How much does it cost to run a clothes dryer?

A conventional vented dryer uses roughly 2.5 to 4 kWh per full load, or about 88 cents to $1.40 at 35c/kWh. A heat-pump dryer uses far less — often a half to a third of that — bringing the cost down toward 30 to 60 cents a load.

Is a heat-pump dryer cheaper to run than a vented one?

Yes, substantially. A heat-pump dryer recycles warm air rather than venting it, using around a half to a third of the electricity of a vented dryer for the same load. It costs more upfront, but a household that dries a lot of washing recovers that through lower running costs.

What is the cheapest way to dry clothes?

Line drying, which costs nothing to run and works for much of the Australian year. A dryer earns its place in wet weather, in homes without outdoor space, and through the cold, damp winter months when clothes will not dry outside.

Does spinning clothes first save dryer costs?

Yes. A high spin speed in the washing machine removes more water before the load reaches the dryer, so the dryer has less work to do and runs for less time. It is one of the simplest ways to cut dryer running costs.

When is the cheapest time to run a dryer?

If you are on a time-of-use tariff, run it in the off-peak window rather than the evening peak. Because a dryer is a discretionary, shiftable load, comparing plans to find one that rewards off-peak use, as EnergySorted does, can make that timing worthwhile.

Clothes dryer running cost: vented vs heat pump

Clothes dryers vary hugely in running cost. Compare vented, condenser and heat-pump dryers in Australia and how to dry clothes for less.

Not all dryers cost the same to run

A clothes dryer is a convenience that can quietly become an expensive habit, and the size of the cost depends enormously on which type of dryer you own. The gap between the cheapest and dearest dryer to run for the same load is one of the widest of any household appliance.

The reason is efficiency. A traditional vented dryer uses an electric element to heat air and blows the damp air outside, so it heats fresh air continuously and much of that energy is lost. A heat-pump dryer instead recycles the warm air and uses a heat pump to do the drying, delivering the same result for far less electricity. Condenser dryers sit in between — they recover moisture without venting, but the older resistance-heated ones still use a lot of power.

What each type costs per load

A conventional vented dryer typically uses somewhere around 2.5 to 4 kWh for a full load, which at 35c/kWh is roughly 88 cents to $1.40 per load. Dry several loads a week and that becomes a real line on the bill, particularly through a wet winter when the clothesline is not an option.

A heat-pump dryer uses much less — often around a half to a third of the energy of a vented dryer for the same load — bringing the cost down toward 30 to 60 cents a load. It costs more to buy, but for a household that dries a lot of washing the running-cost saving adds up, and it doubles as a gentler dry that vents no heat or moisture into the laundry.

The free option and seasonal notes

The cheapest dryer in Australia is the one strung between two posts in the backyard. Line drying costs nothing to run, and for much of the year the climate makes it easy. The dryer really earns its keep in wet weather, in apartments without outdoor space, and for the winter months when clothes will not dry outside.

That seasonality is worth planning around. Dryer use naturally spikes in the wet, cold months, exactly when heating is also pushing the bill up. Getting as much drying as possible onto the line in the warmer months, and reserving the dryer for when the weather forces it, keeps the cost contained.

How to cut dryer running costs

Line dry whenever the weather allows — it is free and the default for most of the Australian year.
Spin washing on a high spin speed first so clothes go into the dryer with less water to remove.
If you dry a lot of washing, consider a heat-pump dryer, which uses around a half to a third of the energy of a vented model.
Dry full loads rather than small ones, and don't overload so air can still circulate.
Clean the lint filter every load — a clogged filter makes the dryer run longer.
On a time-of-use tariff, run the dryer in the off-peak window rather than the evening peak.

Where EnergySorted fits

A dryer is a discretionary, shiftable load, which makes it a good candidate for smarter timing — and timing only pays off if your tariff rewards it. EnergySorted compares your real usage across more than 16,000 plans without retailer commissions, so you can see whether a time-of-use or off-peak plan would suit a household that runs the dryer, dishwasher and washing machine at flexible times.

The Bill Health Score keeps checking that your plan stays competitive, so the loads you could shift into cheaper hours are actually being charged at a rate that makes shifting them worthwhile.

General information only, current at the time of writing — not financial advice. Rebate schemes and rules change; always confirm details with your retailer or state government energy site.