🧺 Laundry
How Much Does a Electric Dryer Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a electric dryer costs about $11.99 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
$11.99
65 kWh
Per year
$144
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
$11.99
Per year
$144
Uses 65 kWh/month at 18.4¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 12.4 | $0.37 | $8.08 | $96.99 |
| Utah | 13.0 | $0.39 | $8.47 | $102 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | $0.40 | $8.73 | $105 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | $0.41 | $8.86 | $106 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | $0.41 | $8.86 | $106 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | $0.41 | $8.86 | $106 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | $0.41 | $8.92 | $107 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | $0.42 | $9.19 | $110 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | $0.42 | $9.19 | $110 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | $0.43 | $9.25 | $111 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | $0.43 | $9.38 | $113 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | $0.43 | $9.45 | $113 |
| Montana | 14.7 | $0.44 | $9.58 | $115 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | $0.44 | $9.64 | $116 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.45 | $9.77 | $117 |
| Washington | 15.0 | $0.45 | $9.77 | $117 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | $0.45 | $9.84 | $118 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | $0.45 | $9.84 | $118 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | $0.46 | $9.90 | $119 |
| Florida | 15.2 | $0.46 | $9.90 | $119 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | $0.47 | $10.23 | $123 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | $0.47 | $10.29 | $124 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | $0.49 | $10.55 | $127 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | $0.49 | $10.55 | $127 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | $0.49 | $10.55 | $127 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | $0.49 | $10.62 | $127 |
| Texas | 16.4 | $0.49 | $10.68 | $128 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | $0.50 | $10.94 | $131 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | $0.50 | $10.94 | $131 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | $0.51 | $11.07 | $133 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.53 | $11.47 | $138 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | $0.55 | $11.86 | $142 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | $0.58 | $12.64 | $152 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.58 | $12.70 | $153 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | $0.59 | $12.83 | $154 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | $0.65 | $14.07 | $169 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | $0.65 | $14.20 | $171 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | $0.66 | $14.33 | $172 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | $0.70 | $15.18 | $182 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | $0.72 | $15.57 | $187 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | $0.75 | $16.22 | $195 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $0.76 | $16.55 | $199 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | $0.82 | $17.78 | $214 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | $0.82 | $17.85 | $214 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | $0.85 | $18.37 | $221 |
| Maine | 28.6 | $0.86 | $18.63 | $224 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | $0.86 | $18.76 | $225 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | $0.89 | $19.22 | $231 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.90 | $19.48 | $234 |
| California | 33.3 | $1.00 | $21.69 | $260 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | $1.56 | $33.87 | $407 |
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 18.4¢/kWh, each use costs about $0.55. That ranges from $0.37 in Idaho to $1.56 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 $11.99 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $8.08 in Idaho up to $33.87 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 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.