How much does it cost to run a clothes dryer (heat pump)? (2026–27)
At typical draw · official state tariffs
Typical household use (3 loads a week at 2 kWh per load) runs $86–$131 a year depending on your state's tariff.
Wattage basis: Compressor-based steady low draw ~850 W; energy per load 1.5–2.5 kWh (registered-model average ~2.45 kWh).
| State | Model | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales33.1c/kWh · Ausgrid | Efficient (600 W) | $0.20 | $0.80 | $24.18 | $290 |
| Typical (850 W) | $0.28 | $1.13 | $34.25 | $411 | |
| High (1,000 W) | $0.33 | $1.33 | $40.29 | $484 | |
| Victoria27.5c/kWh · Jemena | Efficient (600 W) | $0.16 | $0.66 | $20.04 | $241 |
| Typical (850 W) | $0.23 | $0.93 | $28.39 | $341 | |
| High (1,000 W) | $0.27 | $1.10 | $33.40 | $401 | |
| Queensland28.0c/kWh · Energex | Efficient (600 W) | $0.17 | $0.67 | $20.41 | $245 |
| Typical (850 W) | $0.24 | $0.95 | $28.91 | $347 | |
| High (1,000 W) | $0.28 | $1.12 | $34.02 | $408 | |
| South Australia41.9c/kWh · SA Power Networks | Efficient (600 W) | $0.25 | $1.01 | $30.58 | $367 |
| Typical (850 W) | $0.36 | $1.42 | $43.32 | $520 | |
| High (1,000 W) | $0.42 | $1.68 | $50.96 | $612 | |
| Western Australia33.3c/kWh · Western Power (SWIS) | Efficient (600 W) | $0.20 | $0.80 | $24.27 | $291 |
| Typical (850 W) | $0.28 | $1.13 | $34.38 | $413 | |
| High (1,000 W) | $0.33 | $1.33 | $40.45 | $486 | |
| Tasmania28.0c/kWh · TasNetworks | Efficient (600 W) | $0.17 | $0.67 | $20.40 | $245 |
| Typical (850 W) | $0.24 | $0.95 | $28.89 | $347 | |
| High (1,000 W) | $0.28 | $1.12 | $33.99 | $408 | |
| Australian Capital Territory37.0c/kWh · Evoenergy | Efficient (600 W) | $0.22 | $0.89 | $26.96 | $324 |
| Typical (850 W) | $0.31 | $1.26 | $38.20 | $459 | |
| High (1,000 W) | $0.37 | $1.48 | $44.94 | $540 | |
| Northern Territory31.7c/kWh · Power and Water | Efficient (600 W) | $0.19 | $0.76 | $23.11 | $278 |
| Typical (850 W) | $0.27 | $1.08 | $32.74 | $393 | |
| High (1,000 W) | $0.32 | $1.27 | $38.52 | $463 |
This table costs a constant draw at 4 h a day. The typical-use yearly figures below use the appliance's measured energy per use (2 kWh per cycle) instead.
Where a heat-pump dryer costs more
- South Australia is the dearest state to run one: $0.36 an hour at 850 W on its 41.9c/kWh rate, against $0.23 in Victoria. Over a year of typical use that gap is $45 (52.6% more).
- By yearly running cost at typical use it ranks 19th of the 26 appliances costed on this site (1st costs the most): $103 a year at the NSW rate.
- A vented dryer doing the same job uses 546 kWh a year at typical use, 234 kWh more than this one: it would cost $98 a year more in SA and $64 more in VIC.
- At the 1 July 2026 price reset, typical-use cost fell $7 in VIC (Jemena usage rate 29.7c to 27.5c/kWh) and rose $3 in WA (Western Power (SWIS) usage rate 32.4c to 33.3c/kWh).
| Rank | State | Usage rate | Typical year | Above the cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victoria | 27.5c | $86 | — |
| 2 | Tasmania | 28.0c | $87 | +$2 |
| 3 | Queensland | 28.0c | $87 | +$2 |
| 4 | Northern Territory | 31.7c | $99 | +$13 |
| 5 | New South Wales | 33.1c | $103 | +$18 |
| 6 | Western Australia | 33.3c | $104 | +$18 |
| 7 | Australian Capital Territory | 37.0c | $115 | +$30 |
| 8 | South Australia | 41.9c | $131 | +$45 |
Rates by state (each state's capital-city network): NSW: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); VIC: ESC Victorian Default Offer 2026–27; QLD: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); SA: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); WA: WA Government Standard Electricity Prices 2026–27 (Synergy Home Plan A1); TAS: OTTER-approved Aurora Energy Standing Offer 2026–27 (approved 25 June 2026) — Tariff 31; ACT: ICRC retail electricity price recalibration 2026–27 (ActewAGL standing offer); NT: NT Electricity Pricing Order 2026–27 (Jacana Energy standard residential). All effective 1 July 2026.
Appliance running-cost calculator
NSWHeat-pump dryer: 600–1,000 W typical range.
Longer cycles (~2–3 h) but far lower draw than a vented dryer.
- Per day (4 h)
- $1.13
- Per month
- $34.25
- Per year (365 days)
- $411.23
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 heat-pump dryer costs in NSW →
Cutting the cost
Heat-pump dryers use far less power than vented or condenser types, so they reward a full, well-spun load. Clean both the lint filter and the condenser as the manual directs, or their efficiency quietly slips. They dry at a gentler temperature, which is kinder to clothes but takes a little longer, so start a load when you're not waiting on it in a hurry.
Frequently asked questions
- How is the running cost calculated?
- Watts ÷ 1,000 × the electricity rate = cost per hour. A heat-pump dryer drawing 850 W on NSW's 33.1c/kWh rate costs $0.28 an hour; the calculator below 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 these figures directly. The low–high band in the table (600–1,000 W) roughly spans efficient to inefficient models.
Related
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- Split-system aircon
- Portable aircon
- Ceiling fan
- Reverse-cycle heating
- Electric heater
- All appliances
- Appliance calculator
- EcoFlow AU — dryer power consumption (cross-checked Canstar Blue)
- State reference tariffs (per-zone determinations)verified
Costs use each state's representative-zone reference usage rate, effective 1 July 2026. Longer cycles (~2–3 h) but far lower draw than a vented dryer.