Electric shaver vs. hair dryer: running cost
An electric shaver is cheaper to run: about $1 a year versus $18 for a hair dryer at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $17 difference.
| Electric shaver | Hair dryer | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 5 W | 1,800 W |
| Watt range | 2–15 W | 800–1,875 W |
| Typical use | 1 hour a day, 2 days a week | 9 minutes a day |
| Energy per year | 3 kWh | 99 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 0.09¢ | 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
- Electric shaver: Shavers and trimmers use a few watts while charging; annual cost is under $1.
- 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
USB-C rechargeable shaver
Charges from any efficient USB-C charger.
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, an electric shaver 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 an electric shaver. That's $17 more, or 31.6× as much.
How many watts do electric shaver and hair dryer use?
An electric shaver typically draws 5 W (range 2–15 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.