laundry · 2400W typical
Running a compact (240v) dryer costs about $11.88/month.
That's the typical compact (240v) dryer at 2400W, run 1 hours a day at the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh. Change any of those and the number moves — use the calculator below to see yours.
Estimated cost
Full-power draw for 1 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same compact (240v) dryer can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
apartment use
$11.88
per month
daily load in apartment/condo
secondary dryer
$3.56
per month
basement/utility room backup
Where you live
$21.53 spread between the cheapest and priciest states.
Same appliance, same hours of use, different zip code — the monthly cost varies this much.
| State | Rate | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 41.2¢ | $29.66 | $360.91 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $22.61 | $275.06 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $22.18 | $269.81 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $20.66 | $251.41 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $20.09 | $244.40 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $17.71 | $215.50 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $17.50 | $212.87 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $16.06 | $195.35 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $15.91 | $193.60 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $15.48 | $188.34 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $13.90 | $169.07 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $13.75 | $167.32 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $13.25 | $161.18 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $13.03 | $158.56 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $12.82 | $155.93 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $12.53 | $152.42 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $12.38 | $150.67 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $12.17 | $148.04 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $11.95 | $145.42 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $11.74 | $142.79 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $11.38 | $138.41 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $11.30 | $137.53 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $11.23 | $136.66 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $11.09 | $134.90 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $10.94 | $133.15 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $10.94 | $133.15 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $10.87 | $132.28 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $10.66 | $129.65 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $10.66 | $129.65 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $10.58 | $128.77 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $10.58 | $128.77 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $10.51 | $127.90 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $10.22 | $124.39 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $10.15 | $123.52 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $10.01 | $121.76 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $9.79 | $119.14 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $9.65 | $117.38 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $9.58 | $116.51 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $9.50 | $115.63 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $9.43 | $114.76 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $9.43 | $114.76 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $9.14 | $111.25 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $8.93 | $108.62 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $8.78 | $106.87 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $8.71 | $106.00 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $8.71 | $106.00 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $8.57 | $104.24 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $8.35 | $101.62 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $8.28 | $100.74 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $8.21 | $99.86 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $8.14 | $98.99 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $84.31/year difference across the wattage range.
Swapping a high-draw model for an efficient one pays for itself. Here's what that looks like annually at typical usage.
Most efficient
1800W
$8.91 per month
$108.41 per year
Typical
2400W
$11.88 per month
$144.54 per year
High draw
3200W
$15.84 per month
$192.72 per year
When it hits hardest
year-round peak
Constant apartment use.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Ventless condensing dryers take longer but can't be vented — OK in apartments
Understand the tradeoff before buying
- 2
Don't overload compact drums — cycle efficiency drops fast
Properly sized loads use 20-30% less
- 3
Consider upgrading to heat pump compact at replacement
Heat pump compacts use half the energy
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Bosch | WTG86401UC 24-inch | 2400W |
| LG | DLEC888W 24-inch Ventless | 2500W |
| Miele | T1 Classic WCD120WCS | 2200W |
Picks that actually move the needle
Three products worth comparing if you're thinking about upgrading or supplementing what you have.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy, we may earn a small commission — it never changes the price you pay, and we only recommend picks we would stand behind.
See also
Related appliances
Sources: www.energystar.gov · www.energy.gov
Last updated: 2026-04-13