What a clothes dryer costs to run in each state
The table assumes a vented dryer drying a 6 kg load, three times a week.
| State | Rate | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| TasmaniaAurora Energy | 24.75c | $10.65 | $128 |
| QueenslandEnergex | 27.97c | $12.03 | $144 |
| Victoriaaverage of five networks | 28.2c | $12.13 | $146 |
| Northern TerritoryJacana Energy | 31.68c | $13.63 | $164 |
| New South WalesAusgrid | 33.14c | $14.25 | $171 |
| Western AustraliaSynergy | 33.26c | $14.31 | $172 |
| Australian Capital TerritoryEvoenergy network | 36.95c | $15.90 | $191 |
| South AustraliaSA Power Networks | 41.91c | $18.03 | $216 |
Vented vs heat pump dryers
| Type | Energy | Cost a use | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat pump dryer, 6 kg load | 1.4 kWh | 46c | $73 |
| Heat pump dryer, 8 kg load | 1.7 kWh | 56c | $88 |
| Vented dryer, 6 kg load | 3.3 kWh | 109c | $171 |
| Vented dryer, 4 kg load | 2.7 kWh | 89c | $140 |
| Load | 6-star condenser | 1.5-star vented |
|---|---|---|
| 4 kg | $0.40 | $0.94 |
| 6 kg | $0.49 | $1.17 |
| 8 kg | $0.59 | $0.92 |
A vented dryer heats air with an element and blows the moist air out. A heat pump dryer recycles the heat, which is why it uses roughly half the energy or less. Heat pump dryers cost more to buy, so the saving depends on how often you dry.
Is a heat pump dryer worth it?
Each 6 kg load in a heat pump dryer saves about 1.9 kWh against a vented model, worth around 63c on the Ausgrid reference rate. At three loads a week, that is about $98 a year. Households that dry most loads, especially in winter, recover the higher price fastest.
Spin first
Use the highest spin speed in the washer. Less water in the clothes means less drying time.
Clean the lint filter every load
A clogged filter makes the dryer run longer.
Dry full loads, but do not overfill
Clothes need room to tumble.
Use the sensor setting
Moisture sensors stop the dryer when the clothes are dry rather than running a fixed time.
Cheaper ways to dry
A clothesline or rack costs nothing, and a dehumidifier in a closed room uses a fraction of a vented dryer's energy. See our cheapest way to dry clothes guide.
Questions about clothes dryer running costs
On the Ausgrid reference rate, about 109c for a 6 kg load in a vented dryer and 46c in a heat pump dryer.
Based on the SA Government's cost figures at 35c a kWh, a 6 kg vented dryer uses about 3.3 kWh a load and a 6-star condenser model about 1.4 kWh.
Yes. They recycle heat instead of venting it, using roughly half the energy of a vented dryer or less for the same load.
On a time-of-use plan, off-peak hours are cheaper than the evening peak, and the midday window can be cheaper again. On a flat rate the time makes no difference.
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.