A dryer repair in Greater Boston costs $180 to $400 including parts and labor. That band covers almost every job we complete, and the median sits near $240, which makes dryers the least expensive major appliance in the house to service. Thermal fuses and door switches are at the bottom at $180 to $280. Heating elements run $220 to $380, drum roller sets and belts $200 to $360, idler pulleys $200 to $340, and gas valve coils $240 to $420. Control boards are the top of the normal range at $320 to $600. The one outlier is a heat pump dryer sealed system at $700 to $1,300, which is in a different category entirely.
Separately, professional vent cleaning runs $150 to $250 and is frequently the actual fix when the complaint is long dry times or a repeatedly blown thermal fuse.
Dryer Repair Cost by Component
| Repair | Installed cost (Greater Boston) | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal fuse | $180 – $280 | All dryers |
| Door switch | $180 – $290 | All dryers |
| Start switch or push-to-start | $180 – $300 | All dryers |
| Cycling thermostat | $190 – $320 | All dryers |
| High-limit thermostat | $190 – $330 | All dryers |
| Drive belt | $200 – $360 | All belt-driven dryers |
| Idler pulley | $200 – $340 | All belt-driven dryers |
| Drum support rollers (set) | $220 – $380 | All dryers |
| Moisture sensor | $200 – $360 | Auto-dry models |
| Heating element | $220 – $380 | Electric dryers |
| Igniter | $220 – $360 | Gas dryers |
| Gas valve coils | $240 – $420 | Gas dryers |
| Blower wheel and housing | $250 – $450 | All dryers |
| Drive motor | $300 – $520 | All dryers |
| Drum seal or baffle set | $220 – $420 | All dryers |
| Electronic control board | $320 – $600 | Electronic models |
| Drum and rear bearing assembly | $350 – $650 | All dryers |
| Heat pump sealed system | $700 – $1,300 | Heat pump dryers only |
| Professional vent cleaning | $150 – $250 | Often the real fix |
Full itemized ranges across every appliance category are on our Boston repair pricing guide.
Gas, Electric and Heat Pump Compared
- Electric vented: $180 to $400. The cheapest to service. Elements and fuses are inexpensive and accessible, and no gas licence is involved.
- Gas vented: $180 to $450. Igniters sit at the low end, but gas valve and supply work requires a licensed gas fitter in Massachusetts, which carries a higher labor rate for good reason. See licensed gas dryer repair.
- Condenser ventless: $220 to $500. No duct, but a condenser and a condensate pump to maintain.
- Heat pump ventless: $220 to $1,300. Routine parts cost the same as any dryer, but the sealed refrigeration circuit changes the ceiling entirely and requires EPA Section 608 certification to open.
- Commercial and coin-op: $280 to $700. Heavier components, often after-hours work. Handled through coin-op and multi-family laundry repair.
What Pushes a Dryer Quote Higher
- The dryer is stacked. Unstacking a pair to reach the dryer back panel is real labor, and it is the single most common Boston cost adder.
- Closet or alcove installation with no room to pull the machine forward.
- Gas work. Licensed gas fitting is a higher rate.
- The part is a board. Control boards are mostly part cost and often OEM-only.
- It is a heat pump or European ventless platform. Parts carry a premium and some need proprietary diagnostics. See Bosch and Miele service.
- The drum has to come out. Rear bearings and some seal work mean a full teardown.
Where the Money Is Best Spent
If you are choosing what to spend on, the order is clear. Vent cleaning first, at $150 to $250, because it is often the actual fix and it protects every component in the hot air path. Then whatever the diagnosis names. A dryer is cheap enough to repair that we almost never recommend replacement, and the thresholds are on are dryers worth fixing.
We charge a flat $95 diagnostic fee across Greater Boston, credited in full toward the repair when you approve the work, with a flat-rate quote before anything is opened up. Book through washer and dryer repair.