How much does it cost to run a hair dryer?
EIA data · June 2026About $1.52 a month at the U.S. average price of 18.34¢ per kilowatt-hour — but that figure moves a long way depending on where you live. Set your state below.
8.3 kWh a month at the U.S. average, 18.34¢/kWh for June 2026. Excludes fixed charges, taxes and time-of-use rates, which vary by utility and are on your bill.
Typical 1,000–1,875 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.
A hair dryer sits mid-table at #59 of 88, which means something else in the house costs more. See whether home & cleaning or something else drives your bill.
This is one of the appliances big enough to move a bill on its own. What usually drives a bill that jumped.
How many watts a hair dryer uses
US hair dryers are 120-volt appliances and are built to a 1,875 W maximum, which is the practical ceiling for a plug-in device on a 15-amp circuit. Most full-size models are rated 1,600–1,875 W.
- Low
- 1,000 W
- Typical
- 1,600 W
- High
- 1,875 W
What it costs across the country
Same appliance, same usage, different electricity price. Annual cost at 1,600 W and the default usage above.
| State | ¢/kWh | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 52.72 | $52.34 |
| California | 34.74 | $34.49 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $29.40 |
| New York | 29.49 | $29.28 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $19.05 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $15.83 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $14.99 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $13.27 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $13.15 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $13.02 |
Worth knowing
- A hair dryer draws more than a space heater, which surprises people — but ten minutes a day against ten hours a day is the difference that matters.
- Almost all of the draw is the heating element. Running it on cool air cuts the cost by roughly 90%.
- It is one of the few appliances that can trip a bathroom circuit on its own, which is a wiring consideration rather than a cost one.
Other appliances
- Vacuum cleaner
- Robot vacuum
- Air purifier
- Steam mop
- Space heater
- Central air conditioner
- Window air conditioner
- Electric water heater
Prices are statewide residential averages for June 2026 from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. They exclude fixed monthly charges, taxes and time-of-use rates. See how these figures are calculated.