Heated airer vs tumble dryer
Side by side, with running costs at the current price cap.
A heated airer uses about 250–300W, roughly 7–8p an hour at 26.3p/kWh, or about 20–30p for a load over a few hours. A vented or condenser tumble dryer typically uses 4–5kWh a load (about £1.05–£1.30); a heat-pump dryer about 1.5–2kWh (40–55p). Airers are far cheaper but slower, and they put moisture into the room, so pair one with a dehumidifier.
Heated airer vs Tumble dryer at a glance
| Heated airer | Tumble dryer | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per load | About 0.8–1.2kWh | About 1.5–5kWh (type-dependent) |
| Cost per load | About 20–30p | About 40p–£1.30 |
| Speed | Hours | 1–2 hours |
| Moisture in the room | Yes; ventilate or use a dehumidifier | No (vented/condenser) |
| Upfront cost | Low | High |
Choose heated airer if…
- Cost per load matters most
- You have space and time
- You'll pair it with a dehumidifier
Choose tumble dryer if…
- You need clothes dry quickly
- You have a big family's worth of washing
- You have no spare room to dry indoors
Our picks: heated airer
Lakeland Dry:Soon 3-tier heated airer
The best-known heated airer in the UK, with three tiers and a cover option. It dries a load for a fraction of a tumble dryer's cost.
£159.99£139.99–£159.99 since 7 Sep
Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-tier heated airer with timer
The Deluxe version adds a built-in timer so it switches itself off.
£199.99£169.99–£199.99 since 7 Sep
Duronic CA20 3-tier heated airer
A cheaper heated airer with three tiers, for smaller budgets.
£79.99£61.72–£79.99 since 7 SepThe dehumidifier that makes an airer work
MeacoDry ABC 12L dehumidifier
Meaco's quiet 12L compressor dehumidifier with a laundry mode, one of the most-recommended UK dehumidifiers.
£149.95Frequently asked questions
Is a heated airer cheaper than a tumble dryer?
Yes, typically a quarter to a fifth of the cost of a vented dryer per load, though it takes longer.
Does drying clothes indoors cause mould?
It adds a lot of moisture to the air. Use a dehumidifier with a laundry mode or ventilate the room to avoid condensation.
Related
How we choose: we don’t lab-test products. Picks are based on published specifications, wattage and running-cost maths, brand track record and UK availability. Running costs use the Ofgem price cap for October–December 2026 (26.3p/kWh, electricity VAT removed). Prices on the buttons update hourly from Amazon UK. About Winter Ready.