How much does it cost to run a food dehydrator?
A food dehydrator costs about 5.4¢ per hour, 7.7¢ a day, $2.35 a month and $28 a year at typical use (10 hours a day, 1 days a week) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Food dehydrators draw 300-1,000 W and run 6-16 hours per batch with the heater cycling; a typical batch uses 2-5 kWh. Home freeze dryers are separate and use 10-15 kWh per batch.
Calculate your cost
Add as many devices as you like to compare them side by side. Search again to add another, or use Duplicate to compare two settings.
Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small round (4-5 tray) | 400 | 3.6¢ | 5.1¢ | $1.56 | $19 |
| Box style (6-9 tray) | 600 | 5.4¢ | 7.7¢ | $2.35 | $28 |
At 10 hours a day, 1 days a week and 17.99¢/kWh.
Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.04 | 0.8¢ | $0.23 | $3 |
| 2 hours | 0.09 | 1.5¢ | $0.47 | $6 |
| 4 hours | 0.17 | 3.1¢ | $0.94 | $11 |
| 8 hours | 0.34 | 6.2¢ | $1.88 | $23 |
| 12 hours | 0.51 | 9.3¢ | $2.82 | $34 |
| 24 hours | 1.03 | 19¢ | $5.63 | $68 |
Cost to run a food dehydrator in every state
The same food dehydrator costs $19 a year in North Dakota and $68 in Hawaii, at each state's average residential rate (12 months ending July 2026).
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.32¢ | 3.7¢ | $1.61 | $19 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 3.8¢ | $1.65 | $20 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 3.9¢ | $1.68 | $20 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 3.9¢ | $1.69 | $20 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 4.0¢ | $1.74 | $21 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 4.0¢ | $1.74 | $21 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 4.0¢ | $1.75 | $21 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 4.1¢ | $1.77 | $21 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 4.1¢ | $1.79 | $21 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 4.2¢ | $1.81 | $22 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 4.2¢ | $1.82 | $22 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 4.2¢ | $1.82 | $22 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 4.2¢ | $1.83 | $22 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 4.2¢ | $1.84 | $22 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 4.2¢ | $1.84 | $22 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 4.3¢ | $1.85 | $22 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 4.4¢ | $1.93 | $23 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 4.4¢ | $1.93 | $23 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 4.5¢ | $1.97 | $24 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 4.5¢ | $1.97 | $24 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 4.6¢ | $2.00 | $24 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 4.6¢ | $2.01 | $24 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 4.6¢ | $2.01 | $24 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 4.6¢ | $2.02 | $24 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 4.7¢ | $2.02 | $24 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 4.7¢ | $2.04 | $24 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 4.8¢ | $2.08 | $25 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 4.9¢ | $2.12 | $25 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 4.9¢ | $2.14 | $26 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 4.9¢ | $2.15 | $26 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 5.0¢ | $2.16 | $26 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 5.1¢ | $2.21 | $27 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 5.3¢ | $2.32 | $28 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 5.5¢ | $2.38 | $29 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 5.6¢ | $2.44 | $29 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 5.6¢ | $2.45 | $29 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 6.2¢ | $2.70 | $32 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 6.3¢ | $2.74 | $33 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 6.3¢ | $2.75 | $33 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 7.1¢ | $3.10 | $37 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 7.1¢ | $3.10 | $37 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 7.3¢ | $3.16 | $38 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 8.0¢ | $3.48 | $42 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 8.1¢ | $3.50 | $42 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 8.4¢ | $3.65 | $44 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 8.5¢ | $3.70 | $44 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 8.8¢ | $3.82 | $46 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 8.8¢ | $3.82 | $46 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 9.1¢ | $3.97 | $48 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 9.9¢ | $4.30 | $52 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 13¢ | $5.68 | $68 |
How to cut the cost
- Fill every tray; a half-empty dehydrator uses nearly as much energy as a full one.
- Slice food thin and uniform (1/4 inch) to cut drying time.
- Run it in a warm, dry room rather than a cool garage.
- Use the lowest safe temperature for the food: 125-135°F for fruits and vegetables.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Horizontal airflow and a timer prevent over-drying and wasted hours.
See options on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. It never changes the numbers we show. Disclosure.
Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food dehydrator | 600 | 10 hours a day, 1 days a week | $2.35 | $28 |
| Electric oven | 3,000 | 3 hour of bakings a week | $3.75 | $45 |
| Air fryer | 1,500 | 24 minutes a day | $1.97 | $24 |
| Toaster oven | 1,300 | 18 minutes a day | $1.62 | $19 |
| Rice cooker | 600 | 45 minutes a day, 4 days a week | $0.97 | $12 |
| Food processor | 600 | 6 minutes a day, 2 days a week | $0.09 | $1 |
| Juicer | 600 | 6 minutes a day, 3 days a week | $0.14 | $2 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a food dehydrator per hour?
A food dehydrator drawing 600 watts uses 0.30 kWh per hour while running (50% duty cycle). At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 5.4¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 3.7¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 13¢.
How much does it cost to run a food dehydrator per month?
At typical use (10 hours a day, 1 days a week), a food dehydrator costs about $2.35 a month and $28 a year, at the U.S. average rate. Enter your ZIP in the calculator above for your utility's rate.
How many watts does a food dehydrator use?
Most food dehydrators use 250 to 1,000 watts, depending on the setting (small round (4-5 tray) 400 W, box style (6-9 tray) 600 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a food dehydrator use?
About 0.43 kWh a day and 157 kWh a year at typical use (10 hours a day, 1 days a week).
Does a food dehydrator use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 157 kWh a year it's a small share (1.5%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a food dehydrator or an electric oven?
At typical use, a food dehydrator costs about $28 a year versus $45 for an electric oven. So the food dehydrator is cheaper by about $17 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a food dehydrator?
- Fill every tray; a half-empty dehydrator uses nearly as much energy as a full one.
- Slice food thin and uniform (1/4 inch) to cut drying time.
- Run it in a warm, dry room rather than a cool garage.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.