The short answer
A typical electric dryer costs about 50 cents a load at the U.S. average electricity rate of 18.16¢ per kWh (August 2026), or $130.92 a year at 5 loads a week. A gas dryer costs about 16 cents a load ($42.95 a year), and a heat pump dryer about 15 cents ($39.28).
Dryer cost in every state
5 loads a week, at each state's electricity rate (August 2026) and gas price (2025).
| Alabama | $117.73 | $46.17 | $35.32 | 16.33¢ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $212.03 | $45.46 | $63.61 | 29.41¢ |
| Arizona | $108.50 | $47.44 | $32.55 | 15.05¢ |
| Arkansas | $103.60 | $48.47 | $31.08 | 14.37¢ |
| California | $214.48 | $63.97 | $64.34 | 29.75¢ |
| Colorado | $123.78 | $33.90 | $37.14 | 17.17¢ |
| Connecticut | $176.70 | $50.04 | $53.01 | 24.51¢ |
| Delaware | $134.81 | $44.57 | $40.44 | 18.70¢ |
| District of Columbia | $187.30 | $50.79 | $56.19 | 25.98¢ |
| Florida | $108.07 | $61.49 | $32.42 | 14.99¢ |
| Georgia | $114.63 | $51.78 | $34.39 | 15.90¢ |
| Hawaii | $340.14 | $137.13 | $102.04 | 47.18¢ |
| Idaho | $96.39 | $24.28 | $28.92 | 13.37¢ |
| Illinois | $139.28 | $35.51 | $41.79 | 19.32¢ |
| Indiana | $122.70 | $34.43 | $36.81 | 17.02¢ |
| Iowa | $122.99 | $32.57 | $36.90 | 17.06¢ |
| Kansas | $111.53 | $40.15 | $33.46 | 15.47¢ |
| Kentucky | $99.49 | $37.80 | $29.85 | 13.80¢ |
| Louisiana | $92.78 | $43.71 | $27.84 | 12.87¢ |
| Maine | $231.49 | $59.41 | $69.45 | 32.11¢ |
| Maryland | $154.28 | $46.75 | $46.28 | 21.40¢ |
| Massachusetts | $219.74 | $70.75 | $65.92 | 30.48¢ |
| Michigan | $165.74 | $37.07 | $49.72 | 22.99¢ |
| Minnesota | $124.00 | $33.50 | $37.20 | 17.20¢ |
| Mississippi | $104.03 | $43.25 | $31.21 | 14.43¢ |
| Missouri | $115.49 | $40.72 | $34.65 | 16.02¢ |
| Montana | $112.25 | $28.44 | $33.67 | 15.57¢ |
| Nebraska | $97.61 | $31.95 | $29.28 | 13.54¢ |
| Nevada | $91.70 | $34.99 | $27.51 | 12.72¢ |
| New Hampshire | $199.27 | $55.86 | $59.78 | 27.64¢ |
| New Jersey | $177.42 | $44.85 | $53.23 | 24.61¢ |
| New Mexico | $119.03 | $30.74 | $35.71 | 16.51¢ |
| New York | $206.55 | $54.42 | $61.96 | 28.65¢ |
| North Carolina | $107.78 | $42.96 | $32.33 | 14.95¢ |
| North Dakota | $95.96 | $28.02 | $28.79 | 13.31¢ |
| Ohio | $139.72 | $40.81 | $41.91 | 19.38¢ |
| Oklahoma | $106.84 | $38.88 | $32.05 | 14.82¢ |
| Oregon | $114.77 | $44.23 | $34.43 | 15.92¢ |
| Pennsylvania | $156.95 | $44.68 | $47.08 | 21.77¢ |
| Rhode Island | $203.16 | $62.31 | $60.95 | 28.18¢ |
| South Carolina | $113.62 | $44.54 | $34.09 | 15.76¢ |
| South Dakota | $109.22 | $29.85 | $32.77 | 15.15¢ |
| Tennessee | $96.75 | $32.72 | $29.02 | 13.42¢ |
| Texas | $114.70 | $49.68 | $34.41 | 15.91¢ |
| Utah | $95.96 | $29.28 | $28.79 | 13.31¢ |
| Vermont | $171.87 | $52.12 | $51.56 | 23.84¢ |
| Virginia | $127.17 | $45.56 | $38.15 | 17.64¢ |
| Washington | $105.47 | $45.28 | $31.64 | 14.63¢ |
| West Virginia | $117.58 | $38.59 | $35.28 | 16.31¢ |
| Wisconsin | $139.93 | $34.52 | $41.98 | 19.41¢ |
| Wyoming | $104.03 | $33.16 | $31.21 | 14.43¢ |
Yearly costs.
How it works
The formula
gas: cost a load = therms a load × gas price + kWh for the drum × rate
a year = cost a load × loads a week × 52
Assumptions
- Electric dryer: about 2.76 kWh a load, from DOE's test-procedure figure of about 782 kWh a year and its 283 loads a year.
- ENERGY STAR electric: at most about 2.15 kWh for ENERGY STAR's 8.45 lb test load, from its minimum combined energy factor of 3.93 lb per kWh. Heavy towels and jeans take more.
- Heat pump: about 70% less than a conventional dryer, per ENERGY STAR.
- Gas: about 0.081 therm a load (DOE: about 2.28 million BTU a year over 283 loads), plus about 0.25 kWh for the drum motor and controls, our estimate.
Worked example: 5 loads a week
- Electric: 2.76 kWh × 18.16¢ = $0.50 a load
- 5 loads × 52 weeks = 261 loads a year × $0.50 = $130.92
- Gas instead: $0.16 a load, $42.95 a year
Ways to cut the cost
- Clean the lint filter every load and the vent every year; a clogged vent makes every load take longer and is a fire risk.
- Use the moisture sensor, not a timed cycle, so the dryer stops when clothes are dry.
- Spin faster in the washer. A higher spin speed leaves less water to dry.
- Dry loads back to back while the drum is still warm.
- Line-dry when you can: it's free.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to run a dryer per load?
About 50 cents a load for a typical electric dryer at the U.S. average of 18.16¢ per kWh (EIA, August 2026), and about 16 cents for a gas dryer at the 2025 average gas price. A heat pump dryer costs about 15 cents a load.
Is a gas dryer cheaper to run than electric?
Usually, where you have gas: at U.S. averages about 16 cents a load against 50 cents, or $42.95 against $130.92 a year at 5 loads a week. A gas dryer costs a little more to buy and needs a gas line and a vent.
How many kWh does a dryer use per load?
About 2.8 kWh for a typical electric dryer, from DOE's test-procedure figure of 782 kWh a year over 283 loads. An ENERGY STAR electric dryer uses at most about 2.2 kWh on the test load, and a heat pump dryer about 0.8.
Is a heat pump dryer worth it?
It uses about 70% less energy than a conventional dryer (ENERGY STAR), saving about $91.64 a year at 5 loads a week and the U.S. average rate. It needs no outside vent, but loads take longer and it costs more to buy.
How can I cut my dryer cost?
Clean the lint filter every load, keep the vent clear, use the moisture sensor instead of a timed cycle, spin clothes well in the washer first, and dry full (not overstuffed) loads back to back while the drum is warm. A clothesline is free.