Topic
Travel, watts and power
UK hair dryers run on 230 V mains through a fused 3-pin plug. Abroad, only dual-voltage models work on 120 V supplies without a converter.
- UK mains
- 230 V, 13 A plug fuse
- Abroad
- 120 V on dual-voltage models only
A UK plug carries a fuse to BS 1362, normally 13 A for a hair dryer. The current a dryer draws is its watts divided by the voltage: a 2,000 W dryer draws about 8.7 A at 230 V. Our amps calculator does the sum for any model.
Running cost depends on watts, minutes and your unit rate. A 2,000 W dryer used for 10 minutes uses about 0.33 kWh. Enter your own rate in p/kWh from your bill in the running-cost calculator.
Travel dryers and some stylers are dual voltage (often marked 120/230 V or 100 to 240 V). A plug adapter changes only the shape of the plug, not the voltage, so a 230 V only dryer should not be used on a 120 V supply.
Guides on this topic
- Why a hair dryer has no earth wireWhy hair dryers do not need an earth wire: double insulation, the square-in-a-square symbol, and the 13 A fuse in a UK 3-pin plug and when it matters.Guide
- Using a UK hair dryer abroad: voltage, plugs and adaptersUsing a UK hair dryer abroad: 230 V in Europe, around 120 V in the US, plug adapters versus voltage converters, and how to check if a dryer is dual voltage.Guide
- Can you take a hair dryer on a plane?Can you take a hair dryer or styler on a plane from the UK? Hand luggage and hold rules for corded dryers, cordless stylers and gas tongs, and what to check first.Guide
- How much electricity does a hair dryer use?Work out how much electricity your hair dryer uses in kWh from its watts and minutes of use, with worked examples and a calculator for your own unit rate.Guide
- Hair dryer wattage explained: does more watts mean faster drying?What hair dryer watts actually measure, why a 1,600 W digital motor can outdry a 2,400 W AC dryer, and the wattage of Dyson, Shark and ghd dryers and stylers.Guide
- Why your hair dryer trips the electricsHair dryer tripping the RCD or breaker? Learn the difference, the amps a 2000 W dryer draws on 230 V, the extension lead trap and when to call an electrician.Fix