How much does it cost to run a hair dryer?
Short answer: A hair dryer drawing 1,800 watts for 10 minutes costs about $0.05 per use at the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Used 7 times a week, that is about $1.67 per month and $19.99 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $1.16 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $4.37.
Hair dryer cost calculator
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Minutes per use. Drying takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on hair length.
Uses 9.1 kWh per month. The starting price is the U.S. residential average; choose your state or type the price from your own bill.
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A hair dryer is among the most powerful things you can plug into a bathroom outlet, typically 1,500 to 1,875 watts. It is also used for minutes, not hours, so each use costs only a few cents.
Cost by size and setting
Costs below use the U.S. average price and 10 minutes per use, 7 times a week.
| Type | Power | Per use | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel dryer | 1,000 W | $0.03 | $0.93 |
| Standard, low heat | 1,200 W | $0.04 | $1.11 |
| Standard, high heat | 1,875 W | $0.06 | $1.74 |
High power, short time
The 1,875-watt figure printed on many dryers is the most a standard 15-amp household circuit can safely supply. Ten minutes at 1,800 watts is 0.3 kWh. Used every day, that adds up to about 9 kWh a month, comparable to a television.
What changes the cost
The heat setting matters more than the fan speed, because nearly all the power goes to the heating element. Low heat roughly halves the draw. Drying time depends on how wet the hair is to begin with, which is why towel-drying first makes a real difference.
How to lower the cost
- Towel-dry thoroughly first.
- Use a lower heat setting; it is also gentler on hair.
- Finish with the cool-shot button, which switches the element off.
- Clean the lint screen at the back so air flows freely.
How a hair dryer compares with other appliances
Typical power and use for each appliance, at the U.S. average price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Follow a link for that appliance's own calculator, or compare two side by side.
| Appliance | Power | Typical use | Energy per month | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hair dryer | 1,800 W | 10 minutes per use, 7 times a week | 9.1 kWh | $1.67 |
| Clothes iron | 1,200 W | 20 minutes per use, 2 times a week | 3.5 kWh | $0.63 |
| Space heater | 1,500 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 360.0 kWh | $65.92 |
| Electric kettle | 1,500 W | 4 minutes per use, 21 times a week | 9.1 kWh | $1.67 |
| Toaster | 900 W | 3 minutes per use, 7 times a week | 1.4 kWh | $0.25 |
The math behind the numbers
1,800 watts ÷ 1,000 = 1.8 kW. 1.8 kW × 10 minutes ÷ 60 = 0.3 kWh per use. 0.3 kWh × $0.1831 = $0.05 per use. At 7 uses a week, that is 9.1 kWh and $1.67 a month.
Your own figure will differ if your appliance has a different wattage, if you use it more or less, or if your price per kWh is not the national average. Change any of those in the calculator at the top of this page. Our step-by-step guide explains where to find each number.
Cost to run a hair dryer in every state
Based on 1,800 watts for 10 minutes per use, 7 times a week, at each state's average residential electricity price for July 2026.
| State | Price per kWh | Per use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $0.05 | $1.49 | $17.91 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $0.09 | $2.62 | $31.48 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $0.05 | $1.40 | $16.79 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $0.04 | $1.30 | $15.65 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $0.10 | $3.06 | $36.70 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $0.05 | $1.55 | $18.56 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $0.07 | $2.20 | $26.38 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $0.06 | $1.68 | $20.18 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $0.08 | $2.29 | $27.53 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $0.05 | $1.37 | $16.41 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $0.05 | $1.48 | $17.77 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $0.14 | $4.37 | $52.42 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $0.04 | $1.25 | $14.99 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $0.06 | $1.75 | $20.99 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $0.05 | $1.52 | $18.27 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $0.05 | $1.46 | $17.46 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $0.05 | $1.39 | $16.67 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $0.04 | $1.26 | $15.08 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $0.04 | $1.16 | $13.89 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $0.10 | $2.95 | $35.39 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $0.06 | $1.95 | $23.38 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $0.09 | $2.77 | $33.30 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $0.07 | $2.10 | $25.17 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $0.05 | $1.59 | $19.06 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $0.04 | $1.32 | $15.88 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $0.05 | $1.46 | $17.57 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $0.04 | $1.36 | $16.37 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $0.04 | $1.25 | $15.05 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $0.04 | $1.16 | $13.94 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $0.08 | $2.42 | $29.05 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $0.08 | $2.29 | $27.51 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $0.05 | $1.46 | $17.57 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $0.09 | $2.72 | $32.65 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $0.05 | $1.38 | $16.55 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $0.04 | $1.22 | $14.64 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $0.06 | $1.77 | $21.24 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $0.04 | $1.31 | $15.67 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $0.05 | $1.45 | $17.44 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $0.07 | $1.98 | $23.72 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $0.08 | $2.57 | $30.89 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $0.05 | $1.41 | $16.89 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $0.05 | $1.40 | $16.78 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $0.04 | $1.25 | $14.97 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $0.05 | $1.45 | $17.34 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $0.04 | $1.19 | $14.33 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $0.07 | $2.16 | $25.94 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $0.05 | $1.60 | $19.16 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $0.04 | $1.34 | $16.06 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $0.05 | $1.44 | $17.23 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $0.06 | $1.73 | $20.81 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $0.04 | $1.31 | $15.68 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to use a hair dryer for 10 minutes?
About $0.05 at the U.S. average electricity price for an 1,800-watt dryer.
Does a hair dryer use a lot of electricity?
It draws a lot of power, but briefly. Ten minutes a day adds about $1.67 a month.
Why does my hair dryer trip the breaker?
A dryer on high uses almost the full capacity of a 15-amp circuit. Anything else running on the same circuit, such as a space heater, can push it over the limit.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly (state electricity prices)
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Appliances and Electronics
Electricity prices are the EIA figures for July 2026. Wattages are typical values; check the label on your own appliance.