Is it cheaper to dry clothes at home or laundromat?

 Drying clothes at home can feel “free” until you factor in the real costs of energy, wear on appliances, and your time. Laundromats, on the other hand, come with an upfront fee per load but offer speed and scale. The cheaper option depends on whether you’re air-drying, using a tumble dryer, or weighing in convenience against dollars.

Is air-drying at home the cheapest option?

Yes—air-drying is by far the most cost-effective method. Pegging clothes on a line or clothes horse uses no electricity, other than perhaps a dehumidifier or fan if you’re drying indoors. The trade-off is time and space. Wet weather or small apartments can make this tricky, which is why tumble dryers and laundromats exist in the first place.

How much does it cost to run a dryer at home?

The average Australian tumble dryer uses between 2–4 kWh per cycle. With electricity prices around 30–35 cents per kWh, that’s roughly $0.60 to $1.40 per load. Older vented dryers sit at the higher end, while modern heat-pump dryers are more efficient and can cut that in half.

But remember: if you’re running multiple loads per week, that cost adds up. A family of four using a dryer 5 times a week could be spending $15–20 per month just on drying.

What do laundromats charge per load?

Most laundromats in Australia charge around $5–7 for a standard dryer cycle (about 25–30 minutes). Heavier loads or extra time can push that higher. While this is more than the per-load energy cost at home, laundromat dryers are industrial-strength: they can often dry clothes faster and in larger quantities. That efficiency matters if you’ve got bulky doonas or several baskets of washing.

Which is actually cheaper: home vs laundromat?

Here’s a simple comparison:

Method	Approx. Cost per Load	Pros	Cons
Air-dry at home	$0	Free, eco-friendly, gentle on clothes	Weather-dependent, slower
Home dryer (efficient)	$0.60–$0.80	Convenient, always available	Adds to energy bill, wear on clothes
Home dryer (older)	$1.20–$1.40	Fast, convenient	Expensive over time
Laundromat dryer	$5–$7	Quick, handles large loads, no appliance cost	Higher per-load cost, travel required

So, if you’ve got reliable space, air-drying wins hands down. If not, the maths is straightforward: home dryers cost less per load, laundromats cost more per load but save time and handle bigger jobs.

What about hidden costs?

• At home: You pay for electricity, maintenance, and eventual appliance replacement.

• At laundromats: You pay for travel (fuel, time), plus the social upside—many people like the “all done at once” efficiency.

Behavioural economists would call this a convenience premium: you’re paying for saved time and effort, not just the drying itself.

FAQ

Is it cheaper to buy a heat-pump dryer?
Yes. While upfront costs are higher, heat-pump models use about half the electricity, so frequent users save money long term.

Do laundromats save time?
Yes. Industrial dryers can finish a large load in under 30 minutes, which is often faster than a standard home dryer.

What’s the most eco-friendly option?
Air-drying outdoors, especially in sunny Aussie weather, is both free and emissions-free.

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In the end, the answer depends on how often you use dryers and whether time or money is your biggest pressure point. For occasional drying, home use is cheaper. For speed and scale, the laundromat wins. And if you’re looking for tips or even a laundromat near me, there are local guides that can help weigh up your options.

For broader energy cost comparisons, you can also check the Australian Energy Regulator’s consumer data.