How much does it cost to run a hair dryer? (2026 price cap)

Typical rating and how we worked this out

This page uses a typical rating of 2kW for a hair dryer; published figures for this appliance range from 1.8kW to 2.5kW. A hair dryer's high wattage is offset by how briefly it typically runs, so even a daily 8-minute dry costs only a few pence. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 1 dry a day, about 8 minutes, which is how the per-day, per-week and per-year figures above were calculated — see the cost-to-run calculator to change the wattage, hours or region yourself.

Rate used: Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026, GB average electricity — 26.32p/kWh (excl. VAT, removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027).

Cost by region

Same appliance, same use — ranked most to least expensive by region under the price cap:

East Midlands is cheapest at £24.68 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £27.12 a year — a gap of £2.43 for identical use.

How a hair dryer compares with similar appliances

Ranked by typical annual cost in garden & other, GB average:

• hair dryer — £25.62 a year (this page)
• treadmill — £28.82 a year
• e-bike battery charge — £20.53 a year
• humidifier — £20.17 a year
• WiFi security camera — £13.83 a year
• electric lawnmower — £10.95 a year

Three practical ways to cut the cost

1. Towel-dry hair thoroughly first — removing excess water by hand cuts the time the dryer needs
2. Use a lower heat setting with the airflow on full rather than maximum heat
3. Clean the lint filter/vents regularly — a blocked dryer works harder for the same result

FAQs

How much does it cost to run a hair dryer for an hour?

53p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 2kW). One typical use — 1 dry a day, about 8 minutes — costs closer to 7.0p.

How much does a hair dryer cost to run per year?

Around £25.62 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 1 dry a day, about 8 minutes — about 49p a week.

Which UK region is cheapest to run a hair dryer in?

East Midlands, at £24.68 a year, against £27.12 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £2.43 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.

Does the exact wattage of my hair dryer change the cost much?

Yes — ratings range 1.8kW–2.5kW, so the top of that range costs about 1.4x the bottom. This page uses 2kW; check your own rating plate.

Does the October 2026 price cap affect this figure?

Yes — figures use the Ofgem cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Electricity excludes VAT (removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027); gas includes 5%. See the price cap page for the full breakdown.

Sources

• Daftlogic — power consumption of typical household appliances — wattage and usage figures for this appliance.
• Ofgem — Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (regional tables, read 12 September 2026).

Related

• Cost-to-run calculator and full A–Z — check any appliance or enter a custom wattage.
• Energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 — every region, every payment method.
• Back-billing calculator — if a bill for this or any appliance looks like it covers too many months.
• Free bill audit — if your overall energy costs look high regardless of any one appliance.