Dryer electricity use: vented against ventless models
Dryer electricity use: certified electric dryers are estimated at a median 607 kWh a year. Enter your space and state: the tool counts the dryers that fit and prices their energy.
Example for a 28 × 40 × 32 inch space — change any figure to see your own result
Dryers that fit
221
of 337 certified electric dryers with their sizes on the list
| Typical capacity of those that fit | 7.4 cu ft |
| Electric models: typical energy use | 607 kWh a year |
| Electric models: cost at the U.S. average price | $110 a year |
| Ventless among those that fit | 89 |
Gas dryers burn gas for heat; their kWh is not comparable and no cost is shown for them.
| Model | W × H × D | Drum | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrolux EFME427**** | 27.1 × 38.0 × 31.3 in | 8.0 cu ft | Electric |
| Electrolux EFME527**** | 27.1 × 38.0 × 31.3 in | 8.0 cu ft | Electric |
| Electrolux EFME627**** | 27.1 × 38.0 × 31.3 in | 8.0 cu ft | Electric |
| Frigidaire FDEX21E4EW | 27.1 × 38.0 × 31.3 in | 8.0 cu ft | Electric |
| Electrolux ELFE7637*** | 27.1 × 38.0 × 31.3 in | 8.0 cu ft | Electric |
Compiled by Radif Partners · How the figures are built
Dryer electricity use is the largest laundry cost, and the ENERGY STAR list gives an estimated yearly kWh for each certified dryer. Among 337 certified electric dryers on the list of November 12, 2026, the median estimate is 607 kWh a year, against 110 kWh for the median certified washer. The list splits clearly by venting. Vented electric dryers sit at a median 608 kWh, and 138 of the 240 share the same top estimate of 608 kWh, so the list barely separates them. Ventless models, which include heat pump dryers, use a median 281 kWh. The most frugal certified dryer, the Bosch WQB245AXUC, is estimated at 122 kWh. At the U.S. average home price of August 2026, a vented dryer at the median costs $110 a year and a ventless one $51. In Hawaii, where power costs the most, the vented median costs $287; in Nevada, $77. Gas dryers heat with gas, so their figures are left out.
Dryer electricity use, vented and ventless
The table compares the two kinds of electric dryer on the certified list. The estimate is the yearly kWh the maker certified; the cost uses the average home price of August 2026.
| Electric dryer | Models | Typical kWh a year | Range | Cost a year, U.S. average | Cost a year, Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vented | 240 | 608 | 133 to 608 | $110 | $287 |
| Ventless (heat pump, condenser) | 97 | 281 | 122 to 608 | $51 | $133 |
Why so many vented dryers show the same figure
138 vented electric dryers on the list carry exactly 608 kWh a year. The figure is an estimate, and the list gives this same value to most vented models, which it therefore does not separate. It is a fair comparison between vented and ventless models, but not between two vented models: for those, compare the combined energy factor on the model sheet, where a higher figure means less energy per pound of laundry.
Electric dryers that fit, and their cost in your state
Example for a 28 × 40 × 32 inch space — change any figure to see your own result
Dryers that fit
221
of 337 certified electric dryers with their sizes on the list
| Typical capacity of those that fit | 7.4 cu ft |
| Electric models: typical energy use | 607 kWh a year |
| Electric models: cost at the U.S. average price | $110 a year |
| Ventless among those that fit | 89 |
Cutting the dryer's share of the bill
Three things move the real figure. The washer's spin: the drier the clothes come out, the shorter the drying cycle. The sensor: cycles that stop when the clothes are dry avoid running a fixed time. And the lint filter and the duct: a clogged filter or a long, crushed duct makes a vented dryer run longer. The washer page gives the washer's own share.
Sizes before energy
Ventless dryers are often compact, about 24 inches wide, and are made to stack on a compact washer. If you are fitting a closet, start with the dryer sizes and the stacked pairs, then compare energy among the models that fit.
Drying fuller loads means fewer cycles for the same laundry. The list measures each model at the test load and cannot say how your habits change its figure, so the yearly kWh stays the basis for comparing models.