How much does a hair dryer cost to run?
Updated August 2026 · average residential rates
Quick answer: a hair dryer (1,200–1,875 W on high) costs about 25.3¢ per hour to run at the US average rate. With 10 minutes/day, that's 4.3¢/day, $1.31/month and $15.73/year — using ~0.3 kWh a day. Your state's rate can move this from 86.8¢ to $3.26 monthly.
Run your own numbers
1,200–1,875 W on high · default assumes 10 minutes/day
Uses about 0.3 kWh/day at 15.6¢/kWh (Texas). National average would be $1.31/month.
Hair Dryer cost by state
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15.6¢/kWh | 23.4¢ | $1.21 |
| Alaska | 24.9¢/kWh | 37.4¢ | $1.93 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢/kWh | 22.8¢ | $1.18 |
| Arkansas | 12.7¢/kWh | 19.1¢ | 98.5¢ |
| California | 31.8¢/kWh | 47.7¢ | $2.47 |
| Colorado | 15.3¢/kWh | 22.9¢ | $1.19 |
| Connecticut | 32.3¢/kWh | 48.4¢ | $2.50 |
| Delaware | 16.8¢/kWh | 25.2¢ | $1.30 |
| District of Columbia | 17.6¢/kWh | 26.4¢ | $1.36 |
| Florida | 15.1¢/kWh | 22.6¢ | $1.17 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢/kWh | 21.3¢ | $1.10 |
| Hawaii | 42.1¢/kWh | 63.2¢ | $3.26 |
| Idaho | 11.6¢/kWh | 17.4¢ | 89.9¢ |
| Illinois | 16.4¢/kWh | 24.6¢ | $1.27 |
| Indiana | 15.7¢/kWh | 23.5¢ | $1.22 |
| Iowa | 13.7¢/kWh | 20.5¢ | $1.06 |
| Kansas | 14.3¢/kWh | 21.5¢ | $1.11 |
| Kentucky | 13.1¢/kWh | 19.7¢ | $1.02 |
| Louisiana | 12.1¢/kWh | 18.1¢ | 93.8¢ |
| Maine | 25.6¢/kWh | 38.4¢ | $1.98 |
| Maryland | 18.1¢/kWh | 27.2¢ | $1.40 |
| Massachusetts | 31.2¢/kWh | 46.8¢ | $2.42 |
| Michigan | 19.4¢/kWh | 29.1¢ | $1.50 |
| Minnesota | 15.1¢/kWh | 22.6¢ | $1.17 |
| Mississippi | 13.6¢/kWh | 20.4¢ | $1.05 |
| Missouri | 12.6¢/kWh | 18.9¢ | 97.7¢ |
| Montana | 12.8¢/kWh | 19.2¢ | 99.2¢ |
| Nebraska | 12.1¢/kWh | 18.1¢ | 93.8¢ |
| Nevada | 15.4¢/kWh | 23.1¢ | $1.19 |
| New Hampshire | 25.2¢/kWh | 37.8¢ | $1.95 |
| New Jersey | 19.6¢/kWh | 29.4¢ | $1.52 |
| New Mexico | 14.6¢/kWh | 21.9¢ | $1.13 |
| New York | 24.6¢/kWh | 36.9¢ | $1.91 |
| North Carolina | 14.1¢/kWh | 21.1¢ | $1.09 |
| North Dakota | 11.2¢/kWh | 16.8¢ | 86.8¢ |
| Ohio | 16.3¢/kWh | 24.4¢ | $1.26 |
| Oklahoma | 12.2¢/kWh | 18.3¢ | 94.6¢ |
| Oregon | 14.8¢/kWh | 22.2¢ | $1.15 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.4¢/kWh | 27.6¢ | $1.43 |
| Rhode Island | 30.4¢/kWh | 45.6¢ | $2.36 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢/kWh | 22.0¢ | $1.14 |
| South Dakota | 12.6¢/kWh | 18.9¢ | 97.7¢ |
| Tennessee | 13.2¢/kWh | 19.8¢ | $1.02 |
| Texas | 15.6¢/kWh | 23.4¢ | $1.21 |
| Utah | 11.7¢/kWh | 17.5¢ | 90.7¢ |
| Vermont | 21.6¢/kWh | 32.4¢ | $1.67 |
| Virginia | 14.6¢/kWh | 21.9¢ | $1.13 |
| Washington | 12.3¢/kWh | 18.5¢ | 95.3¢ |
| West Virginia | 14.8¢/kWh | 22.2¢ | $1.15 |
| Wisconsin | 17.2¢/kWh | 25.8¢ | $1.33 |
| Wyoming | 11.8¢/kWh | 17.7¢ | 91.5¢ |
FAQ
How much electricity does a hair dryer use?+
A typical hair dryer draws 1,200–1,875 W on high. At 10 minutes/day, that's about 0.3 kWh per day.
How much does a hair dryer cost to run per month?+
About $1.31 per month at the US average residential rate of 16.9¢/kWh — ranging from roughly 86.8¢ in North Dakota to $3.26 in Hawaii.
Is it expensive to leave a hair dryer on?+
Running it costs about 25.3¢ per hour at average rates. Multiply by your actual hours — and check your state's rate above, since electricity prices vary almost 4× across the US.