How much does a heated clothes airer cost to run?
A 300W heated clothes airer costs 7.9p an hour, so a typical 8-hour drying session comes to 63.2p. Smaller winged airers cost about 5.79p an hour, and 1,000W drying pods 26.3p an hour but dry in less time.
| Per day | 63.2p |
|---|---|
| Per week | £1.90 |
| Per month | £8.21 |
| Per year | £98.54 |
Models we have worked out
- Lakeland Dry:Soon Deluxe from 7.9p an hour at full power
Cost by power rating
| Power | 1 hour | 4 hours | 8 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150W | 3.95p | 15.8p | 31.6p |
| 220W | 5.79p | 23.2p | 46.3p |
| 300W | 7.9p | 31.6p | 63.2p |
| 500W | 13.2p | 52.6p | £1.05 |
| 1,000W | 26.3p | £1.05 | £2.11 |
Find the power rating on the label underneath or on the back of the appliance, or in its manual. It is usually written in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW); 1kW is 1,000W.
Types of heated airer and what they use
- Winged and single-level airers are usually around 200W to 250W. They are the cheapest per hour but hold less.
- Three-tier airers such as the Lakeland Dry:Soon Deluxe are around 300W and hold about two wash loads, which Lakeland puts at 15kg.
- Drying pods and covered dryers blow warm air through an enclosed rack. At around 1,000W they cost more per hour but can dry a load in about three hours.
Most heated airers have no thermostat: the rails stay at a low, steady temperature, so the airer draws close to its rated power the whole time it is on. That makes the hourly figure a good guide to what you will actually pay.
Heated airer or tumble dryer?
A conventional tumble dryer is one of the most power-hungry appliances in the home. In a test reported by NimbleFins, a 7kg dryer used 4.18 kWh for one load, which costs £1.10 at today's price. A 300W airer uses 2.4 kWh over a full 8 hours, costing 63.2p, and holds about twice as much.
The trade-off is time. A tumble dryer finishes in about two hours; an airer can take most of a day. A heat pump tumble dryer narrows the gap, because it uses considerably less energy per load than a vented or condenser model.
Ways to dry faster and pay less
- Use the highest spin speed on your washing machine so less water goes onto the rack.
- Fit a cover over the airer. It traps warm air and can cut drying time a lot.
- Spread clothes in a single layer and hang thick items like jeans and towels on the top rails.
- Dry in a small room with the door closed, ideally with a dehumidifier running, so the moisture has somewhere to go.
- Use the timer and switch off as soon as the load is dry rather than leaving it running.
Common questions
How much does a heated airer cost to run for 8 hours?
Eight hours costs 63.2p for a 300W three-tier airer and 46.3p for a 220W winged airer, at 26.32p per kWh.
Is a heated airer cheaper than a tumble dryer?
Usually, yes. A 300W airer running for 8 hours uses 2.4 kWh (63.2p). A 7kg tumble dryer load tested by NimbleFins used 4.18 kWh, which costs £1.10 at today's price, and many people need two dryer loads for one airer load. The airer is much slower, though.
How long does a heated airer take to dry clothes?
Usually between 4 and 12 hours, depending on how thick the clothes are, how well they were spun and whether you use a cover. A cover and a well-spun load can roughly halve the time, which also halves the cost.
Is it cheaper to use a heated airer or a dehumidifier?
Per hour, a compressor dehumidifier is cheaper (4.13p against 7.9p for a 300W airer), but on its own it dries more slowly. Many people use both together in a small closed room, which dries clothes faster than either alone.
Can I leave a heated airer on overnight?
Many are designed for long runs and have a timer or auto-off. Check the manual, keep it away from bedding and curtains, and do not cover it unless the manufacturer supplies a cover for it.