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Dryer Energy Cost Calculator

Enter the dryer power, hours per load and electricity rate to get the cost per load.

How it is calculated

The tool first finds the energy used per load, then prices it: kWh = power (kW) × hours per load and cost = kWh × rate. Power is the dryer's electrical draw in kilowatts (watts divided by 1000), hours is the run time of one load as a decimal (1 h 15 min is 1.25), and rate is your price per kWh, shown in dollars. None of the three values can be negative. The tool assumes the dryer draws the same power throughout the cycle; in practice the heating element cycles on and off, so the true average can be lower than the rated figure. Cost is rounded to cents and energy to two decimals.

Worked example

A 3 kW dryer runs 1.25 hours per load and electricity costs 0.16 per kWh. Step 1: 3 × 1.25 = 3.75 kWh per load. Step 2: 3.75 × 0.16 = 0.60. The tool shows an energy use of 3.75 kWh and a cost of $0.60 per load. At four loads a week that is $2.40 a week.

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Common mistakes

  • Entering power in watts: 3000 instead of 3 would multiply the cost by 1000.
  • Entering the run time as 1.15 for 1 hour 15 minutes; 15 minutes is 0.25 of an hour, so type 1.25.
  • Entering the rate in cents (16) instead of dollars per kWh (0.16).
  • Using the nameplate power as the average draw when the heater cycles on and off, which can overstate the cost.
  • Forgetting the load count: the result is per load, so multiply by loads per week or month for a running total.

About this calculator

A clothes dryer's running cost per load comes from its rated power draw, the run time, and the local electricity rate: energy (kWh) = power (kW) × hours, then cost = energy × price per kWh. A typical electric dryer draws around 2–3 kW, so a one-hour cycle uses roughly 2–3 kWh.

This calculator surfaces both figures — the kWh consumed and the resulting dollar cost — per load, so households can see the real cost of drying laundry and compare it against line-drying or a shorter, higher-efficiency cycle.

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  • Editorial team

    The most reliable way to check this number is a plug-in power meter: run one real load, read the kWh it logged, and compare it with the tool's energy figure. If they differ a lot, adjust the kW you enter. The rate is best taken from your bill as the total per kWh, including delivery charges. Note that it prices electricity only, so a gas dryer's fuel cost is not included. What does your meter show for a full load?

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