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

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

The short answer

A typical clothes dryer uses about 3.00 kWh per load, which costs $0.52 per load in Minnesota — about $11.37 a month at 5 loads a week.

Minnesota’s average residential rate was 17.5¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 5% below the US average.

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

Clothes Dryer cost by number of loads in Minnesota

Cost at 17.5¢/kWh, the Minnesota average (EIA, Jul 2026)
UsagekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 load/week 13.0 $0.07 $2.27 $27.30
3 loads/week 39.1 $0.22 $6.82 $81.89
5 loads/week 65.2 $0.37 $11.37 $136
7 loads/week 91.3 $0.52 $15.92 $191
10 loads/week 130.4 $0.75 $22.75 $273
14 loads/week 182.5 $1.05 $31.85 $382

Minnesota vs other states

At typical use, a clothes dryer costs $136 a year in Minnesota — $239 less than in Hawaii and $37.00 more than in Louisiana.

Minnesota has the 21st-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Minnesota electricity rates · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Minnesota

17.5¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +3.1% 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 Minnesota?

A typical load uses about 3.00 kWh, which costs $0.52 at Minnesota’s average rate of 17.5¢/kWh. An efficient model can cost as little as $0.26 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 Minnesota that costs $11.37.

Is it expensive to run a clothes dryer in Minnesota?

Minnesota has the 21st-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 17.5¢/kWh — close to the middle of the pack. Running a clothes dryer here costs about $136 a year at typical use, compared with $143 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Minnesota right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Minnesota was 17.5¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 3.1% 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