical usage (5 uses/week at 3 kWh each), expect about $12.25 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $8.08 in North Dakota up to $30.36 in Hawaii. Rates are as of April 2026.
Does a electric dryer use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: roughly 7% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption at typical usage. Noticeable, but not a bill-driver on its own.