Hair Dryer Wattage Results 2024 [Calc, kWh, Costs, CFM & dB]

Last updated: February 6, 2024.

How many watts does a hair dryer use? Find out below, based on 78 of the best selling models. Plus get key hair dryer wattage insights, running costs (incl. a calculator) and cost saving tips.

Based on a study of the best selling hair dryers in 2024, this article gives key insights into hair dryer wattage, why it’s important, actual power consumption, energy efficiency, and much more.

Spoilers:

• Hair dryer wattage is important – it impacts results, performance, running costs and has an environmental impact.
• Overall, hair dryer wattage can range from slightly lower than 500W to as high as 3600W. However, 1000W to 2100W is the more common range, and 1875W is the most common wattage.
• Hair dryers typically use 1,875 watts (1.875 kWh) on the highest power setting, 975 watts (.975 kWh) on medium and 862.5 watts (.8625 kWh) on low.
• Running a hair dryer for 1 hour is equivalent to running a TV for 40 hours straight.
• The cost to run a hair dryer ranges from 7.5 cents to 54 cents per hour at max draw ($0.28 is most common).
• If you’re looking for a powerful, more environmentally friendly blow dryer, check out the Parlux 3800 Hair Dryer.

Continue reading to see how much it costs to run a hair dryer and get 7 tips to reduce your running costs.

Plus, use the hair dryer running cost calculator below to see your own specific electricity costs.

Hair dryer wattage

The most common hair dryer wattage is 1875W.

Hair dryers typically use 1,875 watts (1.875 kWh) on the highest setting, 975 watts (.975 kWh) on the medium setting and 862.5 watts (.8625 kWh) on the lowest setting, costing $0.28, $0.15 and $0.13 per hour, respectively.

Let’s get into the details.

Hair dryer wattage explained

Hair dryer wattage refers to the power rating of the device – it’s the maximum amount of power, in watts, that the hair dryer will use under normal operating conditions.

The higher the wattage, the more electricity the hair dryer can consume.

Hair dryer wattage is used by many to anticipate expected performance.

The assumption is that hair dryer wattage relates to performance – the higher the wattage, the higher the output. But is it correct to make this assumption? 

Higher output tends to relate to a higher wattage, however, this is not always the case.

Inefficient hair dryer motors can have a higher wattage but lower performance / output than their more efficient counterparts.

But generally, as a rule of thumb, higher hair dryer wattage relates to higher output (i.e. more heat and higher airflow).

Does hair dryer wattage matter?

Yes, hair dryer wattage matters.

It matters in terms of results, performance, running costs and environmental impact.

Hair dryer wattage doesn’t matter as much when it comes to personal use compared to professional use. But, either way, it still matters.

As mentioned, higher hair dryer wattage tends to relate to higher airflow and hotter drying options.

This gives you more options to deliver the best results for you or your client’s hair.

High speed-high heat may be suitable for some while low speed-low heat may suit others better.

Hair dryer wattage also tends to relate to device lifespan.

Running motors at less than their peak capability tends to increase their lifespan.

For example, running a 2,000W hair dryer at half of its peak capability (drawing 1,000W) will, more often than not, outlast a 1,000W hair dryer running at its peak. This is because the heating element and motor are designed to run under more demanding usage. As a result, they’re more capable of comfortably running at the peak performance of lower wattage hair dryers.

The wattage of a hair dryer does not just impact performance. It also impacts the running costs and carbon footprint.

High wattage hair dryers consume more electricity when running at their peak. As a result, the electricity costs and environmental impact will be higher than their low wattage counterparts.

However, it’s worth noting that high wattage hair dryers tend to be able to dry hair quicker than models that don’t produce as much heat or move as much air. They also tend to have a longer lifespan, helping limit the requirement for, and negative environmental impact impact from, manufacturing and transportation.

As a result, the electricity costs and environmental impact may balance out.

So, how many watts does a hair dryer actually use?

How many watts does a hair dryer use

Hair dryers use between 1000 watts and 2,100 watts (max), with 1,875 is the most common hair dryer wattage. Lower heat and speed settings reduce the amount of watts consumed.

This is based on 78 of the best selling hair dryers in 2024.

However, there are some outliers. Hair dryer wattage can go slightly lower than 500W to as high as 3600W for some premium professional models. 

The heat and speed setting, and the type of hair dryer impacts how many watts the device will use.

Different types of hair dryers use different amounts of watts.

Hair dryer brushes and bonnet hair dryers have different wattage ranges compared to traditional hair dryers / blow dryers.

Hair dryer brushes use between 800 watts and 1,300 watts, with 1000 watts being the most common max wattage. While, bonnet hair dryers, designed for home use, use between 500 watts and 1,200 watts (max).

These figures are also based on the best selling models this year. Outliers are sure to exist.

Hair dryer settings have a significant impact on the amount of watts that they use.

Most blow dryers have 3 heat and 2 speed settings. 36% of the best selling hair dryers in the study came equipped with these settings.

Overall, hair dryers offer heat and speed settings that typically range from 2 to 12 settings, however 2 to 7 settings is most common.

So how do the heat and speed settings impact the amount of watts that a hair dryer uses?

Using an energy monitor I tested the amount of watts that a traditional ghd hair dryer actually uses across various heat and speed settings. Here are the results:

• Watts used at highest heat and speed: 1,432 watts.
• Watts consumed at highest heat and lowest speed: 729 watts.
• Watts used at lowest heat and highest speed: 650 watts.

Test notes: the hair dryer model tested was an old dual voltage 1000/1400W ghd flight travel hair dryer. The power rating is 1000W at 110V and 1400W at 240V. The test was conducted using a 240V outlet (I was interested to see if the voltage selector still works). Interestingly, the max amount of watts that the hair dryer actually used surpassed its power rating. This is an old blow dryer that was used a lot in the past, however, it has not been used for years. It has definitely seen better days, which likely resulted in its high consumption.

Extrapolating the results, we can estimate the amount of watts used by hair dryers under different heat and speed settings.

Screenshots of test results:

Based on the most common hair dryer wattage, you can expect to use 1,875 watts at the highest setting, approx. 975 watts at the medium setting and 862.5 watts at the lowest setting.

The feature of the hair dryer that uses the most amount of watts is the heating function. The higher the heat, the more watts are consumed.

Increasing blow dryer speed does not significantly increase the amount of watts that it consumes.

Using the lowest appropriate setting to blow dry hair will help keep your power consumption low, if it doesn’t extend the drying duration too much.

Using a hair dryer that offers increased versatility in terms of heat and speed can make it easier to choose and use the lowest appropriate power setting.

Dyson hair dryers offer this versatility with 4 heat and 3 speed settings (3 heat and 2 speed settings is most commonly available on hair dryers).

So let’s briefly take a look at Dyson hair dryer wattage.

Dyson hair dryer wattage

Dyson hair dryers have a wattage of 1600W, while their brush dryer / styler has a wattage of 1300W.

The Dyson Supersonic hair dryer series all use 1,600 watts max.

The Dyson Airwrap styler / brush dryer series uses a maximum of 1,300 watts.

Dyson hair dryers are premium products. However, using the oversimplified “higher wattage = more power” assumption you’d think that Dyson hair dryers are underpowered. Here we have another example of where this assumption is an oversimplification.

Dyson uses the latest technology and cutting edge designs to deliver market leading hair dryers.

Excessive motor noise and heat tends to be a byproduct of inefficiency. 

Dyson hair dryers have a noise level of 77 dB. 

This is a lot lower than the 90-95 dB hair dryer noise level that the Environmental Protection Agency lists (source).

Lower than average noise levels usually relate to above average efficiency, which may be the case for Dyson hair dryers.

It’s also worth noting that the high variety of heat and speed settings offered by Dyson hair dryers, means that you have more options regarding the amount of watts that you actually use.

Next, let’s see how Dyson hair dryer wattage compares with other popular brands.

Hair dryer wattage list

The table below lists the hair dryer wattage for some of the best selling models.

The hair dryer wattage is arranged from low to high, and links to retailers are also listed in case you’d like more information on each model.

Also, for those that are interested, the following shorter table lists the wattage of popular brush hair dryers and bonnet style personal hair dryers.

The tables show sample data used in the hair dryer wattage study.

OK, let’s get back to the more traditional style of hair dryer and take a look at what hair dryer wattage is “good”.

How many watts is good for a hair dryer?

From a styling perspective, Jennifer Buchalla (celebrity hairstylist) recommends that consumers go for a hair dryer that uses 1,800 to 1,875 watts (source).

However, from an energy efficiency perspective, the hair dryer with the least energy wastage is the best to use. Vague, I know.

The key to identifying the hair dryer wattage that is suitable for you is to know what you need.

Professionals will need to be versatile for their clients so a high wattage blow dryer would be best suited to them. Lower wattage hair dryers with a high variety of heat and speed settings may also be suitable.

However, someone that dries their own hair at low heat and low speeds can get similar results, while consuming less energy, by using a low wattage hair dryer.

Let’s take a look at low wattage hair dryers in more detail.

Low wattage hair dryers 

Low wattage hair dryers range from 500W to 1200W.

It’s common to find compact travel blow dryers in this wattage range.

At 1000W, one of the most popular and highest rated low wattage hair dryers is Amazon’s Choice for “low wattage hair dryer”: the MHD (Berta) 1000W Mini Hair Dryer. Check it out, here.

The only low wattage hair dryer that made Walmart’s top 51 best selling list is the BaBylissPRO TRAVELFX. Check this 1000W hair dryer out on Walmart, here.

Low wattage hair dryers are in lower demand than their higher wattage counterparts. But this doesn’t mean that they’re less effective.

It’s likely that most people choose the more expensive, unnecessarily high powered models just in case they need that power.

However, where power is limited, such as in RVs, low wattage hair dryers are much more common.

So now that we’ve looked at hair dryer wattage, let’s take a look at how much electricity blow dryers use over different periods of time.

How much electricity does a hair dryer use (in kWh)

Hair dryers typically use between 1 kWh and 2.1 kWh of electricity per hour at their max setting. 

1.875 kWh is the most common amount of electricity that hair dryers use per hour at max draw.

Some outliers, again at max consumption, can use as little as 0.5 kWh to as high as 3.6 kWh of electricity per hour.

Lower heat and speed settings will reduce the amount of electricity consumed.

The table below lists the amount of electricity that a hair dryer uses per hour at max, medium and low power settings.

As you can see from the table above, blow dryer heat and speed settings have a significant impact on the amount of electricity consumed by the device.

It’s unlikely that you use a blow dryer for a full hour continuously, so let’s briefly take a look at how much electricity they use per minute.

Hair dryer electricity usage per minute

To help you estimate how much electricity a hair dryer uses per drying session, the table below lists how much electricity a hair dryer uses per minute.

To estimate how much electricity you use drying hair, simply take the relevant kWh figure from the table above and multiply it by the number of minutes of drying time.

Or simply use this hair dryer electricity usage calculator…

Hair dryer electricity usage calculator

Use this hair dryer electricity usage calculator to see how many watts-hours and kWh your hair dryer uses.

The results show your electricity usage per session / day, week, and month.

It’s pre-populated to show much electricity the most common hair dryer uses per minute.

Simply enter your hair dryer wattage and duration of use.

The results assume continuous usage at max power draw.

OK, now we know how much electricity hair dryers use.

But is it a lot?

Do hair dryers use a lot of electricity

Yes. Hair dryers use a lot of electricity.

Their high energy consumption means that they can be considered energy guzzlers, particularly if they’re used for long durations. 

But given that they’re typically used for short periods of time and relatively infrequently, they don’t tend to use a lot of electricity on a monthly basis.

To gain some perspective, let’s compare how much electricity a hair dryer uses with how much electricity other common household appliances use.

The most common amount of electricity consumed by a hair dryer per hour is 1.875 kWh. This is equivalent to:

• How many watts a TV uses after running for 40 hours.
• How much electricity a dryer uses after drying nearly 1 full load (the most energy efficient dryer, however, can dry over 4 loads for the same amount of electricity).
• How many watts a ceiling fan uses (specifically a large ceiling fan) after running for nearly 3 and a half days straight.

So hair dryers do use a lot of electricity, particularly when compared to other household appliances.

But how much do they cost to run? 

How much does it cost to run a hair dryer 

It costs 28 cents per hour to run a hair dryer with the most common wattage at max power. This reduces to approx. $0.15 per hour at a medium setting and $0.13 at a low power setting.

This assumes a 15 cents per kWh rate – the US average.

The cost to run a hair dryer ranges from 7.5 cents per hour to 54 cents per hour at max draw.

However, removing outliers, 15 cents to 31.5 cents is the hourly cost range for more common blow dryers (again, this is at max power consumption).

The cost to run a hair dryer is less at lower heat and speed settings.

The table below lists the cost to run a hair dryer per hour across various settings for different categories from the study.

It’s easier to work out the cost per drying session if you have the cost per minute.

For convenience, the table below lists the cost per minute to run a hair dryer across the various settings and categories.

It costs less than half a cent per minute to run a hair dryer with the most common wattage at max consumption.

To estimate the cost per drying session, simply multiply how many minutes you use a blow dryer for by the relevant figure in the table above.

Better yet, simply use the hair dryer energy cost calculator below to work out your own specific running costs

Hair dryer running cost calculator

Use this calculator to see how much it costs you to run your hair dryer.

Simply add your hair dryer wattage, usage duration (in minutes), and how much you pay per kWh.

This hair dryer electricity cost calculator is pre-populated with the most common wattage for a blow dryer, and the typical price per kWh in the US.

The results assume you’re running your hair dryer at max power.

There’s one often overlooked key performance indicator for hairdryers – the rate at which they move air. It can cost less to run a hairdryer that that moves more air because this can dry hair faster.

So let’s take a look at hairdryer airflow in more detail.

Hair dryer CFM (airflow rate)

Hair dryer CFM is the rate, in cubic feet per minute, that hair dryers can move air. Hair dryer CFM is also referred to as “hair dryer airflow rate”. 

The higher the hair dryer CFM, the more air it moves.

While it is a key performance indicator for hair dryers, most manufacturers don’t make this information readily available. However, some do.

According to Dyson, their hair dryers deliver an air flow rate of 13 liters per second (l/s). Converting l/s into CFM we can see their air flow rate in the more commonly used measurement.

Dyson hair dryer CFM is 27.5.

Parlux also lists the CFM of their eco-friendly blow dryer.

With a CFM of 45.3, the Parlux 3800 Eco-Friendly hair dryer moves considerably more air than a Dyson hair dryer. Get more details on this eco-friendly hair dryer, here.

But are these good airflow rates?

Online resources suggest that hair dryers deliver a CFM between 10 and 100.

However, this doesn’t appear to be backed up by data or a reputable source.

So let’s look at CFM for more hair dryer models, which as mentioned, is difficult given that hair dryer CFM is not commonly promoted.

Luckily, I found a useful resource that has made many hair dryer CFM figures public. Launch Design, worked with PAX Scientific to enhance hair dryer fan design – the case study is here. The following hair dryer CFM figures have been sourced from their research, so do check out their case study.

The table below lists hair dryer CFM from high to low.

The table above should give you a sense of how much air hair dryers can move.

Related: see how fan CFM compares (includes ceiling, box, tower and table / standing fans).

Lower speed settings will obviously reduce the amount of airflow.

In order to dry hair, it’s more energy efficient for hair dryers to move an increased amount of air than it is to produce more heat.

Now that we’ve covered hair dryer CFM, and given that we know how much electricity hair dryers use and how much they cost to run, let’s take a look at how to keep the consumption and running costs low.

But first, some FAQs.

FAQs

7 energy and cost saving tips

To help keep your hair dryer running costs and carbon footprint low, here are 7 easy-to-implement tips.

1. Consider lowering the heat. Like nearly all electrical appliances that have a heating element, heating accounts for the majority of the running costs. Hair dryers are no different. Consider reducing the heat setting when drying hair. Try out the Cool drying option if your hair dryer has it. Reducing the amount of heating required substantially reduces the cost of running your hairdryer. 
2. Increase airflow speed. This may seem counterintuitive, as hair dryers use more electricity at higher speed settings. But moving air doesn’t consume as much electricity as heating air. Delivering more air at a faster rate can reduce overall drying time. As a result, the heating element won’t be required to operate as long, ultimately reducing the overall amount of electricity required.
3. Dry faster. The faster you dry, the less electricity will be used. There are many options for this that may work for you. You could ramp up the air speed settings, hold the dryer closer, take more moisture out of your hair before blow drying, or simply hurry-up. Whatever you can do to speed up drying time will reduce your hair dryer running costs.
4. Maintain the device. Clear any obstructions from the air filter at the back of the hair dryer. Dust, dirt and hair can build up, reducing the airflow and efficiency of the device. Many models have a removable air filter that can be cleaned easily. Check your user manual for specific maintenance instructions – following these can reduce your running costs and extend the life of your blow dryer.
5. Upgrade to a more efficient model, next time. Consider purchasing a more energy efficient hair dryer next time you’re in the market for a new model. Different motors have different levels of performance. Overall, I haven’t seen enough of a difference in performance to suggest investing in a new blow dryer if you already have a functioning model – the running costs are unlikely to be low enough to recouped your investment. There’s also an environmental impact from production and transportation to take into account. But if you do need a new hair dryer, I have to give a shout-out to the eco-friendly Parlux 3800 – check it out, here.
6. Use it less. The best way to reduce the cost of running your hair dryer is to use it less. So why not consider air drying or towel drying your hair occasionally?
7. Consider switching energy provider. This tip doesn’t require any changes in behavior and can be the biggest cost saver. Utility companies tend to offer substantial discounts on energy prices in order to attract new customers. If you have the option, shop around. Getting a discounted electricity price won’t just reduce the cost of running your hair dryer, it’ll reduce the cost of running all of your electrical appliances.

If you do manage to reduce your running costs or if you do decide to shop around for reduced prices, consider asking your or the prospective utility company about their Green energy plans. This may cost slightly more, but it will reduce your overall carbon footprint considerably.

Final thoughts

I hope you gained some insight into hair dryer wattage and running costs, along with CFM and noise levels.

And, with the 7 energy and cost saving tips, I hope you manage to keep your running costs and carbon footprint low.

Ultimately, by reducing energy wastage, and wastage in general, we can minimize the impact hair dryers, and all electronic devices, have on our carbon footprint and electric bills.

If you’d like to stop wasting 28% of your monthly electricity consumption, get the 6 Quick Wins Cheat Sheet: 

Save 28% ($32.28) p/m on your electric bills

Get the 6 Quick Wins Cheat Sheet. No appliance upgrades or investments are required, just follow these 6 tips to reduce your bills & carbon footprint.

You can unsubscribe anytime – more details are available on our Privacy Policy page.

Start Saving Now

Loading…

It’s on its way!

Please check your inbox for a confirmation email. Sometimes emails like these end up in junk folders, so please check there too.

James F

James F (not to be confused with ECS co-founder James) is our lead author, content & website manager. He has a BSc. in Digital Marketing, and a Diploma in IT. He became a qualified electrician while studying electrical engineering part-time.

From wind and solar photovoltaic installers, James F worked with many certified energy practitioners and energy consultants before joining the core ECS team. He also helped build the most downloaded energy saving app while working with a leading utility company.

Read more about James F or connect directly on LinkedIn, here.