How much does a hair dryer cost to run in Nebraska?
$1.55 a month
- A day of use
- $0.05
- An hour of running
- $0.20
- A year
- $18.62
1,540 W, 15 minutes a day, at Nebraska’s average rate of 13.3¢ 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 | $0.05 | $1.55 | $18.62 |
| 1 hour a day | $0.20 | $6.21 | $74.48 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.41 | $12.41 | $148.96 |
| 4 hours a day | $0.82 | $24.83 | $297.91 |
| 8 hours a day | $1.63 | $49.65 | $595.83 |
| 24 hours a day | $4.90 | $148.96 | $1,787.48 |
Models range from 1,200 W to 1,875 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 1,540 W, the middle of that range.
Nebraska compared with other states
Nebraska’s residential rate is the 2nd cheapest of 51 states and DC, 5.1¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−28%). Nebraska’s rate is up 0.1¢ from June 2025 (13.1¢, +0.8%).
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 $0.20 an hour in Nebraska. A hair dryer at 1,540 W uses 1.54 kWh per hour, and at Nebraska’s average of 13.3¢ per kWh that comes to $0.20.
How much does a hair dryer add to your electric bill?
Used 15 minutes a day, about $1.55 a month in Nebraska, or $18.62 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 $4.90 a day, or $148.96 over an average month in Nebraska.
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 Nebraska than elsewhere?
Nebraska’s residential rate is the 2nd cheapest of 51 states and DC, 5.1¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−28%). Nebraska’s rate is up 0.1¢ from June 2025 (13.1¢, +0.8%). 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.