🧺 Laundry
How Much Does a Heat Pump Dryer Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a heat pump dryer costs about $5.19 per month at typical usage — 5 uses/week at 1.3 kWh each.
Per use
$0.24
1.3 kWh per use
Per day
$0.17
5 uses/week at 1.3 kWh each
Per month
$5.19
28 kWh
Per year
$62.36
339 kWh
Heat pump dryers recycle their hot air instead of blowing it out a vent, using roughly 40–60% less electricity per load than conventional electric dryers. Cycles run longer, but the per-load cost drops to about a third.
Calculate it for your home
Per use
$0.24
Per day
$0.17
Per month
$5.19
Per year
$62.36
Uses 28 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 | $0.16 | $3.50 | $42.03 |
| Utah | 13.0 | $0.17 | $3.67 | $44.06 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | $0.17 | $3.78 | $45.42 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | $0.18 | $3.84 | $46.09 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | $0.18 | $3.84 | $46.09 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | $0.18 | $3.84 | $46.09 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | $0.18 | $3.87 | $46.43 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | $0.18 | $3.98 | $47.79 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | $0.18 | $3.98 | $47.79 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | $0.18 | $4.01 | $48.13 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | $0.19 | $4.06 | $48.81 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | $0.19 | $4.09 | $49.14 |
| Montana | 14.7 | $0.19 | $4.15 | $49.82 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | $0.19 | $4.18 | $50.16 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.20 | $4.23 | $50.84 |
| Washington | 15.0 | $0.20 | $4.23 | $50.84 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | $0.20 | $4.26 | $51.18 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | $0.20 | $4.26 | $51.18 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | $0.20 | $4.29 | $51.52 |
| Florida | 15.2 | $0.20 | $4.29 | $51.52 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | $0.20 | $4.43 | $53.21 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | $0.21 | $4.46 | $53.55 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | $0.21 | $4.57 | $54.91 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | $0.21 | $4.57 | $54.91 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | $0.21 | $4.57 | $54.91 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | $0.21 | $4.60 | $55.25 |
| Texas | 16.4 | $0.21 | $4.63 | $55.58 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | $0.22 | $4.74 | $56.94 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | $0.22 | $4.74 | $56.94 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | $0.22 | $4.80 | $57.62 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.23 | $4.97 | $59.65 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | $0.24 | $5.14 | $61.69 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | $0.25 | $5.48 | $65.75 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.25 | $5.50 | $66.09 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | $0.26 | $5.56 | $66.77 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | $0.28 | $6.10 | $73.21 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | $0.28 | $6.15 | $73.89 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | $0.29 | $6.21 | $74.56 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | $0.30 | $6.58 | $78.97 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | $0.31 | $6.75 | $81.00 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | $0.32 | $7.03 | $84.39 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $0.33 | $7.17 | $86.09 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | $0.35 | $7.71 | $92.53 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | $0.36 | $7.73 | $92.87 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | $0.37 | $7.96 | $95.58 |
| Maine | 28.6 | $0.37 | $8.07 | $96.93 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | $0.37 | $8.13 | $97.61 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | $0.38 | $8.33 | $99.98 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.39 | $8.44 | $101 |
| California | 33.3 | $0.43 | $9.40 | $113 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | $0.68 | $14.68 | $176 |
How to lower the cost
- Wash cold — water heating is most of a warm load’s energy.
- Use high spin speeds so the dryer works less; the washer’s spin is far cheaper than the dryer’s heat.
- Clean the dryer’s lint filter every load and the duct every year.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a heat pump dryer use?
A typical heat pump dryer uses about 1.3 kWh per use. At 5 uses per week, that's roughly 28 kWh per month.
How much does one use of a heat pump dryer cost?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh, each use costs about $0.24. That ranges from $0.16 in Idaho to $0.68 in Hawaii.
How much does a heat pump dryer cost to run per month?
With typical usage (5 uses/week at 1.3 kWh each), expect about $5.19 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $3.50 in Idaho up to $14.68 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 2026.
Does a heat pump dryer use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: roughly 3% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption at typical usage. Noticeable, but not a bill-driver on its own.