Under normal operating conditions, clothes dryers operate at an average temperature of 250 degrees Celsius, or 482 degrees Fahrenheit.

More Info: There is however a wide range of heating temperatures that have been measured, depending on the manufacturer make and model as well as how old the clothes dryer is. Another factor that influences the internal operating temperature of a clothes dryer is how well-maintained and serviced it has been over the years. Unlike an automobile engine, which tends to become hotter if ignored on the service end, the exact opposite happens in the case of a clothes dryer.

Industrial Dryers Are Hotter

Some dryers can actually reach temperatures of up to 400 degrees Celsius, or 752 degrees Fahrenheit. But these tend to be industrial grade machines or very high-end designer models. For most appliance owners, the 250 Celsius degree range - equivalent to roughly the same temperature as that of the oven for some baking purposes - is the norm.

Different Dryers Use Same Energy

Unlike many other appliances, the amount of energy used by a clothes dryer tends to vary very little when one model is compared to another. Because of this, dryers are currently not registered in the U.S. government database of ENERGY STAR machines and are not required to display a related certification sticker. On average, the clothes dryer is the second most expensive appliance in a household from an energy consumption point of view, requiring an annual supply of electricity or gas worth $85. Typically, over the course of a clothes dryer's lifetime, using and maintaining that 250 degree Celsius average operating temperature will amount to a total energy cost of more than $1,500.

Gas vs. Electric

Electric dryers use coils to create the heat, while gas dryers rely on a burner. Although gas dryers cost on average $50 more than their electric counterparts, they pay dividends at the energy consumption end. A typical load of laundry requires 30 to 40 cents of electricity, but only 15 to 20 cents of gas energy cost. A savings of 50%.