Tumble Dryer Cost Per Use Calculator

Tumble dryers are among the more power-hungry household appliances, and the cost of a single cycle depends on three things: the dryer's rated power in kilowatts, how long the cycle runs, and the electricity rate per kWh. This calculator multiplies those three figures together and projects the result out to weekly and annual cost based on how often the dryer runs.

How to use it

Enter the dryer's rated power in kW (printed on the appliance label or in the manual), the typical cycle duration in hours, the electricity rate per kWh from a recent bill, and the average number of cycles per week. The calculator returns cost per cycle, weekly cost, annual cost, energy used per cycle in kWh, and total cycles per year.

What the inputs mean

Cost per cycle is calculated as power multiplied by hours multiplied by the rate per kWh. The annual figure assumes consistent weekly usage across 52 weeks; in practice usage is seasonal, with more drying needed in colder, wetter months and less in warm, dry weather. The calculation uses rated power, which is what the appliance draws at full load. Real average draw is usually lower than the rated figure because the heating element cycles on and off once the drum reaches temperature, so the figure here tends to be an upper bound rather than a precise reading. For a closer measurement, a plug-in energy monitor or a smart-meter session log gives the actual kWh drawn.

Quick example

With a dryer rated at 2.5 kW running for 1.5 hours per cycle at a rate of 0.28 per kWh, one cycle costs 1.05. Run that five times a week and the weekly figure is 5.25, which works out to 273.00 over a year. Change any input and the result updates in real time.

What this tool does not capture

The math here is straightforward energy cost. It does not include the time spent loading and operating the dryer, depreciation of the machine over its working life, wear on fabrics from repeated heat exposure, or the impact of room ventilation on heating or cooling costs in different climates. Heat-pump, condenser, and vented dryers all draw different amounts of power for a given cycle length, so changing the dryer power input lets you compare models on running cost alone.