Clothes Dryers Key Product Criteria

The ENERGY STAR criteria for clothes dryers were established on May 19, 2014. The ENERGY STAR criteria will require that products meet the following efficiency and cycle time requirements:

Efficiency Requirements
Product type Combined Energy Factor (lbs/kWh)
Vented Gas 3.48
Ventless or Vented Electric, Standard (4.4 cu-ft or greater capacity) 3.93
Ventless or Vented Electric, Compact (120V) (less than 4.4 cu-ft capacity) 3.80
Vented Electric, Compact (240V) (less than 4.4 cu-ft capacity) 3.45
Ventless Electric, Compact (240V) (less than 4.4 cu-ft capacity) 2.68

Cycle Time Requirement
Maximum Test Cycle Time 80 minutes

ENERGY STAR Certified Clothes Dryer Eligibility

Only gas, electric, and compact clothes dryers meeting the ENERGY STAR definitions for an electric or gas clothes dryers are eligible to earn ENERGY STAR certification. For information on combination all-in-one washer-dryers, please see Clothes Washers Key Product Criteria page.

Energy Performance Metrics

Combined Energy Factor (CEF) is the quotient of the test load size, 8.45 lbs for standard dryers and 3 lbs for compact dryers, C, divided by the sum of the machine electric energy use during standby and operational cycles.  The equation is shown here:

CEF =     C (lbs)    
Eon + Estandby

The units are pounds per kWh. The higher the value, the more efficient the clothes dryer is.