How much does it cost to run a hair dryer?
A hair dryer costs about 32¢ per hour, 4.9¢ a day, $1.48 a month and $18 a year at typical use (9 minutes a day) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 900 | 16¢ | 2.4¢ | $0.74 | $9 |
| Medium | 1,300 | 23¢ | 3.5¢ | $1.07 | $13 |
| High | 1,800 | 32¢ | 4.9¢ | $1.48 | $18 |
At 9 minutes a day and 17.99¢/kWh.
Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 1.80 | 32¢ | $9.86 | $118 |
| 2 hours | 3.60 | 65¢ | $19.71 | $237 |
| 4 hours | 7.20 | $1.30 | $39.43 | $473 |
| 8 hours | 14.40 | $2.59 | $78.85 | $946 |
| 12 hours | 21.60 | $3.89 | $118 | $1,419 |
| 24 hours | 43.20 | $7.77 | $237 | $2,839 |
Cost to run a hair dryer in every state
The same hair dryer costs $12 a year in North Dakota and $43 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¢ | 22¢ | $1.01 | $12 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 23¢ | $1.04 | $12 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 23¢ | $1.06 | $13 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 23¢ | $1.07 | $13 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 24¢ | $1.09 | $13 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 24¢ | $1.10 | $13 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 24¢ | $1.10 | $13 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 24¢ | $1.11 | $13 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 25¢ | $1.13 | $14 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 25¢ | $1.14 | $14 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 25¢ | $1.14 | $14 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 25¢ | $1.15 | $14 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 25¢ | $1.15 | $14 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 25¢ | $1.16 | $14 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 25¢ | $1.16 | $14 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 26¢ | $1.17 | $14 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 27¢ | $1.21 | $15 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 27¢ | $1.21 | $15 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 27¢ | $1.24 | $15 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 27¢ | $1.24 | $15 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 28¢ | $1.26 | $15 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 28¢ | $1.26 | $15 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 28¢ | $1.27 | $15 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 28¢ | $1.27 | $15 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 28¢ | $1.27 | $15 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 28¢ | $1.29 | $15 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 29¢ | $1.31 | $16 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 29¢ | $1.33 | $16 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 30¢ | $1.35 | $16 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 30¢ | $1.35 | $16 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 30¢ | $1.36 | $16 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 30¢ | $1.39 | $17 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 32¢ | $1.46 | $18 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 33¢ | $1.50 | $18 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 34¢ | $1.54 | $18 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 34¢ | $1.54 | $19 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 37¢ | $1.70 | $20 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 38¢ | $1.73 | $21 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 38¢ | $1.73 | $21 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 43¢ | $1.95 | $23 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 43¢ | $1.96 | $23 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 44¢ | $1.99 | $24 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 48¢ | $2.19 | $26 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 48¢ | $2.21 | $26 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 50¢ | $2.30 | $28 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 51¢ | $2.33 | $28 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 53¢ | $2.41 | $29 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 53¢ | $2.41 | $29 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 55¢ | $2.50 | $30 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 59¢ | $2.71 | $33 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 78¢ | $3.58 | $43 |
How to cut the cost
- Towel-dry or use a microfiber towel for 10 minutes first; it can halve drying time.
- Use medium heat with a high fan speed; the heating element is most of the power.
- Use the concentrator nozzle to direct airflow and dry faster.
- Clean the rear filter monthly so airflow stays high.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Removes more water before blow-drying, cutting dryer time.
See options on AmazonFaster drying means fewer minutes at 1,800 W.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hair dryer | 1,800 | 9 minutes a day | $1.48 | $18 |
| Hot air brush | 1,100 | 15 minutes a day, 4 days a week | $0.86 | $10 |
| Flat iron | 60 | 20 minutes a day, 4 days a week | $0.06 | $1 |
| Curling iron | 50 | 20 minutes a day, 4 days a week | $0.05 | $1 |
| Electric shaver | 5 | 1 hour a day, 2 days a week | $0.05 | $1 |
| Electric toothbrush | 2 | 24 hours a day | $0.20 | $2 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a hair dryer per hour?
A hair dryer drawing 1,800 watts uses 1.80 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 32¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 22¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 78¢.
How much does it cost to run a hair dryer per month?
At typical use (9 minutes a day), a hair dryer costs about $1.48 a month and $18 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 hair dryer use?
Most hair dryers use 800 to 1,875 watts, depending on the setting (low 900 W, medium 1,300 W, high 1,800 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a hair dryer use?
About 0.27 kWh a day and 99 kWh a year at typical use (9 minutes a day).
Does a hair dryer use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 99 kWh a year it's a small share (0.9%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a hair dryer or a hot air brush?
At typical use, a hair dryer costs about $18 a year versus $10 for a hot air brush. So the hot air brush is cheaper by about $7 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a hair dryer?
- Towel-dry or use a microfiber towel for 10 minutes first; it can halve drying time.
- Use medium heat with a high fan speed; the heating element is most of the power.
- Use the concentrator nozzle to direct airflow and dry faster.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.