Safety data
Dryer fire statistics
Updated November 2026. Every figure below links to the official report it comes from.
U.S. fire departments respond to an estimated 13,820 home fires a year that start with a clothes dryer, and the leading cause is failure to clean the dryer and its vent.[1] Lint is the single most common thing that catches fire first.
13,820
home dryer fires per year (2014-2018 average)[1]
32%
of home dryer fires had failure to clean as a factor[1]
$233M
direct property damage per year[1]
January
peak month for residential dryer fires (about 11%)[3]
How many dryer fires happen each year
NFPA's most recent dryer-specific analysis covers 2014-2018. In those years, local fire departments responded to an average of 13,820 home structure fires per year in which a dryer was involved in ignition. These fires caused an average of 7 civilian deaths, 344 civilian injuries and $233 million in direct property damage each year.[1] NFPA counts one- and two-family homes, manufactured homes and apartments as “homes”, and its total includes 1,280 small confined fires.
NFPA's earlier report, covering 2010-2014, counted dryers and washing machines together: an average of 15,970 home structure fires per year, 13 civilian deaths, 444 civilian injuries and $238 million in direct property damage. Dryers were involved in 92% of those fires.[2] Because that edition includes washers, do not compare it directly with the 2014-2018 dryer-only number.
| Report | What it counts | Fires / year | Deaths / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFPA, 2014-2018[1] | Home structure fires, dryers only | 13,820 | 7 |
| NFPA, 2010-2014[2] | Home structure fires, dryers and washers | 15,970 | 13 |
| USFA, 2008-2010[3] | Clothes dryer fires in residential buildings | 2,900 | 5 |
The agencies use different definitions and estimation methods, so the totals differ. All three reports agree on the leading cause.
The leading cause: failure to clean
Failure to clean was a factor in 32% of home dryer fires in NFPA's 2014-2018 estimates. NFPA notes this appears to be mainly lint buildup.[1] The U.S. Fire Administration found the same pattern in its own data: failure to clean was the leading factor in home clothes dryer fires in 2018-2020 (31%)[4] and in residential dryer fires in 2008-2010 (34%).[3]
- Failure to clean32%
- Mechanical failure or malfunction27%
- Electrical failure or malfunction16%
- Heat source too close to combustibles6%
- Equipment unattended3%
- Equipment overloaded3%
The deadliest fires follow the same pattern. In NFPA's 2014-2018 estimates, all of the average 7 civilian deaths per year were in dryer fires where failure to clean was a contributing factor and where dust, fiber or lint was the first item to ignite.[1]
What catches fire first
Lint and clothing are the two items most often ignited first. The Consumer Product Safety Commission explains why: lint can block the flow of air, cause excessive heat buildup and result in a fire.[5]
- Dust, fiber or lint27%
- Clothing25%
- Appliance housing or casing12%
- Other soft goods or wearing apparel11%
- Electrical wire or cable insulation6%
- Linen (other than bedding)5%
When dryer fires happen
Residential dryer fires were more common in fall and winter and peaked in January, at about 11% of the year's total. The U.S. Fire Administration suggests heavier winter clothing and less outdoor line drying as reasons.[3]
By time of day, dryer fires occurred fairly steadily from 8 a.m. to midnight, with a slight peak between 1 and 2 p.m. (about 7%), and were lowest between 3 and 6 a.m.[3]
Where dryer fires start
- One- or two-family homes77%
- Multifamily buildings17%
- Hotels and motels3%
- Other residential (dorms, barracks, etc.)3%
About 83% of residential dryer fires started in the laundry area. 84% of all clothes dryer fires in buildings happened in residential buildings.[3] If you manage an apartment building or HOA, see dryer vent rules for apartments and HOAs.
How far dryer fires spread, and what they cost
In 2008-2010, 54% of residential dryer fires stayed confined to the dryer itself, another 32% stayed in the room of origin, and 14% spread beyond the room. Fires confined to the dryer averaged $1,790 in loss. Fires that spread beyond the room averaged $37,170 to $49,500 each, depending on how far they went.[3]
Smoke alarms were present in 62% of those fires and confirmed absent in 16%.[3]
Gas vs electric dryers
78% of dryers involved in home fires were electric and 22% were gas. NFPA notes this is generally consistent with use: in 2017, 79% of household dryers were electric and 21% gas, according to the American Housing Survey.[1] NFPA still recommends having gas dryers inspected by a qualified professional to make sure the gas line and connection are free of leaks.[6]
State-level dryer fire numbers
We looked for official state-by-state dryer fire counts and did not find a published state source we could verify, so we do not list any. State fire marshals collect incident data through the National Fire Incident Reporting System. If you need numbers for your state, ask your state fire marshal's office.
What the data means for your home
The pattern is consistent across every report: lint that is not cleaned out is the most common way a dryer fire starts. NFPA recommends cleaning the lint filter before or after every load and cleaning lint out of the vent pipe once a year, or more often if drying takes longer than normal.[6]
- Dryer vent warning signs: how to tell your vent is clogged.
- Printable dryer safety checklist: ten steps, free to print or embed.
- How often to clean a dryer vent
- Dryer vent cleaning cost
Using these numbers?
Journalists, fire departments and property managers are welcome to use this page. Please cite the original report for each figure, and link here if the summary helped:
<a href="https://dryersafefinder.com/guides/dryer-fire-statistics">Dryer fire statistics (DryerSafe Finder)</a>
Frequently asked questions
How many dryer fires happen each year in the U.S.?
NFPA estimates that U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 13,820 home structure fires per year in which a dryer was involved in ignition, based on 2014-2018 data. Those fires caused an average of 7 civilian deaths, 344 civilian injuries and $233 million in direct property damage per year.
What is the leading cause of dryer fires?
Failure to clean. It was the leading factor contributing to ignition in NFPA's 2014-2018 estimates (32% of home dryer fires) and in U.S. Fire Administration data for 2018-2020 (31%) and 2008-2010 (34%). Dust, fiber or lint was the item first ignited in 27% of home dryer fires in NFPA's estimates.
What time of year do most dryer fires happen?
In U.S. Fire Administration data for 2008-2010, residential dryer fires were more common in fall and winter and peaked in January, at about 11% of the year's dryer fires.
Are gas or electric dryers more likely to catch fire?
Neither stands out. In NFPA's 2014-2018 estimates, 78% of dryers involved in home fires were electric and 22% were gas, which NFPA notes is close to how common each type is in U.S. homes (79% electric and 21% gas in 2017, per the American Housing Survey).
Why do NFPA and the U.S. Fire Administration report different totals?
They use different definitions, data years and estimation methods. NFPA's 13,820 figure covers home structure fires of all sizes, including small confined fires, from 2014-2018. The U.S. Fire Administration's 2,900 figure covers clothes dryer fires in residential buildings from 2008-2010 using its own NFIRS method. The totals are not directly comparable, but both name failure to clean as the leading factor.
Need a dryer vent cleaned?
Pick your city, compare local pros, and send one free quote request. Interested pros contact you directly.
Run a dryer vent business?
Listings are free. Featured pros appear first in their city and get homeowner quote requests first. First month free, then $19/month.
Sources
- NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), “Home Dryer Fires, Marty Ahrens,” published June 2020, 2014-2018 annual averages.
- NFPA Research, “Home fires involving clothes dryers and washing machines,” 2010-2014 annual averages.
- U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), “Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010), Topical Fire Report Series Vol. 13, Issue 7,” published August 2012, NFIRS data 2008-2010.
- U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), “Appliance and electrical fire safety outreach materials,” cites NFIRS data 2018-2020, accessed 2026.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, “Overheated Clothes Dryers Can Cause Fires, Publication 5022,” revised February 2012.
- NFPA, “Clothes Dryer Safety tip sheet,” 2018 edition.