Hair dryer vs. flat iron: running cost
A flat 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.
| Hair dryer | Flat iron | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 1,800 W | 60 W |
| Watt range | 800–1,875 W | 30–150 W |
| Typical use | 9 minutes a day | 20 minutes a day, 4 days a week |
| Energy per year | 99 kWh | 4 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 32¢ | 1.1¢ |
| Cost per day | 4.9¢ | 0.2¢ |
| Cost per month | $1.48 | $0.06 |
| Cost per year | $18 | $1 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $43 | $2 |
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What drives the difference
- 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.
- Flat iron: Flat irons draw 30-150 W, mostly during heat-up; a year of regular use costs a few dollars.
Ways to cut either cost
Heat protectant
Lets you use lower temperature settings with good results.
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 hair dryer or a flat iron?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a hair dryer costs about $18 a year versus $1 for a flat iron. That's $17 more, or 23.9× as much.
How many watts do hair dryer and flat iron use?
A hair dryer typically draws 1,800 W (range 800–1,875 W). A flat iron draws 60 W (range 30–150 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.