🧺 Laundry
How Much Does a Heat Pump Dryer Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.8¢/kWh (April 2026), a heat pump dryer costs about $5.31 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
$5.31
28 kWh
Per year
$63.72
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
$5.31
Per year
$63.72
Uses 28 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 | $0.16 | $3.50 | $42.03 |
| Idaho | 12.7 | $0.17 | $3.59 | $43.04 |
| Nebraska | 13.3 | $0.17 | $3.75 | $45.08 |
| Oklahoma | 13.3 | $0.17 | $3.75 | $45.08 |
| Utah | 13.3 | $0.17 | $3.75 | $45.08 |
| Iowa | 13.9 | $0.18 | $3.92 | $47.11 |
| Montana | 13.9 | $0.18 | $3.92 | $47.11 |
| Missouri | 14.0 | $0.18 | $3.95 | $47.45 |
| Arkansas | 14.2 | $0.18 | $4.01 | $48.13 |
| Nevada | 14.3 | $0.19 | $4.04 | $48.47 |
| Louisiana | 14.4 | $0.19 | $4.06 | $48.81 |
| Washington | 14.4 | $0.19 | $4.06 | $48.81 |
| South Dakota | 14.5 | $0.19 | $4.09 | $49.14 |
| Wyoming | 14.7 | $0.19 | $4.15 | $49.82 |
| Tennessee | 14.9 | $0.19 | $4.21 | $50.50 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.20 | $4.23 | $50.84 |
| New Mexico | 15.2 | $0.20 | $4.29 | $51.52 |
| Florida | 15.4 | $0.20 | $4.35 | $52.20 |
| Georgia | 15.4 | $0.20 | $4.35 | $52.20 |
| Arizona | 15.5 | $0.20 | $4.38 | $52.53 |
| Kansas | 15.8 | $0.21 | $4.46 | $53.55 |
| Oregon | 15.8 | $0.21 | $4.46 | $53.55 |
| West Virginia | 16.1 | $0.21 | $4.54 | $54.57 |
| North Carolina | 16.3 | $0.21 | $4.60 | $55.25 |
| Minnesota | 16.4 | $0.21 | $4.63 | $55.58 |
| Colorado | 16.5 | $0.21 | $4.66 | $55.92 |
| Mississippi | 16.8 | $0.22 | $4.74 | $56.94 |
| Texas | 17.0 | $0.22 | $4.80 | $57.62 |
| South Carolina | 17.1 | $0.22 | $4.83 | $57.96 |
| Alabama | 17.4 | $0.23 | $4.91 | $58.97 |
| Virginia | 17.4 | $0.23 | $4.91 | $58.97 |
| Indiana | 17.9 | $0.23 | $5.05 | $60.67 |
| Delaware | 18.8 | $0.24 | $5.31 | $63.72 |
| Wisconsin | 19.2 | $0.25 | $5.42 | $65.07 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.25 | $5.50 | $66.09 |
| Illinois | 20.5 | $0.27 | $5.79 | $69.48 |
| Michigan | 21.4 | $0.28 | $6.04 | $72.53 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5 | $0.28 | $6.07 | $72.87 |
| Maryland | 22.1 | $0.29 | $6.24 | $74.90 |
| New Jersey | 23.5 | $0.31 | $6.63 | $79.65 |
| Vermont | 24.6 | $0.32 | $6.94 | $83.38 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $0.33 | $7.17 | $86.09 |
| New Hampshire | 27.2 | $0.35 | $7.68 | $92.19 |
| Alaska | 27.4 | $0.36 | $7.73 | $92.87 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.37 | $7.99 | $95.92 |
| Maine | 28.4 | $0.37 | $8.02 | $96.26 |
| Massachusetts | 29.5 | $0.38 | $8.33 | $99.98 |
| New York | 29.5 | $0.38 | $8.33 | $99.98 |
| Connecticut | 32.2 | $0.42 | $9.09 | $109 |
| California | 35.3 | $0.46 | $9.96 | $120 |
| Hawaii | 46.6 | $0.61 | $13.15 | $158 |
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 18.8¢/kWh, each use costs about $0.24. That ranges from $0.16 in North Dakota to $0.61 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 $5.31 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $3.50 in North Dakota up to $13.15 in Hawaii. Rates are as of April 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.