How Many Amps Does A Dryer Use [Breaker Size & Adapters]

Last updated: February 2, 2024.

How many amps does a dryer use? Find out here, and see how you can convert your dryer outlet without risk or needing an electrician. Also, see how many amps 34 of the most popular dryers use, in 2024.

Below you’ll find out how many amps residential electric clothes dryers use and get key safety details. You’ll also get a quick tip that’ll reduce your risk of getting an electrical shock while also reducing your need to hire an electrician.

Spoilers:

• Household electric clothes dryers use between 7.5 amps and 30 amps;
• The vast majority of dryers have a listed amperage of 30A;
• 240V dryers typically require a 30A breaker, while 120V dryers are commonly protected by a 15A breaker.
• The lowest amp dryer identified measures in at 7.5A (120V); and
• The lowest amp 240V dryer has a listed amperage of 10.5A.

Continue reading to get a list of how many amps 34 of the most popular dryers use and get practical information to help you identify the right size breaker for your dryer / circuit.

How many amps does a dryer use

Residential electric clothes dryers use between 7.5 amps and 30 amps. However, 30 amps is by far the most common.

The National Electrical Code (NEC) standards require that 240V dryers have a dedicated 4-wire circuit (10-3 type NM cable with ground) protected by a 30 amp breaker.

Portable compact 110V/120V dryers, however, can be safely used on a standard household circuit protected by a 15 amp breaker. This is because these dryers use between 7.5 amps and 15 amps.

Ideally, the size of breaker will be just slightly higher than the amount of amps that devices on a circuit will use.

Continue reading to see how many amps various dryers use and to get more details about the right size breaker.

Related post: Dryer Voltage Explained [6 Ways To Check Voltage + Safety Tips].

How many amps does a 240V dryer use

240V dryers typically use between 10 amps and 30 amps, however 30 amps is by far the most common.

This is demonstrated in the table below, where 50% of the 240V dryers use 30A.

The 240V dryer that uses the lowest amount of amps is the ENERGY STAR certified Bosch 800 Series (check it out on Amazon, here), which uses just 10.5 amps.

This is an anomaly however.

Generally you can expect 240V dryers to use between 24A and 30A.

How many amps does a 220 volt dryer use

220V dryers, similar to 240V dryers, usually use between 10A and 30A, with 30A being the most common.

There is little difference between 220V and 240V dryers – they’re the same voltage level. As a result, 220V dryers use the same amps as 240V dryers.

It’s more common for manufacturers to report a 240V dryer voltage rather than 220V or 230V.

How many amps does a 110V / 120V dryer use

110V / 120V dryers typically use between 7.5 amps and 15 amps.

These 110V / 120V dryers are commonly referred to as compact or portable dryers.

These dryers are usually designed for use in smaller spaces, like apartments, and to run off of standard 110V / 120V household circuits.

For example, this compact RCA clothes dryer (check it out here) draws just 7.5 amps and runs off of a standard 120V circuit.

Unlike the 240V dryers, these portable dryers don’t require a dedicated circuit. But if you’re in doubt about a specific 110V / 120V low amp dryer, do confirm this with the seller or manufacturer.

Amperage of popular dryers

To get a better sense of how many amps dryers use, let’s take a look at how many amps some of the most sold (in 2024) dryers use.

The table below lists the amperage of 34 of the most sold dryers in the US, along with links to Home Depot and / or Amazon for more information. The list is arranged from low to high amps.

As you can see, the vast majority of dryers on this list use 30 amps.

Related: how much does it cost to run a dryer?

Now that we know how many amps dryers use, let’s take a look at breaker sizes.

What amp breaker for dryer

The National Electrical Code (NEC) notes that 240V dryers require a dedicated 4-wire circuit (10-3 type NM cable with ground) protected by a 30 amp breaker.

220V and 230V dryers have the same requirement as they’re in the same voltage level.

However, older installations may not reach the standards set by the NEC. And many homes are not in its jurisdiction. So here’s some additional safety information and considerations.

Breakers don’t just help protect against electric shock and equipment damage. They provide essential protection against electrical fires by tripping the circuit before any cable overheats.

As a result, the size of breaker ultimately depends on the size of cable used. You want the correct size breaker to protect each circuit. 

For example, a 30A breaker protects 10-3 type NM cable (suitable for 240V dryers) but not 14-2 type NM cable (suitable for standard outlets and lighting).

Using a 240V dryer on a circuit wired with 14-2 type NM cable and protected by a 30A breaker is unsafe.

However, using a portable 15 amp, 110V dryer on a circuit wired with 14-2 type NM cable and protected by a 15A breaker is safe.

Ultimately, the breaker size will depend on the dryer’s power consumption and the available circuit.

How to find out how many amps and volts your dryer uses

In most cases, the amount of amps that a dryer uses is listed on the device. Typically dryers have a plate or sticker at the front or back, which lists the amperage and voltage.

If this isn’t available you may have to find the documents that came with the device or search for the specifications online.

You could also use an energy monitor or multimeter to get the voltage and amount of amps used. You might not have the equipment for this, but if you do, please be careful.

If you have any doubts or concerns, do contact a qualified electrician. Installing a dryer incorrectly may result in fire and / or lead to electric shock.

See 6 ways to check your dryer voltage, here and see how much electricity dryers use, here.

Above, I’ve listed the amperage of some of the most sold dryers on the market.

The breaker used should be slightly higher than the amperage listed on the device.

The voltage, however, is different. 110V / 120V is the standard voltage in the US, where 240V dryers should have a dedicated circuit. 

If you don’t already have a dedicated 240V circuit, and don’t want to get an electrician to install one, it may be easier for you to choose a portable 110V dryer that uses 15 amps or less. This can then be protected by a 15A breaker or less – the breaker rating should be slightly higher than the amount of amps consumed by the dryer and suitable for the cables used.

I’ve seen a number of cases where unqualified people attempted to rewire a circuit or install an unsuitable dryer for their circuit. I’ve also seen cases where the outlet was changed to 3 or 4 prong outlet when it wasn’t appropriate. This led to unnecessary risk from shock and fire, so please do consider contacting an electrician.

However, one thing that many could benefit from, with limited risk, is simply using an adapter (if appropriate of course). 

Dryer outlet adapter

Instead of taking any DIY risks, voiding your dryer’s warranty or unnecessarily hiring an electrician, consider if a dryer outlet adapter is suitable.

It’s common after purchasing a new dryer, or after moving to a new home, to not have the appropriate outlet.

You can safely convert a 4 prong to 3 prong (and vice versa) dryer outlet by simply using the appropriate dryer adapter. 

Adaptors don’t require you to change the dryer outlet or any cables running from your dryer to the outlet. As a result you’ll avoid the risk of electrical shock, keep your manufacturer’s warranty intact, and save you from getting an electrician in to help. 

If you have a 240V dryer circuit but don’t have the appropriate outlet for the dryer consider picking up one of these:

• 4 prong to 3 prong dryer adapter
• 3 prong to 4 prong dryer adapter

Final thoughts

I am an electrician, but as every installation is different I cannot give specific advice. For safety purposes, I’d encourage you to contact a local electrician to get any electrical work done.

But if you are to attempt any electrical work yourself, please be safe. Turn off the power at the consumer unit before doing any work.

And be careful with your choice of dryer. Don’t use a breaker with an amp rating considerably higher than you need – it’s unsafe and may be a fire hazard.

If you’re replacing a dryer, consider getting a dryer with a similar power consumption (similar amps and voltage) to your old device. And if you’re planning to change a 240V outlet from 3 to 4 prong and vice versa, consider picking up an adapter to avoid risk from electrical shock.

Don’t miss these related posts:

• Dryer Voltage Explained [6 Ways To Check Voltage + Safety Tips]
• How Long Do Dryers Take? [Fastest Clothes Dryer Revealed]
• Dryer Electricity Cost [233 Dryers Analyzed + 11 Cost Saving Tips]
• Dryer Wattage & Energy Usage [Most Efficient Revealed]

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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.