Cost to Run a 3,000-watt clothes dryer for 4 hours in Washington
Running a 3,000-watt clothes dryer for 4 hours uses 12 kWh and costs $1.38 at $0.115/kWh in Washington. Do that every day and it adds up to $41.40 a month.
Calculate your own cost
- Per hour
- $0.3453 kWh
- Per day
- $1.3812 kWh
- Per week
- $9.6684 kWh
- Per month (30 days)
- $41.40360 kWh
- Per year
- $503.704,380 kWh
Formula: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × rate. Edit any box and every number updates instantly.
People also ask
How much does a 3,000-watt clothes dryer cost per hour?
At $0.115/kWh, it costs $0.345 per hour. The maths: 3,000 W ÷ 1,000 = 3 kWh per hour, × $0.115 = $0.345.
How much does it cost per month?
Used 4 hours a day for 30 days, it costs about $41.40 per month and uses 360 kWh. Change the hours in the calculator above to match how you use it.
How many kWh does it use?
12 kWh per day, 360 kWh per month and 4,380 kWh per year at 4 hours a day. A kWh is one kilowatt (1,000 W) used for one hour. It is the unit on your electricity bill.
How can I lower the cost?
Clean the lint filter every load and spin clothes well in the washer first. Check your bill for the exact rate and enter it above.
Does my electricity rate change the answer?
Yes, a lot. At 10¢ per kWh the monthly cost is $36.00 and at 30¢ it is $108.00. Find your rate on your bill (total cost ÷ kWh used) and type it into the calculator.
Cost by hours of use in Washington
| Used per day | Energy per day | Cost per day | Cost per month | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 3 kWh | $0.345 | $10.35 | $125.93 |
| 2 hours | 6 kWh | $0.69 | $20.70 | $251.85 |
| 3 hours | 9 kWh | $1.04 | $31.05 | $377.78 |
| 4 hours | 12 kWh | $1.38 | $41.40 | $503.70 |
| 5 hours | 15 kWh | $1.73 | $51.75 | $629.63 |
| 6 hours | 18 kWh | $2.07 | $62.10 | $755.55 |
| 7 hours | 21 kWh | $2.42 | $72.45 | $881.48 |
| 8 hours | 24 kWh | $2.76 | $82.80 | $1,007.40 |
| 9 hours | 27 kWh | $3.11 | $93.15 | $1,133.33 |
| 10 hours | 30 kWh | $3.45 | $103.50 | $1,259.25 |
| 11 hours | 33 kWh | $3.80 | $113.85 | $1,385.18 |
| 12 hours | 36 kWh | $4.14 | $124.20 | $1,511.10 |
| 13 hours | 39 kWh | $4.49 | $134.55 | $1,637.03 |
| 14 hours | 42 kWh | $4.83 | $144.90 | $1,762.95 |
| 15 hours | 45 kWh | $5.18 | $155.25 | $1,888.88 |
| 16 hours | 48 kWh | $5.52 | $165.60 | $2,014.80 |
| 17 hours | 51 kWh | $5.87 | $175.95 | $2,140.73 |
| 18 hours | 54 kWh | $6.21 | $186.30 | $2,266.65 |
| 19 hours | 57 kWh | $6.56 | $196.65 | $2,392.58 |
| 20 hours | 60 kWh | $6.90 | $207.00 | $2,518.50 |
| 21 hours | 63 kWh | $7.25 | $217.35 | $2,644.43 |
| 22 hours | 66 kWh | $7.59 | $227.70 | $2,770.35 |
| 23 hours | 69 kWh | $7.94 | $238.05 | $2,896.28 |
| 24 hours | 72 kWh | $8.28 | $248.40 | $3,022.20 |
How we worked it out
- Energy per hour: 3,000 W ÷ 1,000 = 3 kWh
- Cost per hour: 3 kWh × $0.115 = $0.345
- Cost per day: × 4 hours = $1.38
- Month and year: × 30 days = $41.40, × 365 days = $503.70
Washington electricity prices
Washington pays about $0.115 per kWh, which is 34% lower than the US average of $0.175. The same clothes dryer would cost $63.00 a month at the national average.
What it costs in different places
Same 3,000-watt clothes dryer, 4 hours a day. Only the local electricity rate changes.
| Place | Rate per kWh | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $0.175 | $63.00 |
| California | $0.32 | $115.20 |
| Texas | $0.155 | $55.80 |
| New York | $0.25 | $90.00 |
| Florida | $0.155 | $55.80 |
| Illinois | $0.17 | $61.20 |
| Pennsylvania | $0.18 | $64.80 |
| Ohio | $0.17 | $61.20 |
| Washington | $0.115 | $41.40 |
About clothes dryer running costs
Electric dryers are one of the biggest electricity users in a home. Most draw 3,000 to 5,000 W while heating.
Typical sizes: 1,800 W, 3,000 W, 4,000 W, 5,000 W.
How to spend less: Clean the lint filter every load and spin clothes well in the washer first.
What this estimate assumes
- The appliance draws its full stated wattage the whole time it is on. Real units with a thermostat cycle off and cost less.
- Wattage is the typical label value, not a measured value. Check the label on your own appliance.
- The rate is an approximate residential average in Washington. Your bill may include fixed fees, tiers or time-of-use pricing. Edit the rate above.
- A month is 30 days and a year is 365 days.