What a hair dryer costs to run in each state
The table assumes a 2,000 W hair dryer on high for ten minutes a day.
| State | Rate | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| TasmaniaAurora Energy | 24.75c | $2.56 | $31 |
| QueenslandEnergex | 27.97c | $2.89 | $35 |
| Victoriaaverage of five networks | 28.2c | $2.92 | $35 |
| Northern TerritoryJacana Energy | 31.68c | $3.28 | $39 |
| New South WalesAusgrid | 33.14c | $3.43 | $41 |
| Western AustraliaSynergy | 33.26c | $3.44 | $41 |
| Australian Capital TerritoryEvoenergy network | 36.95c | $3.82 | $46 |
| South AustraliaSA Power Networks | 41.91c | $4.33 | $52 |
Running costs by hair dryer rating
| Type | Power | Cost an hour | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel hair dryer, 1,200 W | 1,200 W | 40c | $25 |
| Standard hair dryer, 2,000 W | 2,000 W | 66c | $41 |
| Salon hair dryer, 2,400 W | 2,400 W | 80c | $49 |
Hair straighteners and curling irons draw far less, often well under 100 W, but take a few minutes to heat up. Their cost per use is a fraction of a cent to a cent or so.
Drying for less
Towel dry first
Removing water with a towel shortens drying time the most.
Use a concentrator nozzle
It directs air where it is needed, so you finish sooner.
Drop the heat setting
Medium heat draws much less than high and is gentler on hair.
Bathroom heating costs more
Heat lamps and fan heaters in the bathroom usually cost more than the hair dryer. See our heater running costs and heated towel rail pages.
Questions about hair dryer running costs
About 11c for ten minutes with a 2,000 W hair dryer on high, on the Ausgrid reference rate.
Most are rated between about 1,200 W and 2,400 W. The rating is on the handle or in the manual.
Yes. Most of a hair dryer's power goes into the heating element. On cool, only the small fan motor runs.
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.