How much does a electric dryer cost to run?

Resistive dryers draw 3,000–5,000 watts continuously while running, using high heat to evaporate moisture from clothes. Most households run them several times per week, making dryers one of the top household energy users.

Typical running cost (18.83¢/kWh, U.S. average, 2026-04)

BasisCost
Per hour (while running, 3000 W typical)$0.56
Per day (1 h/day, 3/7 days)$0.24
Per month$7.37
Per year$88.43
Hourly range (small 2000 W – large 5000 W)$0.38 – $0.94
Save: Clean the lint filter before every load and use the moisture sensor setting to stop automatically when clothes are dry.

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