How is the running cost calculated?

Watts ÷ 1,000 × the electricity rate gives cost per hour: $0.60 at 1,800 W on the NSW rate; the yearly figure uses 0.15 h/day, 365 days a year at 1,800 W.

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

At typical draw · official state tariffs

$0.49–$0.75 per hour at 1,800 W

Typical household use (0.15 h/day, 365 days a year at 1,800 W) runs $27–$41 a year depending on your state's tariff.

Wattage basis: Rated watts on high: travel 800–1,200 W, standard home 1,400–1,800 W, professional 1,800–2,400 W.

Hair dryer running cost by state and model, at 0.15 h a day for 365 days a year (2026–27 reference usage rates)
State	Model	Per hour	Per day	Per month	Per year
New South Wales33.1c/kWh · Ausgrid	Efficient (1,000 W)	$0.33	$0.05	$1.51	$18
	Typical (1,800 W)	$0.60	$0.09	$2.72	$33
	High (2,400 W)	$0.80	$0.12	$3.63	$44
Victoria27.5c/kWh · Jemena	Efficient (1,000 W)	$0.27	$0.04	$1.25	$15
	Typical (1,800 W)	$0.49	$0.07	$2.25	$27
	High (2,400 W)	$0.66	$0.10	$3.01	$36
Queensland28.0c/kWh · Energex	Efficient (1,000 W)	$0.28	$0.04	$1.28	$15
	Typical (1,800 W)	$0.50	$0.08	$2.30	$28
	High (2,400 W)	$0.67	$0.10	$3.06	$37
South Australia41.9c/kWh · SA Power Networks	Efficient (1,000 W)	$0.42	$0.06	$1.91	$23
	Typical (1,800 W)	$0.75	$0.11	$3.44	$41
	High (2,400 W)	$1.01	$0.15	$4.59	$55
Western Australia33.3c/kWh · Western Power (SWIS)	Efficient (1,000 W)	$0.33	$0.05	$1.52	$18
	Typical (1,800 W)	$0.60	$0.09	$2.73	$33
	High (2,400 W)	$0.80	$0.12	$3.64	$44
Tasmania28.0c/kWh · TasNetworks	Efficient (1,000 W)	$0.28	$0.04	$1.27	$15
	Typical (1,800 W)	$0.50	$0.08	$2.29	$28
	High (2,400 W)	$0.67	$0.10	$3.06	$37
Australian Capital Territory37.0c/kWh · Evoenergy	Efficient (1,000 W)	$0.37	$0.06	$1.69	$20
	Typical (1,800 W)	$0.67	$0.10	$3.03	$36
	High (2,400 W)	$0.89	$0.13	$4.04	$49
Northern Territory31.7c/kWh · Power and Water	Efficient (1,000 W)	$0.32	$0.05	$1.44	$17
	Typical (1,800 W)	$0.57	$0.09	$2.60	$31
	High (2,400 W)	$0.76	$0.11	$3.47	$42

Where a hair dryer costs more

South Australia is the dearest state to run one: $0.75 an hour at 1,800 W on its 41.9c/kWh rate, against $0.49 in Victoria. Over a year of typical use that gap is $14 (52.6% more).
By yearly running cost at typical use it ranks 25th of the 26 appliances costed on this site (1st costs the most): $33 a year at the NSW rate.
An efficient 1,000 W model costs $18 a year less than a typical 1,800 W one in SA at 0.15 hours a day for 365 days ($12 less in VIC); a high-draw 2,400 W model uses 2.4 times the power of the efficient one.
At the 1 July 2026 price reset, typical-use cost fell $2 in VIC (Jemena usage rate 29.7c to 27.5c/kWh) and rose $1 in WA (Western Power (SWIS) usage rate 32.4c to 33.3c/kWh).

Typical household use per year, cheapest state first (0.15 h/day, 365 days a year at 1,800 W)
Rank	State	Usage rate	Typical year	Above the cheapest
1	Victoria	27.5c	$27	—
2	Tasmania	28.0c	$28	+$0
3	Queensland	28.0c	$28	+$0
4	Northern Territory	31.7c	$31	+$4
5	New South Wales	33.1c	$33	+$6
6	Western Australia	33.3c	$33	+$6
7	Australian Capital Territory	37.0c	$36	+$9
8	South Australia	41.9c	$41	+$14

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

NSW

State

Power draw (watts)

Hair dryer: 1,000–2,400 W typical range.

Hours per day

Days per year

5–10 minutes per session on high heat.

$0.60 per hour · $33/year at your settings

Per day (0.15 h): $0.09
Per month: $2.72
Per year (365 days): $32.66

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

Cutting the cost

A hair dryer hits hard for its size, but it only runs briefly, so the whole game is cutting the minutes. Towel-dry first, work on a lower heat setting, and stop once your hair is nearly dry instead of styling it bone-dry. The hottest setting pulls the most power, so save it for the mornings you're genuinely in a rush.

Frequently asked questions

How is the running cost calculated?: Watts ÷ 1,000 × the electricity rate = cost per hour. A hair dryer drawing 1,800 W on NSW's 33.1c/kWh rate costs $0.60 an hour; the calculator below lets you change every input.
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 (1,000–2,400 W) roughly spans efficient to inefficient models.

Sources — figures current as at 17 July 2026.

Costs use each state's representative-zone reference usage rate, effective 1 July 2026. 5–10 minutes per session on high heat.

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

Where a hair dryer costs more

Appliance running-cost calculator

Cutting the cost

Frequently asked questions

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