Dryer Repair Cost: What Common Repairs Run

Most dryer repairs land between about $100 and $430, according to Angi, while Fixr puts the typical job closer to $100 to $200. Small parts like a thermal fuse or door switch sit at the low end. A drive motor or control board pushes the bill toward the top. Gas dryers usually cost a bit more to fix than electric ones.

The ranges below come from published consumer cost guides. Your actual price depends on your model, your area and what the technician finds, so treat these as a starting point for comparing quotes from local dryer repair companies.

The service call fee

Nearly every repair visit starts with a trip or diagnostic charge. Angi and Fixr both put this at roughly $50 to $80 per visit for a dryer, and Angi notes it's often waived if you hire the technician for the repair. Angi lists technician labor at roughly $50 to $100 per hour on top of parts.

Ask when you book whether the service fee is credited toward the repair. It's a fair question, and the answer helps you compare companies.

Dryer repair costs by part

The control board figure from Angi covers the part alone, so expect labor and the service call on top of it.

Cost by symptom

Most people don't know which part failed when they call. They know what the dryer is doing. Here's how common symptoms line up with the parts above.

Dryer runs but won't heat

Angi puts a no-heat repair at roughly $80 to $420. A blown thermal fuse sits at the low end, while a heating element, igniter or gas valve coils cost more. Before you pay for a visit, check the breaker, the cycle setting and the gas shutoff valve. Our guide to a dryer not heating walks through those checks.

Drum won't turn, or it squeals and thumps

A broken belt, worn rollers or bad bearings are the usual causes, and these jobs mostly fall between $100 and $250 on Fixr's numbers. A failed motor costs more. See our guides to a dryer not spinning and a squeaking or loud dryer.

Dryer won't start at all

A door switch, thermal fuse, timer or control board can all stop a dryer from starting. That makes this the widest price range, from a cheap switch to a pricey board. Our guide on what to check when a dryer won't start covers the free checks first.

Gas vs. electric dryer repair cost

Fixr puts electric dryer repairs at roughly $50 to $400 and gas dryer repairs at roughly $100 to $450. Angi says gas repairs typically run about $50 to $100 more than similar electric repairs. Part of the gap is the extra parts on a gas dryer, like the igniter, flame sensor and valve coils. The rest is that gas work calls for a technician who's comfortable with gas appliances, as Angi points out.

If you have a gas dryer, look for a company that lists gas dryer repair as a service. If you ever smell gas, leave the house and call your gas utility from outside before you worry about repair cost.

What pushes the price up or down

• The part. Fuses, switches and rollers are inexpensive. Motors and control boards are not.
• Labor time. Parts behind the drum take longer to reach, and labor is billed by time on top of the part.
• Brand and model. Part prices vary by brand and model, so the same repair can cost more on one dryer than another.
• Gas vs. electric. Gas repairs run higher, as covered above.
• Your area. Labor rates vary widely from city to city.
• The root cause. A thermal fuse that blew because the vent is clogged will blow again. Paying to clear the vent now saves a second visit.

What you can check before paying for a visit

Some "repairs" cost nothing. Unplug the dryer before looking behind it.

• Reset the dryer's breaker fully off and back on. GE notes a breaker can be partly tripped without looking it.
• Make sure a heated cycle is selected, not Air Only or Air Fluff.
• On a gas dryer, check that the shutoff valve handle runs parallel to the gas pipe, which Whirlpool and Maytag say means it's open.
• Clean the lint screen and check that the vent hose behind the dryer isn't crushed. Our clogged dryer vent guide explains why that matters for fire safety, too.

If those don't fix it, a part has likely failed, and opening the cabinet is technician work.

Repair or replace?

Angi suggests that if a repair would cost more than about half the price of a new dryer, replacing is usually the better choice. Fixr suggests replacement makes more sense once a dryer is around 10 years old, or past half its expected life. Angi also notes that a dryer that keeps breaking despite regular care is usually cheaper to replace.

For context, Fixr lists a new dryer at roughly $600 to $1,500. Angi says gas models typically cost about $50 to $100 more than comparable electric ones. A $150 belt job on a six-year-old dryer is an easy yes. A $450 motor on a 12-year-old one deserves a second look. Our guide on how long dryers last goes deeper on that decision.

Getting a fair quote

Ask for the diagnosis, the part and the labor as separate lines, and ask whether the service fee is credited. Getting two quotes for a large repair is reasonable. You can compare companies by brand, such as Samsung or Whirlpool, or start with your state.