TL;DR
- Dryers and heat presses typically account for 55–80% of shop electricity.
- Batching jobs by cure temperature is the cheapest measure available.
- Idle warm equipment is the single largest avoidable loss.
Energy is treated as a fixed overhead. In reality it varies with scheduling discipline, and a shop can cut 15–25% without touching a machine.
Measures ranked by cost-effectiveness
| Measure | Typical saving | Investment |
|---|---|---|
| Batch jobs by cure temperature | 6–12% | €0 |
| Shut down between jobs > 25 min | 5–10% | €0 |
| Correct belt loading density | 4–9% | €0 |
| Insulate dryer chamber / curtains | 5–8% | Low |
| Heat recovery from exhaust | 8–15% | Medium |
| Gas instead of electric curing | 30–55% of curing cost | High |
Cost = Power_kW × Duty × Hours_per_year × Price_per_kWh
Interactive example
Curing energy cost per garment and per year
- Cost per hour
- € 4,61
- Cost per garment
- € 0,011
- Cost per year
- € 7.373
Same calculation kernel as the full calculators. For a decision-grade result, open the matching calculator.
Run the numbers in a calculator
Turn your own numbers into a bank-ready PDF report.
Create a reportRelated reading
BenchmarkBeginner
Average electricity and gas prices for print shops
Industrial energy price bands and what they mean per printed garment.
6 min01/07/2026
GuideIntermediate
Choosing the right dryer or curing unit
Dryers set your throughput ceiling and a large share of your energy bill.
8 min28/05/2026
GuideIntermediate
Facility and layout optimisation
Material travel is invisible labour cost.
6 min30/05/2026
GuideBeginner
How to choose between screen printing, DTG and DTF
A decision framework built on run size, colour count, labour and setup — not on brand preference.
10 min14/07/2026