How much does a hair dryer cost to run?
A typical hair dryer costs about 5.5p per blow-dry to run. At 7 blow-dries a week that is 38.7p a week, or £20.12 a year, based on 1,800 W for 7 minutes (0.21 kWh) at 26.32p per kWh.
Adjust for your hair dryer
Worked example
1,800 W is 1.8 kW. Running for 7 minutes (7 ÷ 60 ≈ 0.117 hours) uses 1.8 × 0.117 ≈ 0.21 kWh. At 26.32p per kWh that costs 5.5p.
A seven-minute blow-dry costs 5.5p, so a daily one comes to £20.12 a year. Each minute you take off the routine is worth about 0.8p a go.
How to cut the cost
The cost is in the heat element. Towel-dry first, use the lower heat setting once your hair is mostly dry, and let the last of it dry naturally, which cuts the minutes without changing the look.
Questions
How much does it cost to use a hair dryer?
A 1,800 W dryer running for 7 minutes costs about 5.5p at 26.32p per kWh.
Do ionic or fast dryers use less power?
Not necessarily. A high-power dryer dries faster, so it can use a similar amount of energy overall. Check the wattage and the time you actually need.
Other appliances
Electricity rate: Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026, Great Britain average, Direct Debit, default tariff: 26.32p per kWh. Your own tariff and region may differ, so change the rate above to match your bill. Appliance figures are typical estimates; your appliance's energy label or manual is more accurate. Last checked 2026-11-03. Next review: January 2027, when Ofgem announces the next quarter's cap.