How much does a hair dryer cost to run in California?
$4.07 a month
- A day of use
- $0.13
- An hour of running
- $0.53
- A year
- $48.82
1,540 W, 15 minutes a day, at California’s average rate of 34.7¢ per kWh (EIA, June 2026). How we calculate this
Change the watts, hours or rate
What it costs at other usage levels
| Use | A day | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 minutes a day typical | $0.13 | $4.07 | $48.82 |
| 1 hour a day | $0.53 | $16.27 | $195.27 |
| 2 hours a day | $1.07 | $32.55 | $390.55 |
| 4 hours a day | $2.14 | $65.09 | $781.09 |
| 8 hours a day | $4.28 | $130.18 | $1,562.19 |
| 24 hours a day | $12.84 | $390.55 | $4,686.56 |
Models range from 1,200 W to 1,875 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 1,540 W, the middle of that range.
California compared with other states
California’s residential rate is the 2nd most expensive of 51 states and DC, 16.4¢ above the US average of 18.3¢ (+89%). California’s rate is up 1.2¢ from June 2025 (33.6¢, +3.4%).
Ways to spend less
- Towel-dry first so the dryer runs for less time.
- Use the lower heat setting; the heating element is most of the power.
- Clean the intake filter so air flows freely.
Questions
How much does it cost to run a hair dryer per hour?
About $0.53 an hour in California. A hair dryer at 1,540 W uses 1.54 kWh per hour, and at California’s average of 34.7¢ per kWh that comes to $0.53.
How much does a hair dryer add to your electric bill?
Used 15 minutes a day, about $4.07 a month in California, or $48.82 a year.
How much does it cost to run a hair dryer 24 hours a day?
Running nonstop, a hair dryer would use 37.0 kWh a day and cost $12.84 a day, or $390.55 over an average month in California.
How many watts does a hair dryer use?
Models range from 1,200 W to 1,875 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 1,540 W, the middle of that range. Check the label on yours: cost scales directly with watts, so a 20% lower wattage means a 20% lower bill.
Why does a hair dryer cost more or less to run in California than elsewhere?
California’s residential rate is the 2nd most expensive of 51 states and DC, 16.4¢ above the US average of 18.3¢ (+89%). California’s rate is up 1.2¢ from June 2025 (33.6¢, +3.4%). The appliance uses the same energy everywhere; only the price per kWh changes.
Sources
- Virginia Cooperative Extension: Estimating appliance and home electronic energy use (reproduces U.S. Department of Energy sample wattages)
- Penn State EGEE 102: Typical range of power consumption (wattage)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: average price of electricity to ultimate customers, residential, June 2026 Figures transcribed from republications of this table on September 26, 2026; pending direct verification from the EIA API.
- Carrier page: June 2026 residential average price, citing EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A
Usage assumptions (hours a day, season) are ours and listed on the methodology page. Found an error? Tell us.