How long does a dryer last?
Updated August 2026
A dryer lasts 10–15 years, with about 13 being typical for both gas and electric models. Gas dryers usually edge a year or two past electric because the heat comes on faster and the machine finishes loads sooner. What actually decides whether yours reaches 15 or dies at 9 is airflow: a vent packed with lint forces the dryer to run longer and hotter every load, cooking the drum bearings, the heating element, and the electronics. The other clock is purely mechanical, the drum bearings and rollers that grind themselves flat after a decade of spinning.
Lifespan by type and situation
| Type or situation | Typical lifespan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Electric dryer | 10–14 years | The default; the heating element and drum bearings are the wear items |
| Gas dryer | 13–15 years | Faster heat and shorter cycles ease the wear, and the igniter is a cheap fix |
| Vent cleaned yearly | Top of the range | Free airflow keeps cycles short and the machine running cool |
| Vent never cleaned | Cut 2–4 years | Lint chokes airflow, overheats parts, and is a leading cause of house fires |
| Chronically overloaded | Cut 2–3 years | Packed drums spin off balance and pound the bearings and rollers |
| Long duct or closet install | Low end | A long or kinked vent run traps lint and heat no matter how careful you are |
Signs yours is near the end
- Clothes come out damp and need a second cycle, the classic sign of a clogged vent or a tired heating element
- A burning or hot-cloth smell, or a cabinet too hot to touch, meaning heat is not escaping
- A loud thumping, grinding, or squealing from worn drum bearings and rollers
- The drum stops tumbling while the motor still hums, a sign of a broken belt or seized bearing
- Cycles that once took 45 minutes now run 90 or more to dry the same load
How to add years
Airflow is the whole game. Clearing the lint screen before every load and having the full vent run cleaned once a year, more often for a long duct or a big household, keeps cycles short and parts cool, which is the single biggest thing standing between a 10-year dryer and a 15-year one. A professional vent cleaning runs $100–200 and earns it back in shorter cycles and a lower fire risk. Do not overload the drum, since packed loads spin unevenly and hammer the bearings. If a dryer past 10 years stops heating or needs a bearing job, weigh the repair against its remaining life first, and work through the full dryer maintenance checklist and the replacement guide.
What it costs to replace: plan on $500–1,200 (premium and stackable models $900–1,600). Replacing on your own schedule, before it fails, is almost always cheaper than the emergency version. The home maintenance cost calculator helps you set the money aside before it comes due.
OnOtto tracks your dryer vent cleanings age and service history, and warns you before end of life instead of after the flood.
Track your home's systems, free for 30 daysFrequently asked questions
Does cleaning the dryer vent really make a dryer last longer?
Yes, and it is the highest-return thing you can do. When the vent is packed with lint, hot moist air cannot escape, so the dryer runs longer and hotter to finish a load. That extra heat and runtime wear out the heating element, the thermostats, and the drum bearings years ahead of schedule, and trapped lint is a leading cause of house fires. Clear the lint screen every load and have the duct cleaned once a year, twice for a long run or a busy family. A $100–200 cleaning routinely adds several years of life.
Do gas or electric dryers last longer?
Gas dryers usually last a year or two longer, often 13–15 years against 10–14 for electric. Gas heats the drum faster, so cycles finish sooner and the machine spends less total time hot, which is easier on every component. Gas units cost a bit more up front and need a gas line and proper venting. The catch is that a gas dryer adds a burner, igniter, and gas valve that can fail, though those are usually cheap, sub-$250 repairs rather than reasons to replace the whole machine.
Is it worth repairing a 10-year-old dryer?
It depends on the part and the price. A dryer at 10 years still has real life left if the vent has been kept clear, so a cheap fix like a belt, roller, igniter, or thermal fuse ($150–350) is usually worth it. Once you are staring at a control board, a motor, or a full bearing job that runs $300–500 on a machine already near the end of its 10–15 year range, put that money toward a new one. As a rule, do not spend more than half the price of a replacement on a repair.
Why does my dryer take two cycles to dry clothes?
The most common reason is restricted airflow: a clogged lint screen, a lint-packed vent, or a crushed duct behind the machine. Damp air has nowhere to go, so clothes stay wet. Start by cleaning the screen and the full vent run. If cycles are still long, the problem is usually a weak heating element or a failing thermostat, especially on a dryer past 8 or 9 years. Overloading also traps moisture in the middle of the pile, so try smaller loads before you call anyone.