laundry · 800W typical
Running a heat pump dryer costs about $5.94/month.
That's the typical heat pump dryer at 800W, run 1.5 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 1.5 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same heat pump dryer can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
family load
$5.94
per month
longer cycle time than vented dryer
couple's weekly
$2.38
per month
3 loads per week
Where you live
$10.76 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¢ | $14.83 | $180.46 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $11.30 | $137.53 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $11.09 | $134.90 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $10.33 | $125.71 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $10.04 | $122.20 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $8.86 | $107.75 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $8.75 | $106.43 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $8.03 | $97.67 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $7.96 | $96.80 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $7.74 | $94.17 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $6.95 | $84.53 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $6.88 | $83.66 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $6.62 | $80.59 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $6.52 | $79.28 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $6.41 | $77.96 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $6.26 | $76.21 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $6.19 | $75.34 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $6.08 | $74.02 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $5.98 | $72.71 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $5.87 | $71.39 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $5.69 | $69.20 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $5.65 | $68.77 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $5.62 | $68.33 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $5.54 | $67.45 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $5.47 | $66.58 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $5.47 | $66.58 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $5.44 | $66.14 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $5.33 | $64.82 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $5.33 | $64.82 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $5.29 | $64.39 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $5.29 | $64.39 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $5.26 | $63.95 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $5.11 | $62.20 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $5.08 | $61.76 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $5.00 | $60.88 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $4.90 | $59.57 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $4.82 | $58.69 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $4.79 | $58.25 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $4.75 | $57.82 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $4.72 | $57.38 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $4.72 | $57.38 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $4.57 | $55.63 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $4.46 | $54.31 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $4.39 | $53.44 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $4.36 | $53.00 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $4.36 | $53.00 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $4.28 | $52.12 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $4.18 | $50.81 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $4.14 | $50.37 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $4.10 | $49.93 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $4.07 | $49.49 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $63.24/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
600W
$4.46 per month
$54.20 per year
Typical
800W
$5.94 per month
$72.27 per year
High draw
1300W
$9.65 per month
$117.44 per year
When it hits hardest
winter peak
Heavier winter use.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Heat pump dryers use 50% less than vented electric — the primary upgrade
Saves ~300 kWh/year vs conventional electric
- 2
Clean the heat exchanger monthly
Clogged exchangers add 15-25% to cycle time
- 3
Don't overload — cycles rely on airflow
Saves 10-15% per load
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| LG | DLHC1455W Heat Pump | 800W |
| Samsung | DVE60M9900W Heat Pump | 900W |
| Miele | TXD160WP | 700W |
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