Gas vs Electric Dryer Calculator — Annual Running Cost

Formula

How this is calculated

Dryer running costs depend on three variables: how often you run a load, how much energy the machine draws per cycle, and what you pay for that energy. An electric dryer is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) per cycle, while a gas dryer burns natural gas measured in therms (1 therm = 100,000 BTU). The calculator multiplies your weekly cycles by 52 (weeks per year), then by the energy per cycle and the relevant energy price, to give the annual operating cost for each type.

The US default values — 5 kWh/cycle for electric and 0.22 therms/cycle for gas — are taken from DOE appliance test data (2024). The energy prices ($0.17/kWh electricity and $1.35/therm gas) reflect 2024 US residential averages from the EIA. Both of these vary significantly by region and by individual appliance model: enter your actual utility-bill rates for an accurate comparison. Electricity prices range from under $0.12/kWh in parts of the South to over $0.30/kWh in Hawaii and California; gas prices vary similarly.

This calculator covers operating (fuel) costs only. It does not account for purchase price, installation cost (gas dryers require a gas line and venting), maintenance, or appliance lifespan. Gas dryers typically cost $50–150 more to purchase than comparable electric models. At US national average rates the lower per-cycle cost of gas usually recoups this premium within 1–3 years for typical households, but the payback period varies with local utility prices.