How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Dryer? (2024)

FAQs

How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Dryer? ›

In the U.S., it costs approximately 45 cents to dry a load of laundry in an electric dryer, based on a 5,600-watt dryer, 40-minute run-time, and a 12-cent-per- kilowatt-hour rate. A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is equal to the energy of 1,000 watts working for one hour.

How much does it cost to run a tumble dryer for an hour? According to Heatable, a 2500W tumble dryer costs about 85p to use for an hour. However, the tumble dryer cost per hour depends on the energy efficiency rating of your tumble dryer and the cost of energy at the time.

Electric dryers span a wide range of wattages, from about 2,000 to 6,000 watts. That translates to about 2 to 6 kWh of electricity. Based on the national average rate of 12¢ per kWh, each hour of electric drying will cost somewhere between 24¢ and 72¢, depending on the model.

Electric dryers use anywhere from 1800 to 5000 watts of energy, on average, dependent on the load and cycle configurations. This equates to about 1.8 to 5 kWh of electricity.

The “Saving Electricity” website reports that the average dryer uses 3.3 kilowatt hours of energy and estimates an average of 11 cents per kilowatt hour. A small load of clothes takes about 45 minutes in the dryer, so the cost of that load is $0.36.

If you want to save the most money, read your plan's Electricity Facts Label (EFL) to figure out when your energy rates are cheapest. For instance, a common range for peak hours is between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The cheapest time to do laundry for an energy plan with these higher TOU rates is before 4 p.m. or after 7 p.m.

If you have a 2100W (2.1 kW) washing machine and you run it for an hour, it'll use 2.1kWh of electricity in that hour. If electricity costs 34p per unit, multiply 2.1kWh by 34p and you get a grand total of 71p.

Your average 9kg condenser tumble dryer will use around 5.2 kWh for a full load cycle. Using your dryer two times a week will give you an average annual usage of 617 kWh – which translates to £1.51 for each cycle and £178.93 a year. Your average 9kg heat pump tumble dryer will use around 2.16 kWh for a full load cycle.

How Long Does A Dryer Take? Most items in a modern residential washing machine take between 30 and 45 minutes to dry. Most items are dry at about 32 minutes.

Use low heat – You'll use less energy with a longer dry cycle at a lower heat setting than with a shorter cycle at a higher temperature. Play ball – Wool or rubber dryer balls help keep your clothes separated, which increases air circulation and reduces static.

Are electric dryers worth it? ›

Electric dryers are less efficient than gas dryers because they take longer to heat up and don't get as hot. That means it takes more time and electricity to dry clothes. This will increase your energy bills in the long run, even if the electric dryer costs less upfront than a comparable gas dryer.

So, 2 kWh at $0.13 per hour would cost you $0.26. One load of washing will cost you $0.26, and if it costs you $0.39 to dry (as per our above example), one load of washing costs you $0.65 to wash and dry. Together, they use a total of 5 kWh.

To give you an idea of how much a typical load weighs, the following items all together weigh about 10 pounds: Seven pairs/sets of underwear. Seven pairs of socks. Five short-sleeve T-shirts.

In general, doing laundry at home can be more cost-effective over time compared to using a laundromat, especially when factoring in the initial investment in a washer and dryer.

The exact energy consumption varies among models, but it is generally much lower than the 2-5kWh per load that tumble dryers typically use. Cost Savings: Because heated clothes airers use less energy, they can result in cost savings on your electricity bill.

However, they also consume a great deal of energy, adding to household energy bills and emissions. That is why choosing a dryer carefully, and using it wisely, is an important consideration for households looking to reduce their costs and carbon footprint.

The most energy-efficient tumble dryers – hence the cheapest to run – are heat pump tumble dryers. Condenser dryers come next, closely followed by vented dryers. Gas tumble dryers are comparable to heat pump dryers in terms of energy efficiency and cost.