Gas dryers usually cost less per load. Electric dryers usually cost less to buy and install. Which one saves you money overall depends on your local energy prices and how many loads you run, so here is the arithmetic you can apply to your own bills.
Energy Used Per Load
A typical electric dryer uses about 3.3 kWh per load. A gas dryer uses about 0.22 therms of gas for heat plus roughly 0.3 kWh of electricity to turn the drum and run the controls. At an electricity price of $0.17 per kWh, an electric load costs about $0.56. At $1.20 per therm for gas, a gas load costs about $0.31. Plug your own tariffs into our Gas vs Electric Dryer Calculator rather than trusting national averages.
Annual Cost at Realistic Load Counts
A household running 5 loads a week does about 260 loads a year. Electric: about $146 per year. Gas: about $81 per year. Saving: roughly $65 a year. At 8 loads a week, electric running costs reach about $233 and gas about $129, saving roughly $104 a year. At 2 loads a week, the saving shrinks to about $26 a year.
Purchase Price and Installation
Gas dryers typically cost $100 to $200 more than a comparable electric model. If you already have a gas line and a vent in the laundry space, fitting a gas dryer may cost $150 to $300 for a qualified fitter. If there is no gas supply there, running a new line can cost $500 to $1,500, and that work must be done by a licensed gas installer in most areas. Do the payback sum: extra purchase plus installation cost divided by annual saving.
Lifespan and Maintenance
Both types last a similar 10 to 13 years with normal use. Clean the lint filter every load and the vent duct at least once a year on either type: a clogged vent is the single biggest cause of slow drying and wasted energy.
When Each Type Wins
Choose gas if you already have a gas line in place, run 5 or more loads a week, and your local gas price is well below your electricity price once converted. Choose electric if you would need a new gas line, run few loads, have rooftop solar, or want a ventless heat-pump model.
Check Your Local Rates Before You Decide
Take two numbers from your latest bills: the all-in price per kWh, including delivery charges, and the all-in price per therm. Run those two figures with your weekly load count, compare the annual totals against the installation quote, and the cheaper option for your house will be clear.