Hair dryer vs. hot air brush: running cost
A hot air brush is cheaper to run: about $10 a year versus $18 for a hair dryer at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $7 difference.
| Hair dryer | Hot air brush | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 1,800 W | 1,100 W |
| Watt range | 800–1,875 W | 800–1,300 W |
| Typical use | 9 minutes a day | 15 minutes a day, 4 days a week |
| Energy per year | 99 kWh | 57 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 32¢ | 20¢ |
| Cost per day | 4.9¢ | 2.8¢ |
| Cost per month | $1.48 | $0.86 |
| Cost per year | $18 | $10 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $43 | $25 |
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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.
- Hot air brush: Hot air brushes like the Revlon One-Step draw about 1,100 W; the Dyson Airwrap is rated 1,300 W.
Ways to cut either cost
Microfiber hair towel
Less water to remove means fewer minutes on high heat.
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 hot air brush?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a hair dryer costs about $18 a year versus $10 for a hot air brush. That's $7 more, or 1.7× as much.
How many watts do hair dryer and hot air brush use?
A hair dryer typically draws 1,800 W (range 800–1,875 W). A hot air brush draws 1,100 W (range 800–1,300 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.