If your monthly electricity bills have been creeping higher, the culprit may be more surprising than you think. It’s easy to suspect devices that are constantly plugged in, like phone chargers, televisions, or even your refrigerator. Yet in many homes, one appliance stands out for quietly driving energy costs upward: the electric clothes dryer.
Electric dryers consume a remarkable amount of electricity in a short period, often surpassing the combined usage of several other household devices over hours. While we take their convenience for granted, the cost of drying clothes can be substantial.
Why Electric Dryers Use So Much Energy
The main reason is heat.
Electric dryers rely on powerful heating elements to rapidly raise the temperature of the air inside the drum. This heat is essential to evaporate moisture from wet clothing efficiently. Maintaining such high temperatures requires a significant amount of electricity, far more than most other appliances in the home.
On average, an electric dryer uses 2,000 to 5,000 watts per hour. For comparison:
A modern refrigerator: 150–300 watts
A laptop: 50–100 watts
An LED television: 60–150 watts
Washing machine (without heating water): significantly less
Even ten minutes in an electric dryer can consume as much energy as several hours of operation from smaller, low-wattage devices.
How Dryers Inflate Monthly Bills Without Notice
Many households underestimate how often the dryer runs. A single load may seem trivial, but repeated use compounds quickly:
About 5 loads per week
Roughly 20 loads per month
Each load lasting 40–60 minutes
This usage can easily translate into dozens of kilowatt-hours per month. In larger households or those with daily laundry routines, the dryer alone can noticeably increase electricity costs, often without anyone realizing it. Heavy items such as towels, blankets, and denim further drive up energy consumption, as they require longer cycles to dry fully.
Everyday Habits That Raise Dryer Costs
Several common habits can make your dryer even less efficient and more expensive to operate:
Overloading the drum, which forces longer cycles to dry all clothes evenly
Clogged lint filters, reducing airflow and extending drying time
Older or inefficient models, particularly those without moisture sensors
High-heat settings, which consume more electricity than low or eco modes
Long or poorly ventilated ducts, which trap heat and moisture, prolonging drying time
Every extra minute the dryer runs directly increases your energy usage and, consequently, your bill.
Electric vs. Gas Dryers
It’s worth noting that electric dryers are generally more costly to operate than gas dryers. While gas models still require electricity for motors and controls, they use natural gas for heating. Since natural gas is typically cheaper per unit than electricity, running a gas dryer can result in significant savings over time.
By being mindful of how often and how efficiently your dryer operates, you can reduce electricity consumption without sacrificing convenience. Even simple changes—like drying smaller loads, cleaning lint filters regularly, and using lower heat settings—can make a meaningful difference on your monthly bill.