How much energy does a clothesline save?

The energy saved is the dryer energy that would have been used for the loads you line dry, minus any touch-up drying or failed loads that still need the dryer. Enter your dryer kWh per load or gas use per load for the best estimate.

What dryer kWh per load should I use?

Use a plug-in meter, EnergyGuide label, manufacturer data, or your own measured estimate when possible. Electric dryers commonly vary by model, load size, moisture level, vent condition, and sensor settings, so the calculator keeps this editable.

Does line drying always have zero energy use?

Outdoor line drying itself uses no purchased drying energy. Indoor racks may indirectly affect heating, cooling, or dehumidifier use, which this simple calculator does not model unless you enter touch-up drying energy.

How does weather success work?

Weather success is the share of planned line-dried loads that avoid a full dryer cycle. If a load gets rained on or needs to be machine dried later, reduce the success percentage.

Can this compare gas dryers?

Yes. Choose gas dryer mode and enter gas therms per load plus any electricity used by the drum, controls, and fan. The calculator estimates both cost and CO2 from those inputs.

Is my laundry data uploaded?

No. The calculator runs locally in your browser and does not send your laundry schedule, utility rates, or costs to a server.

Clothesline vs Dryer Energy Savings Calculator

Estimate annual energy, bill savings, CO2 reduction, dryer cycles avoided, and simple payback when line drying laundry instead of running an electric or gas dryer. Everything runs locally in your browser.

Last updatedJune 30, 2026

Core methodAvoided dryer loads minus touch-up drying

SourcesENERGY STAR, EPA eGRID, and EIA rate references

PrivacyNo server upload or input tracking

Quick Answer

Line drying saves the most when you replace frequent electric dryer loads, your electricity rate is high, and you rarely need machine touch-up drying. Gas dryers usually cost less per load, but line drying can still save fuel and emissions.

Main formulaAnnual savings = avoided dryer energy cost - touch-up drying cost.

Best inputUse measured kWh per load, product data, or the EnergyGuide label when available.

LimitIndoor drying impacts on heating, cooling, and dehumidifiers are not modeled.

Inputs

Laundry plan

Total laundry loads per week Loads line dried per line-drying week Line-drying weeks per year

Weather / drying success (%) Dryer touch-up per line-dried load (kWh) Dryer minutes avoided per successful load

Success percent is the share of planned line-dried loads that avoid a full dryer cycle. Touch-up kWh covers short tumble, air fluff, or dehumidifier-like drying you want to count.

Dryer energy

Dryer type Electric dryer energy (kWh/full load) Gas dryer fuel (therms/full load)

Gas dryer electricity (kWh/full load) Clothesline / rack setup cost Analysis period (years)

For electric dryers, gas inputs are ignored. For gas dryers, both gas fuel and small electric use are included.

Rates and emissions

Currency Electricity price (per kWh) Grid CO2 (kg/kWh)

Gas price (per therm) Gas CO2 (kg/therm) kWh equivalent per therm

Use your bill for rates. The default electricity price is a U.S. average starter value, not your marginal tariff.

Results

Enter your laundry and dryer assumptions, then calculate.

How the Estimate Works

The calculator compares two cases for the loads you plan to line dry: drying them fully in a machine versus line drying them successfully, with optional touch-up drying. It does not judge whether line drying is practical for every fabric, climate, apartment rule, or pollen season.

Planned line-dried loads = line-dried loads per week x line-drying weeks per year Successful avoided dryer loads = planned line-dried loads x weather success % Electric dryer kWh saved = avoided loads x kWh per full dryer load - planned line-dried loads x touch-up kWh Gas dryer therms saved = avoided loads x therms per full dryer load Annual savings = electricity saved x electricity price + therms saved x gas price CO2 reduction = electricity saved x grid kg CO2/kWh + therms saved x gas kg CO2/therm

This is a household planning estimate. It excludes indoor humidity side effects, heating or cooling changes, fabric wear, fire-risk maintenance, and any local restrictions on outdoor lines.

Assumptions and Sources

Electricity price

The U.S. default uses the EIA Electric Power Monthly April 2026 residential average of 18.83 cents/kWh as a starter value. Replace it with your own bill for decisions.

Electricity emissions

EPA eGRID is the source family for U.S. grid emissions factors. Local utility or regional values are better than national defaults.

Dryer performance

ENERGY STAR product data and EnergyGuide labels are useful ways to estimate dryer efficiency. Real kWh per load changes with load size, washer spin speed, moisture sensor use, and vent condition.

References: EIA Electric Power Monthly electricity price table, EPA eGRID, and ENERGY STAR certified clothes dryers.

FAQs

What if I line dry only part of a load?

Convert it into equivalent full loads. For example, if you hang half of four loads each week, enter two line-dried loads per week.

Should I count indoor drying in winter?

Only count it directly if you know the added energy, such as dehumidifier use or a short dryer finish. Otherwise, run a second scenario with lower success or higher touch-up kWh.

Why can savings be negative?

If touch-up drying energy is larger than the dryer energy avoided, or if weather success is very low, the line-drying plan can use more purchased energy than the baseline.

Does a heat pump dryer change the result?

Yes. Heat pump dryers usually use less electricity per load than conventional electric dryers, so enter a lower kWh per load for that dryer.

How do I estimate dryer kWh per load?

Use a plug-in meter if your dryer circuit allows it, product documentation, an EnergyGuide estimate divided by annual loads, or a reasonable measured household average.