How much does it cost to run a clothes dryer?
By Sithum Imarsha Last reviewed
Divide the label kWh by 52 to get kWh per load, then multiply by your rate. A typical 3 kWh vented load costs about 99c in NSW.
Your result
Running cost
$50a year
156 kWh a year × 32c/kWh = $50
- Per hour of use
- —
- Energy an hour
- —kWh
- Per day of use
- —
- Energy a day
- —kWh
- Per load
- $0.96
- Energy a load
- 3kWh
- Per wash
- —
- Energy a wash
- —kWh
- Rate used
- 32c/kWh ·
Australian average import rate - Worked from
- Preset energy use ·
a kWh figure, so no share at full power
A thermostat switches it on and off, so it does not draw full power all day. Lower the share of time at full power under Advanced settings.
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Controlled load? If it is on a controlled-load tariff, type that rate under Advanced settings.
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How we calculated this
- Energy in a year comes from the watts and the hours of use, or from the energy label scaled to your use.
- It is priced at the usage rate only. The daily supply charge is not a running cost.
- On your own solar, the cost is the feed-in credit you give up.
Full method, tables and sources: Appliance running cost calculator
Energy in a year
3 kWh a load × 52 loads = 156 kWh
Pick the rate
32c/kWh (Australian average import rate)
Work out the cost
156 kWh × 32c/kWh = $50 a year
Cost an hour of use
— kWh × 32c/kWh = — an hour
| State | Import c/kWh | Feed-in c/kWh | Cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 33.1 | 5 | $52 |
| Victoria | 27.2 | 3 | $42 |
| Queensland | 27.9 | 5 | $44 |
| South Australia | 41.5 | 5 | $65 |
| Western Australia | 33.2621 | 3 | $52 |
| Tasmania | 28.8 | 9.276 | $45 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 32.1 | 5 | $50 |
Uses each state's import rate, or its feed-in rate when Power from is set to solar. Your own rate is not used here. Import rates: Dated third-party source, except Western Australia (Official source). Feed-in rates: Estimate, except Tasmania (Official source).
This version starts with a vented dryer using 3 kWh a load, one load a week. Days used a year means loads here, so type your own number of loads. If you type the label kWh, we scale it from the label’s 52 loads to yours.
Clothes dryer: what the sources say
Official source
- The kWh on a dryer’s Energy Rating label assumes one load a week, 52 a year (Energy Rating).
Not yet checked
- An efficient heat pump dryer uses about 60% less energy (Energy Rating). CHOICE puts the 10-year running cost at $759 for a heat pump dryer and $1,930 for a vented one.
- A condenser dryer is barely cheaper than a vented one: CHOICE puts the 10-year running cost at $1,864 against $1,930.
New to running costs? Read how it is worked out on the main appliance running cost calculator.
Questions
Are clothes dryers expensive to run?
Per load, not very: about 99c for a vented dryer and 40c for a heat pump dryer in NSW. At one load a week a vented dryer costs about $52 a year. It adds up if you dry most days.
Why is the label figure so low?
It assumes one load a week, 52 a year (Energy Rating). If you dry 4 loads a week, your yearly use is about 4 times the label. The calculator scales it for you.
How much cheaper is a heat pump dryer?
About 60% less energy (Energy Rating). CHOICE gives a 10-year running cost of $759 against $1,930 for vented.
Is a condenser dryer cheaper than vented?
Barely. CHOICE gives a 10-year running cost of $1,864 against $1,930.
What is the cheapest way to dry clothes?
A clothesline. It costs nothing to run.