Updated October 23, 2026 · Wattages, cycle times, and prices are illustrative
Start with one load. Once you have an energy estimate per cycle, multiply by the number of cycles you actually run. A household doing five loads a week needs a different monthly estimate from one doing five loads a month.
Calculate electricity per load
Cost per load = kWh per load × cents per kWh ÷ 100
Use average power across the cycle, not necessarily the maximum listed wattage. Heating elements can cycle, and different dryer designs can have very different operating patterns.
What does cycle length change?
These scenarios hold average power at an illustrative 3,000 watts and price at 16¢ per kWh. They demonstrate the calculation, not expected dryer performance.
| Cycle length | kWh/load | Cost/load | 20 loads |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | 1.5 | $0.24 | $4.80 |
| 45 minutes | 2.25 | $0.36 | $7.20 |
| 60 minutes | 3.0 | $0.48 | $9.60 |
For a 45-minute cycle, enter 0.75 hours. In the appliance calculator, enter 3,000 watts, 0.75 operating hours, one day, and 16 cents to estimate one such cycle. For twenty identical cycles you can use twenty days as twenty repeated operating periods; the tool’s annual projection would not represent your real laundry schedule.
Turn a weekly routine into an annual estimate
Five loads a week at $0.48 per load costs $2.40 weekly. Using 52 weeks gives $124.80 per year, or $10.40 per month on average. Multiplying a four-week month by twelve would count only 48 weeks.
Actual spending changes with cycle selection, load composition, moisture, and the number of loads. Keep the same assumptions when comparing alternatives.
Gas and heat-pump dryers need different inputs
A gas dryer consumes fuel as well as electricity. Our electricity tool does not calculate its gas use, so an electricity-only result is not its complete operating cost. For electric or heat-pump models, use reliable model-specific consumption or properly obtained measurements.
Do not connect an ordinary low-current plug-in monitor to a high-power dryer circuit. Electrical measurements must use suitable equipment and, where needed, a qualified professional.
Use less time without guessing about performance
ENERGY STAR’s guidance discusses load size and comparing dryer efficiency. Follow the appliance instructions for suitable loading and cycle selection. Shortening a cycle does not save the calculated amount if the clothes need a second cycle.
Keep maintenance and venting appropriate to the model. If drying takes unusually long, investigate the cause rather than simply assuming a higher wattage. The right next step depends on the equipment.
Before paying more for a different model
Suppose verified energy use falls from 3 kWh to 1.5 kWh per load. At 16¢, the difference is $0.24. Across 260 annual loads that is $62.40. A $400 extra purchase cost would have a simple payback of about 6.4 years. This is an illustrative comparison, not a claim about any product.
Source checked October 23, 2026: ENERGY STAR clothes dryer buying guidance. Scenario calculations are RegionalRates arithmetic; see our methodology and rate-reading guide.