Quick answer: A clothes dryer’s cost depends on its energy use, cycle length, and local electricity rate. As an example, a dryer that uses 4 kWh per load costs about $0.69 per load at the 2025 U.S. residential average rate of 17.30 cents per kWh.
This is an example calculation, not a universal average. Check your utility bill and your dryer’s actual energy information for a more precise estimate.
How to calculate the cost
Use this formula:
Electricity cost = kilowatt-hours used × electricity rate
For a 4 kWh load at $0.173 per kWh:
4 × $0.173 = $0.692, or about $0.69 per load.
If you run the dryer 12 times per month, the same example would cost about $8.28 per month. Your result will change with the dryer, cycle, load, and local rate.
What affects dryer electricity use?
- Load size and fabric type
- Cycle length and heat setting
- How much water the washer removes during its spin cycle
- Dryer age and efficiency
- Lint buildup or restricted vent airflow
- Your local electricity price
How to reduce the cost
- Use a high-spin washer cycle to remove more water before drying.
- Do not overload the drum.
- Use sensor-dry or lower-heat settings when appropriate.
- Clean the lint filter after every load.
- Inspect the vent if clothes take much longer than usual to dry.
ENERGY STAR explains that a higher Combined Energy Factor (CEF) indicates better dryer efficiency. Its guidance also recommends moisture sensors, lower-energy cycles when practical, and regular lint-filter cleaning.
Why your local rate matters
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported a 2025 average residential electricity price of 17.30 cents per kWh, but rates vary widely by state and utility provider. Replace $0.173 in the example with the rate on your own bill.
When to call a professional
Stop using the dryer and contact a qualified appliance or dryer-vent professional if it overheats, smells like burning, has poor vent airflow, leaves clothes damp after normal cycles, or repeatedly trips a breaker.
Bottom line
The most reliable estimate comes from your dryer’s actual kWh use and your local electricity rate. The 4 kWh example above works out to about $0.69 per load at the cited U.S. average rate, but your real cost may be different.