How is the running cost calculated?

Watts ÷ 1,000 × the electricity rate gives cost per hour; the yearly figure uses 3 loads a week at 3.5 kWh per load.

Does a higher star rating cut the cost?

Yes — efficiency ratings reduce the draw or energy per use, which scales the cost directly; the low–high wattage band spans efficient to inefficient models.

Why does the state matter?

Each state's usage rate differs, so the same hour costs $0.66–$1.01 depending on the state.

How much does it cost to run a clothes dryer (vented)? (2026–27)

Name: Clothes dryer (vented) running costs Australia 2026–27
Creator: EcoFlow AU — dryer power consumption (cross-checked Canstar Blue)
License: https://www.ecoflow.com/au/blog/dryer-power-consumption

At typical draw · official state tariffs

$0.66–$1.01 per hour at 2,400 W

Typical household use — 3 loads a week at 3.5 kWh per load — runs $150–$229 a year depending on your state's tariff.

Wattage basis: A plug-in vented dryer is capped near 2,400 W by a standard 10 A power point. Energy per auto-sensed household load ~3.5 kWh (registered-model comparative-load averages run higher at ~6 kWh).

Vented dryer running cost by state at typical draw (2026–27 reference tariffs)
State	Tariff c/kWh	Per hour	Typical year
New South Wales	33.1c	$0.80	$181
Victoria	27.5c	$0.66	$150
Queensland	28.0c	$0.67	$153
South Australia	41.9c	$1.01	$229
Western Australia	33.3c	$0.80	$182
Tasmania	28.0c	$0.67	$153
Australian Capital Territory	37.0c	$0.89	$202
Northern Territory	31.7c	$0.76	$173

Appliance running-cost calculator

NSW

State

Power draw (watts)

Vented dryer: 2,000–3,000 W typical range.

Hours per day

Days per year

A load runs 45–90 minutes; 2–4 loads a week is typical.

$0.80 per hour · $1,161/year at your settings

Per day (4 h): $3.18
Per month: $96.71
Per year (365 days): $1,161.13

Tariff: 33.1c/kWh — AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8) for the Ausgrid network, effective 1 July 2026. Wattage basis: EcoFlow AU — dryer power consumption (cross-checked Canstar Blue). Full vented dryer costs in NSW →

Cutting the cost

The sun is free, so line-dry whenever the weather allows and keep the dryer as a backup. When you do run it, spin the load hard in the washer first so there's less water to remove, dry similar fabrics together, and clean the lint filter every time, because a blocked filter makes it run longer. Don't overload it; clothes tumble and dry faster with room to move.

Frequently asked questions

How is the running cost calculated?: Watts ÷ 1,000 × your electricity rate = cost per hour. A vented dryer drawing 2,400 W on a 33.1c/kWh tariff costs $0.80 an hour — the calculator above lets you change every input. For this appliance the yearly figure uses its measured energy per use rather than a constant draw.
Does a higher star rating cut the cost?: Yes — the star rating compresses the power draw or energy per use, which scales this page's figures directly. The low–high band in the table (2,000–3,000 W) roughly spans efficient to inefficient models.
Why does the state matter?: The appliance draws the same power everywhere — but each state's reference usage rate differs, so the same hour of running costs $0.66 in the cheapest state and $1.01 in the dearest. Pick your state above for exact figures.

Sources — figures current as at 17 July 2026.

Costs use each state's representative-zone reference usage rate, effective 1 July 2026. A load runs 45–90 minutes; 2–4 loads a week is typical.

How much does it cost to run a clothes dryer (vented)? (2026–27)

Appliance running-cost calculator

Cutting the cost

Frequently asked questions

Related