🧺 Laundry
How Much Does a Electric Dryer Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a electric dryer costs about $11.92 per month at typical usage — 5 uses/week at 3 kWh each.
Per use
$0.55
3 kWh per use
Per day
$0.39
5 uses/week at 3 kWh each
Per month
$11.92
65 kWh
Per year
$143
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
$0.55
Per day
$0.39
Per month
$11.92
Per year
$143
Uses 65 kWh/month at 18.3¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.7 | $0.38 | $8.27 | $99.33 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | $0.38 | $8.34 | $100 |
| Utah | 13.1 | $0.39 | $8.53 | $102 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | $0.40 | $8.73 | $105 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | $0.41 | $8.92 | $107 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | $0.41 | $8.92 | $107 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | $0.41 | $8.99 | $108 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | $0.41 | $8.99 | $108 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | $0.43 | $9.32 | $112 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | $0.43 | $9.38 | $113 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | $0.43 | $9.38 | $113 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | $0.43 | $9.45 | $113 |
| Washington | 14.7 | $0.44 | $9.58 | $115 |
| Florida | 15.0 | $0.45 | $9.77 | $117 |
| Montana | 15.0 | $0.45 | $9.77 | $117 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | $0.46 | $9.90 | $119 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | $0.46 | $9.97 | $120 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | $0.46 | $10.03 | $120 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | $0.46 | $10.03 | $120 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | $0.46 | $10.10 | $121 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | $0.47 | $10.29 | $124 |
| Texas | 15.9 | $0.48 | $10.36 | $124 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | $0.48 | $10.42 | $125 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | $0.48 | $10.42 | $125 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | $0.48 | $10.49 | $126 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | $0.48 | $10.49 | $126 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | $0.49 | $10.62 | $127 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | $0.49 | $10.68 | $128 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | $0.50 | $10.88 | $131 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | $0.51 | $11.07 | $133 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | $0.52 | $11.40 | $137 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.53 | $11.47 | $138 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | $0.55 | $12.05 | $145 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | $0.57 | $12.44 | $149 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | $0.58 | $12.51 | $150 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.58 | $12.70 | $153 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | $0.64 | $13.94 | $167 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | $0.65 | $14.14 | $170 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | $0.69 | $15.05 | $181 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | $0.71 | $15.50 | $186 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | $0.73 | $15.76 | $189 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | $0.76 | $16.42 | $197 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | $0.76 | $16.42 | $197 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | $0.80 | $17.33 | $208 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.85 | $18.44 | $221 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | $0.86 | $18.76 | $225 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.90 | $19.48 | $234 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | $0.92 | $19.87 | $239 |
| Maine | 32.4 | $0.97 | $21.11 | $253 |
| California | 33.6 | $1.01 | $21.89 | $263 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $1.44 | $31.27 | $375 |
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 18.3¢/kWh, each use costs about $0.55. That ranges from $0.38 in Louisiana to $1.44 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 $11.92 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $8.27 in Louisiana up to $31.27 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 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.