Curling iron vs. hair dryer: running cost
A curling iron is cheaper to run: about $1 a year versus $18 for a hair dryer at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $17 difference.
| Curling iron | Hair dryer | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 50 W | 1,800 W |
| Watt range | 25–150 W | 800–1,875 W |
| Typical use | 20 minutes a day, 4 days a week | 9 minutes a day |
| Energy per year | 3 kWh | 99 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 0.9¢ | 32¢ |
| Cost per day | 0.2¢ | 4.9¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.05 | $1.48 |
| Cost per year | $1 | $18 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $1 | $43 |
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What drives the difference
- Curling iron: Curling irons draw 25-150 W while heating, then cycle to hold temperature; energy cost is tiny.
- Hair dryer: Most full-size dryers are rated 1,875 W and draw 1,600-1,850 W on high heat. Nine minutes a day on high is about 100 kWh a year.
Ways to cut either cost
Heatless curlers
No electricity and no heat damage.
See options on Amazon Microfiber hair towel
Removes more water before blow-drying, cutting dryer time.
See options on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. It never changes the numbers we show. Disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a curling iron or a hair dryer?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a hair dryer costs about $18 a year versus $1 for a curling iron. That's $17 more, or 28.6× as much.
How many watts do curling iron and hair dryer use?
A curling iron typically draws 50 W (range 25–150 W). A hair dryer draws 1,800 W (range 800–1,875 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.