U.S. residential electricity EIA data: July 2026 US average 18.3¢/kWh Updated
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Laundry · California

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Clothes Dryer in California?

The short answer

Each load in a clothes dryer costs about $1.01 in California (3.00 kWh per load). At 5 loads a week, that adds up to $21.91 a month, or $263 a year.

California’s average residential rate was 33.6¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 84% above the US average.

Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated

Clothes Dryer cost by number of loads in California

Cost at 33.6¢/kWh, the California average (EIA, Jul 2026)
UsagekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 load/week 13.0 $0.14 $4.38 $52.58
3 loads/week 39.1 $0.43 $13.15 $158
5 loads/week 65.2 $0.72 $21.91 $263
7 loads/week 91.3 $1.01 $30.67 $368
10 loads/week 130.4 $1.44 $43.82 $526
14 loads/week 182.5 $2.02 $61.34 $736

California vs other states

At typical use, a clothes dryer costs $263 a year in California — $113 less than in Hawaii and $163 more than in Louisiana.

California has the 2nd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in California · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in California

33.6¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +2.9% from a year earlier.

How to lower the cost of running a clothes dryer

Electric dryers have heating elements of around 5,000W, and a typical load takes 45–60 minutes with the element cycling, for roughly 2.5–3.5 kWh per load. Heat pump dryers use about half as much, and line drying uses none. Moisture sensors that stop the cycle when clothes are dry save more than timed cycles.

  • Use the moisture-sensing (auto-dry) setting instead of a fixed timer.
  • Clean the lint filter every load and check the vent duct yearly.
  • Dry loads back-to-back to use leftover heat, and air-dry when you can.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost per load to run a clothes dryer in California?

A typical load uses about 3.00 kWh, which costs $1.01 at California’s average rate of 33.6¢/kWh. An efficient model can cost as little as $0.50 per load.

How many kWh does a clothes dryer use per month?

At 5 loads a week, a typical clothes dryer uses about 65.2 kWh a month. In California that costs $21.91.

Is it expensive to run a clothes dryer in California?

California has the 2nd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 33.6¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running a clothes dryer here costs about $263 a year at typical use, compared with $143 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in California right now?

The average residential electricity rate in California was 33.6¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 2.9% from a year earlier.

How many kWh does a dryer use per load?

Typically 2.5–3.5 kWh for a standard electric dryer, and about half that for a heat pump dryer.

Clothes Dryer costs in nearby states

Cheapest and priciest states

Comparisons

Sources & method