How Much Does It Cost to Run a Hair Dryer? (UK 2026)
Based on the active UK Ofgem price cap of 24.5p per kWh (1 January 2026 – 31 March 2026).
A typical 1800W hair dryer costs £0.44 per hour of continuous use at current UK electricity rates (24.5p/kWh). For typical daily usage (10 minutes styling per morning (approx. 0.17 hours = ~0.3 kWh/day)), it costs approximately £0.07 per day or £27.29 per year.
Manufacturer specs: Dyson Supersonic (1600W) & Remington Pro-Air ionic (2200W) product manuals
How to Save Money Running a Hair Dryer
- Towel-dry hair thoroughly with a microfiber hair wrap for 5 minutes before blow drying to cut drying time in half.
- Use high airflow speed with medium heat rather than maximum heat; air velocity evaporates water without damaging hair or burning excess watts.
- Clean the rear air filter mesh regularly; dust buildup chokes air intake, causing heating coils to overheat and cycle inefficiently.
- Use the cool shot button to set hairstyles without engaging the high-draw electric resistance coils.
Alternative Appliances Compared
vs. Cool Air Fan
View running cost →A room fan uses 40W compared to 1800W for a hairdryer, because it has no electric heating element.
vs. Electric Shower
View running cost →Both are bathroom appliances with heavy resistance heaters, but a shower draws 8,500W compared to 1,800W for a hairdryer.
Hair Dryer Technical Power Profile
Source data: Dyson Supersonic (1600W) & Remington Pro-Air ionic (2200W) product manuals
Frequently Asked Questions: Hair Dryer Electricity Costs
How much does it cost to use a hairdryer for 10 minutes in the UK?â–¾
An 1800W hairdryer running for 10 minutes (0.167 hours) consumes 0.30 kWh. At 24.5p/kWh, that costs approx. 7.4p per use, or £2.24 per month for daily use.
Does a 2200W hairdryer use more electricity than an 1600W model?â–¾
Not necessarily in practice. A higher wattage hairdryer produces stronger airflow and heat, often drying thick hair in 6 minutes instead of 10 minutes, leading to comparable total kWh.
Does the cool shot button use less electricity?â–¾
Yes. The cool shot cuts power to the 1600W heating coil instantly, running only the 100W–150W electric fan motor.
Can a hair straightener or curler use less power than a hairdryer?â–¾
Yes. Hair straighteners typically draw only 40W to 80W once up to temperature, using roughly one-twentieth the power of a blow dryer.
Why does the bathroom light sometimes flicker when the hairdryer starts?â–¾
Hairdryers create an instantaneous inrush current when the motor and heating coils turn on, causing a momentary voltage dip on shared domestic circuits.