How much does a hair dryer cost to run in Idaho?
$1.68 a month
- A day of use
- $0.06
- An hour of running
- $0.22
- A year
- $20.19
1,540 W, 15 minutes a day, at Idaho’s average rate of 14.4¢ 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 | $0.06 | $1.68 | $20.19 |
| 1 hour a day | $0.22 | $6.73 | $80.77 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.44 | $13.46 | $161.55 |
| 4 hours a day | $0.89 | $26.92 | $323.10 |
| 8 hours a day | $1.77 | $53.85 | $646.19 |
| 24 hours a day | $5.31 | $161.55 | $1,938.57 |
Models range from 1,200 W to 1,875 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 1,540 W, the middle of that range.
Idaho compared with other states
Idaho’s residential rate is the 10th cheapest of 51 states and DC, 4.0¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−22%). Idaho’s rate is up 2.3¢ from June 2025 (12.1¢, +19.1%).
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 $0.22 an hour in Idaho. A hair dryer at 1,540 W uses 1.54 kWh per hour, and at Idaho’s average of 14.4¢ per kWh that comes to $0.22.
How much does a hair dryer add to your electric bill?
Used 15 minutes a day, about $1.68 a month in Idaho, or $20.19 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 $5.31 a day, or $161.55 over an average month in Idaho.
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 Idaho than elsewhere?
Idaho’s residential rate is the 10th cheapest of 51 states and DC, 4.0¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−22%). Idaho’s rate is up 2.3¢ from June 2025 (12.1¢, +19.1%). 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.