Cheapest Way to Dry Clothes
If you can dry clothes outside, that is always the cheapest answer. Indoors, the real choice is usually between speed and electricity cost: tumble dryers are fast, while heated airers are slower but usually much cheaper to run.
Updated March 2026. Default rate effective 1 April 2026 (Ofgem Q2 2026).
Practical answer
For most homes, use outdoor drying when you can, use a heated airer when you need a low-cost indoor option, and save the tumble dryer for urgent loads, winter humidity problems, or bulky items that need quicker drying.
Typical cost comparison
| Appliance | Basis | Typical cost | Annual cost | Annual use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heated Airer | Typical use | 44.1p | £68.98 | 281.57 kWh |
| Tumble Dryer | Typical use | 91.9p | £143.72 | 586.61 kWh |
| Washing Machine | Typical use | 49.0p | £127.75 | 521.43 kWh |
These figures are estimates for typical loads. Actual drying time and cost vary with spin speed, room ventilation, humidity, fabric type, and the specific appliance model.
What usually drives the bill
The washing machine is rarely the expensive half of laundry. The higher bills usually come from what happens after the wash: the wetter the load, the more electricity you need to remove that water.
That is why a strong spin cycle matters. Pulling more water out mechanically is much cheaper than evaporating it later with heat.
When the tumble dryer is worth it
A tumble dryer still makes sense when speed matters, when you do several loads in a row, or when drying indoors would worsen condensation and mould. It is the convenience option, not the cheapest option.
If you already rely on a tumble dryer, the biggest savings usually come from drying fuller loads, cleaning filters, and avoiding over-drying rather than avoiding the machine completely.
How to keep indoor drying sensible
A heated airer works best in a room with some ventilation and space between garments. If clothes are packed tightly, the running time grows and the cost advantage shrinks.
In damp homes, the cheapest option on paper is not always the best household decision. Slower indoor drying can create extra moisture that costs more elsewhere if it leads to condensation problems.
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Cheapest Way to Dry Clothes FAQs
Common questions about electricity costs and our calculators.