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

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

The short answer

A typical clothes dryer uses about 3.00 kWh per load, which costs $0.72 per load in Connecticut — about $15.75 a month at 5 loads a week.

The estimate uses Connecticut’s average residential electricity price of 24.2¢/kWh from EIA (July 2026) — 32% above the national average.

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

Clothes Dryer cost by number of loads in Connecticut

Cost at 24.2¢/kWh, the Connecticut average (EIA, Jul 2026)
UsagekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 load/week 13.0 $0.10 $3.15 $37.79
3 loads/week 39.1 $0.31 $9.45 $113
5 loads/week 65.2 $0.52 $15.75 $189
7 loads/week 91.3 $0.72 $22.05 $265
10 loads/week 130.4 $1.04 $31.50 $378
14 loads/week 182.5 $1.45 $44.10 $529

Connecticut vs other states

At typical use, a clothes dryer costs $189 a year in Connecticut — $186 less than in Hawaii and $89.48 more than in Louisiana.

Connecticut has the 11th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in Connecticut · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Connecticut

24.2¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▼ −12.5% 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 Connecticut?

A typical load uses about 3.00 kWh, which costs $0.72 at Connecticut’s average rate of 24.2¢/kWh. An efficient model can cost as little as $0.36 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 Connecticut that costs $15.75.

Is it expensive to run a clothes dryer in Connecticut?

Connecticut has the 11th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 24.2¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running a clothes dryer here costs about $189 a year at typical use, compared with $143 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Connecticut right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Connecticut was 24.2¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — down 12.5% 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