The cheaper dryer to run depends on the two specific models and local utility prices. Enter per-cycle energy use from their EnergyGuide labels or product literature, plus the rates on your bills, for a transparent comparison.
Gas vs. electric dryer cost calculator
Compare local running costs using per-cycle energy figures from each dryer’s EnergyGuide label or product literature.
Enter both models’ energy figures to compare them.
This compares energy only. Include purchase price, venting or electrical work, maintenance and local fixed utility charges when comparing total ownership cost.
Figures you need
- Electric dryer: kilowatt-hours used per cycle.
- Gas dryer: therms of gas and kilowatt-hours of electricity per cycle.
- Local rates: the variable price per kWh and per therm.
- Cycles per week: your realistic household average.
If the label only gives annual energy, check how many cycles its estimate assumes before converting to a per-cycle figure. Do not divide by your own cycle count unless the published annual number was measured for that use.
How dryer cost is calculated
Electric cost per cycle is kWh × electricity rate. Gas-dryer cost adds therms × gas rate to the dryer’s electrical use × electricity rate. Annual cost multiplies each cycle estimate by weekly cycles × 52.
The EIA’s 2025 U.S. residential average was 17.30 cents/kWh, but state and tariff differences are substantial. The calculator starts with a rounded $0.18/kWh only as a placeholder; replace it with your bill.
Compare efficiency as well as fuel
ENERGY STAR uses Combined Energy Factor (CEF), expressed as pounds of test load dried per kWh-equivalent; a higher CEF means better efficiency. Heat-pump dryers can use much less electricity than conventional resistance models, so “electric” is not one uniform category. Compare the exact EnergyGuide figures.
Costs not included
The result excludes installation, a 240-volt circuit, gas piping, venting, purchase price, repairs and fixed utility charges. Those can outweigh a small energy difference. If a dryer is malfunctioning, repair it before treating current energy use as normal; browse our major-appliance guides for common symptoms.
Frequently asked questions
Is a gas dryer always cheaper to run?
No. Gas price, electricity price, model efficiency, load size and cycle settings all affect the result. The installation premium also matters.
Should I include fixed monthly utility charges?
Include them only if buying the dryer would cause you to open or keep a gas service that you would otherwise cancel. A fixed charge already paid for other gas appliances is not created by each dryer cycle.