How much does a hair dryer cost to run?
A hair dryer typically draws around 1800 W while running. Ratings vary widely between models, so check the label and change the figure below.
per kWh
W
g CO2 per kWh
Cost per year
30.03
- Cost per month
- 2.50
- Cost per day
- 0.08
- Cost per hour of use
- 0.50
- Energy per year
- 107.3 kWh
- Energy per day
- 0.2939 kWh
- Carbon dioxide per year
- 26.8
- Annual cost of standby alone
- 2.44
Show the working
- Power = 1800
- Hours per day = 0.15
- Days per year in use = 365
- Electricity price = 0.28
- Standby power = 1
- Grid carbon intensity = 250
- kw = 1800 / 1000 = 1.8
- daily_kwh = 1.8 * 0.15 = 0.27
- standby_kwh = 1 / 1000 * (24 - 0.15) = 0.023 85
- Energy per day = 0.27 + 0.023 85 = 0.293 85
- Energy per year = 0.293 85 * 365 = 107.255
- Cost per day = 0.293 85 * 0.28 = 0.082 278
- Cost per year = 107.255 * 0.28 = 30.0315
- Cost per month = 30.0315 / 12 = 2.502 62
- Cost per hour of use = 1.8 * 0.28 = 0.504
- Carbon dioxide per year = 107.255 * 250 / 1000 = 26.8138
- Annual cost of standby alone = 0.023 85 * 365 * 0.28 = 2.437 47
Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.
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The formula
- daily energy = power in kW x hours
- annual cost = daily energy x days x price per kWh
Nameplate wattage is the maximum draw, not the average. A cycling appliance like a fridge or a freezer averages far less.
Standby draw is small per device and adds up across a house: ten devices at 2 W each is 175 kWh a year.
Running cost of a hair dryer at different tariffs
| Price per kWh | Per hour | Per year at 0.15 h/day |
|---|---|---|
| 0.10 | 0.1800 | 9.86 |
| 0.15 | 0.2700 | 14.78 |
| 0.20 | 0.3600 | 19.71 |
| 0.25 | 0.4500 | 24.64 |
| 0.30 | 0.5400 | 29.57 |
| 0.40 | 0.7200 | 39.42 |
Frequently asked
How many watts does a hair dryer use?
Typically around 1800 W while running, though models vary. Check the rating plate.
How much electricity does it use per day?
About 0.27 kWh at 0.15 hours of use.
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