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CostPerKWh

Cost to run a hair dryer

Official EIA data · August 2026

W
h
days

Most hair dryers are rated 1,200 to 1,875 W on high (U.S. Department of Energy). 0.17 h is about 10 minutes a day.

EIA average residential price, August 2026. Your bill shows your exact rate.

Cost to run a hair dryer per month

$1.39

7.7 kWh at 18.16¢/kWh (U.S. average)

Per hour of use
$0.27
Per day of use
$0.05
Per year (same use every month)
$16.67

Power draw

1,500 W

1.5 kW

Energy per year

92 kWh

if used like this all year

Full details Costs in every state, real-world usage, formula and tips

Cost to run a hair dryer in every state

For 1,500 W for 0.17 hours a day, 30 days a month, at each state's average residential electricity rate (August 2026, EIA). Click a state for more detail.

StateRatePer hourPer monthPer year
Nevada 12.72¢ $0.19 $0.97 $11.68
Louisiana 12.87¢ $0.19 $0.98 $11.81
North Dakota 13.31¢ $0.20 $1.02 $12.22
Utah 13.31¢ $0.20 $1.02 $12.22
Idaho 13.37¢ $0.20 $1.02 $12.27
Tennessee 13.42¢ $0.20 $1.03 $12.32
Nebraska 13.54¢ $0.20 $1.04 $12.43
Kentucky 13.80¢ $0.21 $1.06 $12.67
Arkansas 14.37¢ $0.22 $1.10 $13.19
Mississippi 14.43¢ $0.22 $1.10 $13.25
Wyoming 14.43¢ $0.22 $1.10 $13.25
Washington 14.63¢ $0.22 $1.12 $13.43
Oklahoma 14.82¢ $0.22 $1.13 $13.60
North Carolina 14.95¢ $0.22 $1.14 $13.72
Florida 14.99¢ $0.22 $1.15 $13.76
Arizona 15.05¢ $0.23 $1.15 $13.82
South Dakota 15.15¢ $0.23 $1.16 $13.91
Kansas 15.47¢ $0.23 $1.18 $14.20
Montana 15.57¢ $0.23 $1.19 $14.29
South Carolina 15.76¢ $0.24 $1.21 $14.47
Georgia 15.90¢ $0.24 $1.22 $14.60
Texas 15.91¢ $0.24 $1.22 $14.61
Oregon 15.92¢ $0.24 $1.22 $14.61
Missouri 16.02¢ $0.24 $1.23 $14.71
West Virginia 16.31¢ $0.24 $1.25 $14.97
Alabama 16.33¢ $0.24 $1.25 $14.99
New Mexico 16.51¢ $0.25 $1.26 $15.16
Indiana 17.02¢ $0.26 $1.30 $15.62
Iowa 17.06¢ $0.26 $1.31 $15.66
Colorado 17.17¢ $0.26 $1.31 $15.76
Minnesota 17.20¢ $0.26 $1.32 $15.79
Virginia 17.64¢ $0.26 $1.35 $16.19
Delaware 18.70¢ $0.28 $1.43 $17.17
Illinois 19.32¢ $0.29 $1.48 $17.74
Ohio 19.38¢ $0.29 $1.48 $17.79
Wisconsin 19.41¢ $0.29 $1.48 $17.82
Maryland 21.40¢ $0.32 $1.64 $19.65
Pennsylvania 21.77¢ $0.33 $1.67 $19.98
Michigan 22.99¢ $0.34 $1.76 $21.10
Vermont 23.84¢ $0.36 $1.82 $21.89
Connecticut 24.51¢ $0.37 $1.88 $22.50
New Jersey 24.61¢ $0.37 $1.88 $22.59
District of Columbia 25.98¢ $0.39 $1.99 $23.85
New Hampshire 27.64¢ $0.41 $2.11 $25.37
Rhode Island 28.18¢ $0.42 $2.16 $25.87
New York 28.65¢ $0.43 $2.19 $26.30
Alaska 29.41¢ $0.44 $2.25 $27.00
California 29.75¢ $0.45 $2.28 $27.31
Massachusetts 30.48¢ $0.46 $2.33 $27.98
Maine 32.11¢ $0.48 $2.46 $29.48
Hawaii 47.18¢ $0.71 $3.61 $43.31

How the cost is calculated

The Department of Energy's formula: watts × hours per day ÷ 1,000 = kWh per day. Multiply by the days you use it and by your rate in dollars per kWh. A 1,500 W device running 1 hour uses 1.5 kWh; at 18¢ that is 27¢.

How to lower the cost

  • Towel-dry first so you need less time with the dryer.
  • Use the lower heat setting when you can.
  • Clean the air intake filter so it dries faster.
Quick answers 3 common questions
How much does it cost to run a hair dryer per month?

At the U.S. average residential rate of 18.16¢ per kWh (August 2026), 1,500 W for 0.17 hours a day, 30 days a month uses about 8 kWh and costs about $1.39 a month, or $16.67 a year if used the same way all year.

How much does it cost to run a hair dryer per hour?

At 1,500 W it uses 1.5 kWh per hour, which costs $0.27 at the U.S. average rate, from $0.19 in Nevada to $0.71 in Hawaii.

Where is it cheapest to run a hair dryer?

Electricity prices vary a lot by state. In August 2026, Nevada had the lowest average residential rate (12.72¢/kWh) and Hawaii the highest (47.18¢/kWh). The same use costs $0.97 a month in Nevada and $3.61 in Hawaii.

Sources

Last reviewed November 2, 2026. Rates refreshed automatically when EIA publishes a new month.

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See everything

These are estimates. State rates are EIA averages (total residential revenue ÷ kWh sold), so they include fixed monthly charges spread across usage; your own price per kWh, time-of-use rates and taxes can differ. Real appliance use depends on the model, settings, climate and habits.