Tumble Dryer vs Heated Airer: Running Cost Comparison
Updated March 2026. Default rate effective 1 April 2026 (Ofgem Q2 2026).
We compare the cost of drying a typical 8kg load of washing using a tumble dryer versus a heated clothes airer.
| Period | Tumble Dryer | Heated Airer | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical basis | 91.9pTypical use | 44.1pTypical use | 47.8p |
| Per day | 39.4p | 18.9p | 20.5p |
| Per week | £2.76 | £1.32 | £1.43 |
| Per month | £11.99 | £5.75 | £6.23 |
| Per year | £143.72 | £68.98 | £74.73 |
| Annual use | 586.61 kWh | 281.57 kWh | 305.04 kWh |
Which is cheaper to run?
A heated airer costs approximately 44p per load — the same as a heat pump tumble dryer and 60% less than a vented tumble dryer (£1.10 per load). Over a year with 3 loads per week, you could save approximately £103 by switching from a vented tumble dryer to a heated airer.
The Heated Airer is roughly 52% cheaper on the default assumptions, saving about £74.73 per year.
Things to consider beyond running cost
Beyond running cost, consider: **Drying time** — tumble dryers take 60-90 minutes while heated airers take 6-8 hours. **Purchase price** — a heated airer costs £30-80 versus £200-800 for a tumble dryer. **Humidity** — drying clothes indoors adds moisture to the air.
Adjust and compare
Tumble Dryer
Typical annual electricity use: 586.61 kWh
Heated Airer
Typical annual electricity use: 281.57 kWh
Tumble Dryer calculator
See the full breakdown
Heated Airer calculator
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Common questions about electricity costs and our calculators.