Laundry · District of Columbia
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Clothes Dryer in District of Columbia?
The short answer
A typical clothes dryer uses about 3.00 kWh per load, which costs $0.76 per load in District of Columbia — about $16.43 a month at 5 loads a week.
District of Columbia’s average residential rate was 25.2¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 38% above the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Clothes Dryer cost by number of loads in District of Columbia
| Usage | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 load/week | 13.0 | $0.11 | $3.29 | $39.44 |
| 3 loads/week | 39.1 | $0.32 | $9.86 | $118 |
| 5 loads/week | 65.2 | $0.54 | $16.43 | $197 |
| 7 loads/week | 91.3 | $0.76 | $23.01 | $276 |
| 10 loads/week | 130.4 | $1.08 | $32.87 | $394 |
| 14 loads/week | 182.5 | $1.51 | $46.01 | $552 |
District of Columbia vs other states
At typical use, a clothes dryer costs $197 a year in District of Columbia — $178 less than in Hawaii and $97.69 more than in Louisiana.
District of Columbia has the 9th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in District of Columbia · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in District of Columbia
25.2¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +9.4% 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 District of Columbia?
A typical load uses about 3.00 kWh, which costs $0.76 at District of Columbia’s average rate of 25.2¢/kWh. An efficient model can cost as little as $0.38 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 District of Columbia that costs $16.43.
Is it expensive to run a clothes dryer in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia has the 9th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 25.2¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running a clothes dryer here costs about $197 a year at typical use, compared with $143 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in District of Columbia right now?
The average residential electricity rate in District of Columbia was 25.2¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 9.4% 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
Other appliances in District of Columbia
Cheapest and priciest states
Comparisons
Sources & method
- Electricity rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly — average residential retail price, July 2026 (latest available). Retrieved .
- CO₂: EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 emissions rate of in-state power generation.
- Default usage for clothes dryer: 5 loads a week. Typical power 5,000W.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).