How Much Does It Cost to Run a Heat Pump Dryer in Washington? (2026)

A heat pump dryer recycles hot air instead of venting it, so it draws about a third of the power of a conventional dryer. Cycles take longer, but total energy per load is about half.

A typical heat pump dryer (900 W) costs $0.13 per hour, or about $8.05 per month at 2 hours a day in Washington. Average running cost

Hours used per day
WattagePer hourPer dayPer monthPer year
Low 600 W$0.089$0.18$5.37$65.31
Typical 900 W$0.13$0.27$8.05$97.96
High 1,200 W$0.18$0.36$10.74$130.61

Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 2 h/day ≈ 657 kWh per year.

One hour of a heat pump dryer (0.90 kWh) is the same electricity as

Electricity per year at typical use, on a log scale: #76 of 95 appliances, from least to most.

In Washington, with electricity at 14.9¢ per kWh (source: EIA Table 5.6.A, 2026-06), a typical heat pump dryer costs $0.13 per hour and about $97.96 per year at 2 hours a day. That is about 19% less than the national average for the US ($9.90 per month), because electricity in Washington costs 14.9¢ per kWh against 18.3¢ nationally. Each $1.00 of electricity buys roughly 7.5 hours of use.

How to lower the cost of running a heat pump dryer

In standby it draws about 1 W, which adds roughly 9 kWh ($1.31) per year if it is never unplugged.

Is switching from a clothes dryer to a heat pump dryer worth it? Savings and payback

Frequently asked questions

How much does a heat pump dryer cost per load?

About 1.5 kWh, versus 3 kWh or more for a vented dryer.

Why does a heat pump dryer take longer?

It dries at a lower temperature. The energy saving comes from reusing the heat.

Is a heat pump dryer worth the higher price?

For households drying several loads a week, the savings typically repay the difference within a few years.

Compare with

Cost by region

US states
Canadian provinces

Related appliances

Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz