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Use the calculator for an instant estimate, or read on for a full breakdown of how this cost is calculated.
Examples and calculation text checked September 22, 2026. This is a planning guide, not an individual engineering review.
Illustrative example
$120/year
Declared inputs, not a typical-home range
3 kWh/cycle × 200 cycles/year = 600 kWh/year. At $0.20/kWh, each cycle costs $0.60 and the annual energy cost is $120.
A cycle-energy measurement or equipment estimate is more useful here than assuming the heater runs at its maximum power for the entire cycle. Load size, dryness settings and cycle choice can change consumption.
The example covers dryer electricity only. Washer energy and water heating belong in their own entries. A gas dryer also uses fuel, which this electricity-only calculation does not price.
The calculator starts with the same example. Its $10 average-month cost is annual cost divided by 12; seasonal bills can look very different. The $0.20/kWh rate is illustrative, not a national average. Use your energy rate; fixed fees and taxes are separate.
The starting values are an example. Replace them with your equipment and usage.
Use electricity per complete cycle, including the selected drying settings. Enter only electric consumption; gas fuel costs are separate.
600 kWh per year
$120.00 per year
$10.00 per average month (annual cost ÷ 12)
Energy charges only. Fixed fees, taxes, tiered and time-of-use billing are excluded. The average month is not a seasonal forecast.
Electricity per complete cycle
Number of cycles each year
Load size and drying settings
Gas fuel, if present, priced separately
Before making a change
Check the large loads and uncertain assumptions first. Compare a specific change against your existing equipment before deciding whether an upgrade is worth investigating.
These sources explain units and equipment labels. The worked household values are illustrative inputs, not measured customer data or published typical-use ranges.
Follow the free walkthrough to build a household electricity estimate, review its assumptions and compare changes. The optional $19 purchase unlocks both dated PDF report formats for your household profile.
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