How much electricity does a hair dryer use?

The simple formula

Electricity is billed in kilowatt-hours (kWh). One kWh is 1,000 watts running for one hour. To work out how much a hair dryer uses, multiply its watts by the minutes it runs, divide by 60 to get hours and divide by 1,000 to get kilowatts.

So kWh per use = watts x minutes / 60 / 1,000. A 2,000 W dryer running for 10 minutes uses 2,000 x 10 / 60 / 1,000, which is about 0.33 kWh. The rated wattage on the dryer is its maximum draw, usually on the highest heat and speed, so this gives an upper estimate.

Worked examples

The table below shows energy per 10-minute blow-dry at different wattages, which covers most dryers on the UK market. For a different drying time, scale it: 5 minutes is half, 20 minutes is double.

Over a year the numbers add up. A 1,600 W dryer used for 10 minutes every day uses about 0.27 kWh a day, or roughly 97 kWh a year at full power. Used three times a week, it is around 42 kWh a year. Try your own figures in our hair dryer running-cost calculator.

Why the heat setting matters most

Most of a hair dryer's power goes into the heating element, not the motor. A high-speed digital motor may use only a fraction of the dryer's rated watts, with the rest going to heat. Switching from high heat to medium or low cuts the draw considerably, and the cool setting uses only the motor.

That means your actual use is usually below the rated figure, especially if you finish on low heat or use the cold shot. It also means that drying with high speed and medium heat, which is good practice for your hair, tends to use less energy too. See hair dryer heat settings explained for when to use each setting.

Working out the cost

Find your electricity unit rate on your bill or your supplier's app; it is shown in pence per kWh. Multiply the kWh by that rate and divide by 100 to get the cost in pounds. Rates vary by supplier, tariff and region, and change over time, so always use your own figure.

Our running-cost calculator does the sum for you. Enter the dryer's watts, minutes per use, uses per week and your unit rate, and it shows kWh per use, kWh per year and the cost per year.

1. 1

   Find the watts on the dryer's rating label or listing.

2. 2

   Time a typical blow-dry in minutes.

3. 3

   Multiply watts by minutes, then divide by 60,000 to get kWh.

4. 4

   Multiply kWh by your unit rate in pence and divide by 100 for pounds.

Use the running-cost calculator →

Do high-speed dryers use less electricity?

Not necessarily per minute, but they can use less per blow-dry. A premium brushless dryer rated at 1,600 W can dry hair as quickly as a conventional 2,000 W or 2,400 W dryer because its motor moves air faster. Less time at a lower wattage means fewer kWh.

Our article on hair dryer wattage explains why watts are not the same as drying speed. If you are choosing a new dryer, our best hair dryers in the UK guide lists the wattage of each premium model.

Ways to use less

Towel-dry well first, ideally with a microfibre towel, so the dryer has less water to remove. Rough-dry on high speed and medium heat. Keep the intake filter clean: a clogged filter reduces airflow, which makes drying slower and pushes the heater harder.

Air-drying partway before you blow-dry also cuts the time, though it may affect your style. For curly hair, diffusing on low heat uses less power per minute but takes longer, so the total may be similar.

• Towel-dry thoroughly before you start
• Use high speed with medium heat for rough-drying
• Save high heat for short bursts
• Clean the filter regularly
• Finish with the cool shot rather than more heat

Frequently asked questions

How many watts is a hair dryer? Most full-size dryers on the UK market sit between about 1,300 W and 2,400 W. Travel dryers and dryer brushes are often lower.

Are hair dryers expensive to run? Because they run for minutes rather than hours, a typical blow-dry uses a fraction of a kWh. Use our calculator with your own unit rate to see the cost.

How much electricity does a 2000 W hair dryer use in 10 minutes? About 0.33 kWh at full power, and less on lower heat settings.

Does the cool setting use electricity? Yes, but only for the motor, which draws far less than the heating element.