Cost to run an electric dryer

Electric dryers are among the biggest plug loads in a home. The cost depends on how many loads you run and how long each one takes. Pick your state or enter your own rate to see what it costs you.

Official EIA data · August 2026

kWh per load

kWh

Uses per week

A standard electric dryer typically uses about 2 to 4.5 kWh per load depending on the load and settings; heat-pump dryers use far less.

Electricity rate

EIA average residential price, August 2026. Your bill shows your exact rate.

Cost to run an electric dryer per month

$11.80

65 kWh at 18.16¢/kWh (U.S. average)

Per day: $0.39
Per year (same use every month): $141.65

Energy per year

780 kWh

if used like this all year

Typical home that uses it

680 kWh/yr

$123.49 a year · EIA RECS, U.S.

Full details Costs in every state, real-world usage, formula and tips

Cost to run an electric dryer in every state

For 5 uses a week at 3 kWh each, at each state's average residential electricity rate (August 2026, EIA). Click a state for more detail.

State	Rate	Per month	Per year
Nevada	12.72¢	$8.27	$99.22
Louisiana	12.87¢	$8.37	$100.39
North Dakota	13.31¢	$8.65	$103.82
Utah	13.31¢	$8.65	$103.82
Idaho	13.37¢	$8.69	$104.29
Tennessee	13.42¢	$8.72	$104.68
Nebraska	13.54¢	$8.80	$105.61
Kentucky	13.80¢	$8.97	$107.64
Arkansas	14.37¢	$9.34	$112.09
Mississippi	14.43¢	$9.38	$112.55
Wyoming	14.43¢	$9.38	$112.55
Washington	14.63¢	$9.51	$114.11
Oklahoma	14.82¢	$9.63	$115.60
North Carolina	14.95¢	$9.72	$116.61
Florida	14.99¢	$9.74	$116.92
Arizona	15.05¢	$9.78	$117.39
South Dakota	15.15¢	$9.85	$118.17
Kansas	15.47¢	$10.06	$120.67
Montana	15.57¢	$10.12	$121.45
South Carolina	15.76¢	$10.24	$122.93
Georgia	15.90¢	$10.34	$124.02
Texas	15.91¢	$10.34	$124.10
Oregon	15.92¢	$10.35	$124.18
Missouri	16.02¢	$10.41	$124.96
West Virginia	16.31¢	$10.60	$127.22
Alabama	16.33¢	$10.61	$127.37
New Mexico	16.51¢	$10.73	$128.78
Indiana	17.02¢	$11.06	$132.76
Iowa	17.06¢	$11.09	$133.07
Colorado	17.17¢	$11.16	$133.93
Minnesota	17.20¢	$11.18	$134.16
Virginia	17.64¢	$11.47	$137.59
Delaware	18.70¢	$12.16	$145.86
Illinois	19.32¢	$12.56	$150.70
Ohio	19.38¢	$12.60	$151.16
Wisconsin	19.41¢	$12.62	$151.40
Maryland	21.40¢	$13.91	$166.92
Pennsylvania	21.77¢	$14.15	$169.81
Michigan	22.99¢	$14.94	$179.32
Vermont	23.84¢	$15.50	$185.95
Connecticut	24.51¢	$15.93	$191.18
New Jersey	24.61¢	$16.00	$191.96
District of Columbia	25.98¢	$16.89	$202.64
New Hampshire	27.64¢	$17.97	$215.59
Rhode Island	28.18¢	$18.32	$219.80
New York	28.65¢	$18.62	$223.47
Alaska	29.41¢	$19.12	$229.40
California	29.75¢	$19.34	$232.05
Massachusetts	30.48¢	$19.81	$237.74
Maine	32.11¢	$20.87	$250.46
Hawaii	47.18¢	$30.67	$368.00

How much homes actually use, by region

Average annual electricity used by an electric dryer in homes that have one, from the EIA's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), and what that use costs at today's U.S. average rate.

Region	kWh per year	Cost per year
United States	680	$123.49
New England	641	$116.41
Middle Atlantic	628	$114.04
East North Central	679	$123.31
West North Central	740	$134.38
South Atlantic	657	$119.31
East South Central	756	$137.29
West South Central	749	$136.02
Mountain North	710	$128.94
Mountain South	670	$121.67
Pacific	603	$109.50

How the cost is calculated

kWh per use × uses per week × 52 ÷ 12 = kWh per month, then multiply by your rate.

How to lower the cost

Use the moisture-sensor setting instead of timed dry so the dryer stops when clothes are dry.
Clean the lint filter every load and the vent duct once a year.
Spin clothes faster in the washer to send them to the dryer with less water.

Quick answers

How much does it cost to run an electric dryer per month?

At the U.S. average residential rate of 18.16¢ per kWh (August 2026), 5 uses a week at 3 kWh each uses about 65 kWh and costs about $11.80 a month, or $141.65 a year if used the same way all year.

Where is it cheapest to run an electric dryer?

Electricity prices vary a lot by state. In August 2026, Nevada had the lowest average residential rate (12.72¢/kWh) and Hawaii the highest (47.18¢/kWh). The same use costs $8.27 a month in Nevada and $30.67 in Hawaii.

How much electricity does an electric dryer use in an average home?

According to the EIA's Residential Energy Consumption Survey, U.S. households that have an electric dryer used about 680 kWh a year for it in 2020. At today's average rate that is about $123.49 a year.

Sources

Last reviewed November 2, 2026. Rates refreshed automatically when EIA publishes a new month.

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See everything

These are estimates. State rates are EIA averages (total residential revenue ÷ kWh sold), so they include fixed monthly charges spread across usage; your own price per kWh, time-of-use rates and taxes can differ. Real appliance use depends on the model, settings, climate and habits.