How to Calculate the Cost of Operating an Electric Dryer

The clothes dryer is one of the biggest energy users in the home.

The clothes dryer is one of the biggest energy users in your home. They usually run on 240 volts, which means, right out of the gate, they consume more energy than most other appliances. Electric dryers are cheaper to buy, for the most part, but more expensive to run, so keep that in mind if you are appliance shopping. While it is impossible to get an exact amount on what your dryer will cost to operate, you can get pretty close, as most electric dryers use about the same amount of electricity.

Things You'll Need

• Calculator

Instructions

1. Estimate the number of full loads of laundry you dry each week.

2. Multiply the number of weekly loads by 52 to get an annual figure. For example, if you typically do four loads of laundry per week, your annual total would be 208.

3. Multiply the total annual loads by 0.35 to get an annual cost figure. According to the California Energy Commission, on average, it costs between 30 cents and 40 cents to dry a load of laundry. For 208 loads annually, your cost is about $72.80. Adjust your total accordingly if power costs in your area are higher or lower than the average.

Tips & Warnings

• According to Energy Star, simply cleaning your lint filter prior to each load can save you as much as $34 per year in power costs.

References

• California Energy Commision: Consumer Energy Center
• Energy Star: Home Tips