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Dryer Energy & Running Cost Comparison Calculator

Compare modeled electric and gas dryer energy costs per load, week and year.

  • Formula & worked example
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Calculator inputs

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How to use this calculator

  1. Enter the known values in the units shown. Results update as you type.
  2. Edit a calculated value to solve backwards, or lock a value to hold it fixed.
  3. Use the worked example to check the method. Reset restores the starting fields.

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Inputs and results stay in this browser tab. Bookify does not upload or store the values you enter.

Formula and method

For one-hour cycles and five loads weekly, a 3 kW electric dryer at 0.20 per kWh costs 3 per week and 156 over 52 weeks. A gas dryer using 0.25 kW electricity plus 2 kW gas at 0.05 per gas kWh costs 0.75 weekly and 39 over 52 weeks.

Energy per load = input power × cycle hours; weekly cost = energy × unit price × loads; modeled yearly cost = weekly cost × 52

Worked example

Enter these known values and leave the other values blank.

Time per drying cycle
60 min
Drying loads per week
5 / wks
Electric dryer input power
3 kW
Unit electricity cost
0.2 USD / kWh
Gas dryer auxiliary electric power
0.25 kW
Gas dryer fuel input power
2000 W
Unit gas cost
0.05 USD / kWh
Electricity consumption
3 kWh
Drying cost
3 USD / wks
Drying cost per year
156 USD / yrs
Electricity consumption per load
0.25 kWh
Gas energy per load
2 kWh
Drying cost
0.75 USD / wks
Drying cost per year
39 USD / yrs

Assumptions and limitations

  • No. Power can cycle during drying, and load size, moisture and dryer technology affect consumption. The model assumes constant entered input power during each cycle, includes auxiliary electricity for the gas dryer and uses 52 weeks for annual cost. Fixed utility charges and purchase costs are excluded.
  • Match the units shown and use measured inputs where available. The result follows the stated model and does not account for unentered changes.
  • BTU means the International Table unit: 1 BTU (IT) = 1055.05585262 J. The therm option is the US therm, 105480400 J. A thermochemical kilocalorie is 4184 J.

Common questions

Are these nameplate-power estimates the same as measured consumption?

No. Power can cycle during drying, and load size, moisture and dryer technology affect consumption. The model assumes constant entered input power during each cycle, includes auxiliary electricity for the gas dryer and uses 52 weeks for annual cost. Fixed utility charges and purchase costs are excluded.

References

Bookify adapted the referenced equations and aligned power, energy and price units with the stated BTU and therm definitions. Calculations run in Bookify’s independent equation solver.

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