Gas vs Electric Dryer Calculator

Adjust the calculator values below

Lower estimated operating cost Electric dryer saves $3.12/year
Electric dryer cost per load $0.18
Gas dryer cost per load $0.20
Electric dryer annual cost $28.08
Gas dryer annual cost $31.20
Electricity used by electric dryer 1.5 kWh/load
Electricity used by gas dryer 0.75 kWh/load
Gas used by gas dryer 0.11 therm/load
Break-even natural gas price $0.82/therm
Comparison period 156 loads/year
Electric dryer saves $3.12/year
Lower estimated operating cost 30-minute cycles, 3 loads per week, source example energy ratings and prices
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Gas vs Electric Dryer Calculator

Use this gas vs electric dryer with time per drying cycle, drying loads per week, and electricity price to get fast results, understand the formula...

Compare energy cost per load on the same cycle

Cycle hours equal the entered cycle time converted to hours. Electric-dryer energy per load equals electric power multiplied by cycle hours. A gas dryer has two energy costs: its electric power multiplied by cycle hours, plus its burner rating multiplied by cycle hours and the matching natural-gas price.

Keep electrical and gas energy units separate

Electricity is priced per kilowatt-hour. Natural gas can be priced per therm or per kilowatt-hour of gas energy; one therm is 100,000 BTU or about 29.300111 kWh. A burner rating entered in BTU per hour is converted to kilowatts before its energy per load is calculated.

Treat operating cost as one part of the dryer decision

Actual cycle duration and power draw vary with load size, moisture, sensor settings, vent condition, appliance efficiency, standby use, and utility tariffs. Purchase price, installation, gas-line or vent work, maintenance, rebates, demand charges, and emissions are outside this operating-cost estimate.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about gas vs electric dryer, useful assumptions, result interpretation, and mistakes to avoid.

How is electric dryer cost per load calculated?

Convert the cycle time to hours, multiply it by the electric dryer's power in kilowatts to get kWh per load, then multiply by the electricity price per kWh.

Why does a gas dryer still have an electricity cost?

A gas dryer burns gas for heat but normally uses electricity for its drum motor, fan, controls, and ignition. The calculator adds that electric cost to the burner fuel cost.

How are BTU, therms, and kWh converted?

One BTU per hour is about 0.00029307107 kW. One therm is 100,000 BTU and about 29.300111 kWh of gas energy. These conversions let the burner rating and gas tariff use different supported units.

What does the break-even gas price mean?

It is the natural-gas price at which the two dryers have the same estimated cost per load, holding cycle time, electric power, electricity price, and burner rating constant.

Does the comparison include purchase and installation costs?

No. It compares estimated operating energy only. Purchase price, gas-line installation, venting, maintenance, rebates, demand charges, and appliance life must be considered separately.

Why can my utility bill differ from this result?

Real power draw and cycle duration vary with load size, moisture, sensor settings, vent condition, appliance efficiency, standby use, and tiered or seasonal utility rates.