How many watts does a Electric Clothes Dryer use?

A Electric Clothes Dryer draws 5,400 watts continuously once it's running, but its motor needs a brief surge of up to 6,750 watts to start. A generator has to cover that starting surge, not just the running load, or the motor won't start. One of the heaviest household loads — usually needs a large generator or transfer-switch prioritization.

Running it 1 hour/day costs roughly $27.54/month at the U.S. average residential rate (~$0.17/kWh, early 2026, per the EIA) — real rates vary a lot by state and utility. Use your own rate in the House calculator →

Generators that can run this

• Honda EU7000iS
  5,500 W run · 7,000 W start · ~$4,999
• Champion 8500-Watt Electric Start Inverter (100719)
  7,000 W run · 8,500 W start · ~$2,129
• Champion 8500-Watt Electric Start Dual Fuel Inverter (201175)
  7,000 W run · 8,500 W start · ~$1,799

Prices as of July 2026 — check the current listing before buying.