Electric Dryer vs Heat Pump Dryer: Which Costs Less to Run?
Conventional dryers heat air and throw it out a vent; heat pump dryers recycle it. The efficiency gap is the largest of any common appliance pair.
Electric Dryer · per month
$11.92
5 uses/week at 3 kWh each · 5,000 W
Heat Pump Dryer · per month
$5.17
5 uses/week at 1.3 kWh each · 1,000 W
Verdict
The heat pump dryer uses roughly 40–60% less energy per load and wins clearly on running cost — the higher purchase price typically pays back in a few years for families drying several loads weekly, faster in high-rate states. Conventional wins only on cycle speed and upfront price.
Side by side
| Electric Dryer | Heat Pump Dryer | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical power | 5,000 W | 1,000 W |
| Typical usage | 5 uses/week at 3 kWh each | 5 uses/week at 1.3 kWh each |
| Energy per month | 65 kWh | 28 kWh |
| Cost per month (US avg) | $11.92 | $5.17 |
| Cost per year (US avg) | $143 | $62.02 |
| Cost per month in Hawaii | $31.27 | $13.55 |
Rates as of July 2026. Adjust the assumptions on each appliance's page: Electric Dryer · Heat Pump Dryer.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to run: a electric dryer or a heat pump dryer?
At typical usage and the current U.S. average rate (18.3¢/kWh), the heat pump dryer is cheaper: about $5.17/month versus $11.92/month for the electric dryer — a difference of $6.76 per month.
How much could I save per year by choosing the heat pump dryer?
About $81.06 per year at typical usage and average rates. In Hawaii (48¢/kWh) the annual gap grows to roughly $213.
Do these numbers apply to my state?
The ratio between the two stays the same everywhere, but the dollar gap scales with your rate — from Louisiana at 12.7¢/kWh to Hawaii at 48¢/kWh. Open each appliance's page for the exact cost in your state.