Heated airer vs tumble dryer – which is cheaper?

Is a heated airer or a tumble dryer more cost-effective when drying clothes indoors? We crunch the numbers

Laundry Room Interior With Washing Machine, Dryer, White Cabinets, Drying Rack And Blurred Plants
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Air drying clothes becomes increasingly difficult as temperatures drop, leaving many turning to technology such as tumble dryers and heated airers to finish their laundry.

With energy prices set to rise by 1.2% in January, many households will be looking for ways to save on utility bills. Knowing how to use appliances in the most energy-efficient way can make a massive difference, so we’ve compared radiators vs electric heaters, fan heaters vs oil heaters, and wood-burning stoves vs central heating.

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Type of tumble dryerCost to run (full load)Cost per week (three uses)Cost per month
Heat pump (2.16 kWh)£0.55£1.65£6.6
Condenser (5.2 kWh)£1.27£3.81£15.24
Vented (5.34 kWh)£1.3£3.9£15.6
Oojal Dhanjal
Editorial Content Producer

Oojal has a background in consumer journalism and is interested in helping people make the most of their money.Oojal has an MA in international journalism from Cardiff University, and before joining MoneyWeek, she worked for Look After My Bills, a personal finance website, where she covered guides on household bills and money-saving deals.Her bylines can be found on Newsquest, Voice Wales, DIVA and Sony Music, and she has explored subjects ranging from politics and LGBTQIA+ issues to food and entertainment.Outside of work, Oojal enjoys travelling, going to the movies and learning Spanish with a little green owl.