utility · 1800W typical
Running a hair dryer costs about $1.34/month.
That's the typical hair dryer at 1800W, run 0.15 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 0.15 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same hair dryer can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
daily use
$1.34
per month
9 min per day
weekend only
$0.27
per month
quick use on weekends
Where you live
$2.42 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¢ | $3.34 | $40.60 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $2.54 | $30.94 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $2.49 | $30.35 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $2.32 | $28.28 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $2.26 | $27.50 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $1.99 | $24.24 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $1.97 | $23.95 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $1.81 | $21.98 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $1.79 | $21.78 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $1.74 | $21.19 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $1.56 | $19.02 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $1.55 | $18.82 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $1.49 | $18.13 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $1.47 | $17.84 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $1.44 | $17.54 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $1.41 | $17.15 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $1.39 | $16.95 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $1.37 | $16.65 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $1.34 | $16.36 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $1.32 | $16.06 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $1.28 | $15.57 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $1.27 | $15.47 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $1.26 | $15.37 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $1.25 | $15.18 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $1.23 | $14.98 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $1.23 | $14.98 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $1.22 | $14.88 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $1.20 | $14.59 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $1.20 | $14.59 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $1.19 | $14.49 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $1.19 | $14.49 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $1.18 | $14.39 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $1.15 | $13.99 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $1.14 | $13.90 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $1.13 | $13.70 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $1.10 | $13.40 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $1.09 | $13.21 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $1.08 | $13.11 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $1.07 | $13.01 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $1.06 | $12.91 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $1.06 | $12.91 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $1.03 | $12.52 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $1.00 | $12.22 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.99 | $12.02 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.98 | $11.92 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.98 | $11.92 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.96 | $11.73 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.94 | $11.43 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.93 | $11.33 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.92 | $11.23 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.92 | $11.14 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $7.23/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
1200W
$0.89 per month
$10.84 per year
Typical
1800W
$1.34 per month
$16.26 per year
High draw
2000W
$1.49 per month
$18.07 per year
When it hits hardest
year-round peak
Daily use.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Towel dry first — cuts hair dryer time 40-60%
Saves significantly per use
- 2
Use a lower heat setting — cool shot finishes faster than reheating
Cuts watts 30-50%
- 3
Air dry partially before blow drying
Reduces heat demand 50%+
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Conair | 1875W Tourmaline | 1875W |
| Revlon | One-Step Volumizer | 1100W |
| Dyson | Supersonic HD07 | 1600W |
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.energy.gov · www.energystar.gov
Last updated: 2026-04-13