The gas dryer vs electric dryer cost calculator help homeowners make decisions about their laundry appliances by comparing the costs of gas and electric dryers.
The calculator considers key variables such as:
- Local utility rates (electricity and natural gas)
- Dryer capacity and usage frequency
- Energy efficiency ratings
- Initial installation costs
- Average load duration
Let’s say you want to compare costs for a 7.0 cubic foot dryer:
Electric Dryer:
- Power rating: 5,600 watts
- Electricity rate: $0.14 per kWh
- Usage: 4 loads per week, 45 minutes per load
Gas Dryer:
- Gas consumption: 0.22 therms per load
- Gas rate: $1.20 per therm
- Electricity for motor: 400 wattsGas vs Electric Dryer Calculator
| Metric | Electric Dryer Cost | Gas Dryer Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per Load | $0.588 | $0.42 |
| Cost per Hour | $0.784 | $0.404 |
| Cost per Day (4 loads) | $2.352 | $1.68 |
| Monthly Cost (32 loads) | $18.82 | $13.44 |
| Annual Cost (384 loads) | $225.79 | $161.28 |
| 10-Year Cost | $2,257.90 | $1,612.80 |
Gas vs Electric Dryer Calculation Formula
For Electric Dryers:
Cost per load = (Power rating in kW × Run time in hours × Electricity rate per kWh)
Annual cost = Cost per load × Number of loads per yearFor Gas Dryers:
Cost per load = (Gas consumption in therms × Gas rate per therm) +
(Motor power in kW × Run time in hours × Electricity rate per kWh)
Annual cost = Cost per load × Number of loads per yearFor a single load in an electric dryer:
Cost = (5.6 kW × 0.75 hours × $0.14/kWh)
= $0.588 per loadIs it cheaper to run a gas or electric dryer?
The gas dryers are more economical to operate than electric dryers, typically costing 15-25% less to run.
For example….
Annual costs (200 loads/year):
Electric Dryer: $0.588 × 200 = $117.60
Gas Dryer: $0.42 × 200 = $84.00
Annual Savings with Gas: $33.60This difference is primarily due to the lower cost of natural gas compared to electricity in most regions.
How much electricity does a gas dryer use per load?
A typical gas dryer uses about 400-800 watts of electricity per load, compared to 5,000-6,000 watts for electric models.
Gas dryers use significantly less electricity than electric dryers since they only need power for the drum motor and controls.
Gas dryer electrical consumption per load:
400W × 0.75 hours = 0.3 kWh
Cost = 0.3 kWh × $0.14/kWh = $0.042 for electricity onlyHow much does it cost to run an electric/gas dryer for 1 hour?
The hourly operational cost of electric dryer is $0.784, and for gas dryer it costs around $0.404 per hour.
Electric Dryer (1 hour):
5,600W = 5.6 kWh
Cost = 5.6 kWh × $0.14/kWh = $0.784 per hourGas Dryer (1 hour):
Gas cost: 0.29 therms × $1.20 = $0.348
Electricity cost: 0.4 kWh × $0.14 = $0.056
Total = $0.404 per hourHow much electricity does a dryer use per month?
Average household usage:
- 8 loads per week = 32 loads per month
- 45 minutes per load
Electric Dryer Monthly Usage:
32 loads × 5.6 kW × 0.75 hours = 134.4 kWh
Monthly cost = 134.4 kWh × $0.14 = $18.82Sources
- Energy Star – www.energystar.gov/products/clothes_dryers
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