Washing machine vs. electric clothes dryer: running cost
A washing machine is cheaper to run: about $58 a year versus $148 for an electric clothes dryer at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $90 difference.
| Washing machine | Electric clothes dryer | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 500 W | 5,000 W |
| Watt range | 300–1,000 W | 1,800–6,000 W |
| Typical use | 6 loads a week | 6 loads a week |
| Energy per year | 322 kWh | 823 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 18¢ | 47¢ |
| Cost per day | 16¢ | 41¢ |
| Cost per month | $4.82 | $12.33 |
| Cost per year | $58 | $148 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $140 | $358 |
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What drives the difference
- Washing machine: A top-load washer's motor uses only about 0.1-0.3 kWh per load; the rest of the roughly 1 kWh per load is the electric water heater warming the wash water. Cold-water loads cost a fraction as much.
- Electric clothes dryer: Standard 240 V vented dryers have a 5,000 W heating element and use about 2-3.5 kWh per load, which makes them one of the bigger appliance loads in a home.
Ways to cut either cost
Uses about 25% less energy and 33% less water and spins more water out before drying.
See options on AmazonCleans well at tap-cold temperatures so no water heating is needed.
See options on AmazonUses about 50-60% less energy per load.
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 washing machine or an electric clothes dryer?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), an electric clothes dryer costs about $148 a year versus $58 for a washing machine. That's $90 more, or 2.6× as much.
How many watts do washing machine and electric clothes dryer use?
A washing machine typically draws 500 W (range 300–1,000 W). An electric clothes dryer draws 5,000 W (range 1,800–6,000 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.