How much does a clothes dryer cost per load?

A vented or condenser dryer uses a few kWh per load, often costing 50 cents to over a dollar a load depending on the model and your power price. Heat pump dryers use much less, around a third of the energy.

Is a heat pump dryer cheaper to run?

Yes, considerably. Heat pump dryers use far less electricity per load than vented or condenser dryers, so although they cost more to buy, they save on running costs over time, especially for frequent users.

How does it compare with line drying?

Line drying is free, so a dryer's whole running cost is the price of convenience. Working out the yearly cost shows what that convenience is worth and whether a more efficient dryer would pay off.

Clothes Dryer Cost Calculator

This New Zealand calculator works out what your clothes dryer costs to run, per load and per year, from its energy use per load, your loads per week and your power price. Since line drying is free, a dryer's running cost is the price of convenience, and a heat pump dryer uses far less power. You enter the figures, and the tool shows the cost per load and the yearly total.

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Energy per load (kWh)

Loads per week

Power price (per kWh)

to run the dryer per year

Cost per load$0

Per week$0

A vented or condenser dryer uses around 2.5 to 4 kWh a load; a heat pump dryer often around 1 kWh. Line drying is free, so this is the cost of the convenience. Estimate only.

How it works

The calculator multiplies the energy per load by your power price for the cost per load, then by your loads per week and 52 weeks for the yearly total. Entering a lower kWh figure shows how much a heat pump dryer would save, and comparing the yearly cost with zero (line drying) shows exactly what the convenience of a dryer is costing you.

Worked example

At 3 kWh a load and 28 cents, each load costs about 84 cents. Four loads a week is about $3.36 a week, or roughly $175 a year. A heat pump dryer at 1 kWh a load would cost around $58 a year, saving over $100.

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Appliance Running Cost Calculator: any appliance.
Dehumidifier Running Cost Calculator: dehumidifier cost.
Electricity Cost Calculator: power costs.
Second Fridge Cost Calculator: second fridge.

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