Heat pump vs condenser dryer — which is cheaper?
A heat pump dryer costs about 42p per load; a condenser costs about £1.14. At 3 loads a week, the heat pump saves roughly £114 a year.
Both machines dry the same load — the difference is how much electricity they use to do it. A condenser dryer heats air and pumps it out; a heat pump dryer reuses its heat, so it needs around a third of the energy.
Cost per load, side by side
| Dryer type | Time | Per load |
|---|---|---|
| Condenser dryer | about 2 hours | ~£1.14 |
| Heat pump dryer | about 3 hours | ~42p |
These are illustrative examples, not guaranteed times. Clothes, spin speed, load size and room conditions all affect drying. Check your dryer's energy label for its own cycle figures.
Is the heat pump worth the extra money?
Heat pump dryers typically cost around £200 more to buy. At 3 loads a week, the running-cost saving of about £114 a year covers that gap in roughly under two years — after that, the savings are yours for the life of the machine.
The more you dry in the machine, the faster it pays back. A household running five or six loads a week can cover the difference in about a year; dry most things on an airer and the payback stretches out.
Beyond the running cost
- Gentler on clothes. Heat pump dryers dry at lower temperatures, so fabrics last longer.
- Slower cycles. A heat pump load typically takes about an hour longer than a condenser.
- No steamy room. Both collect water in a tank or drain, but heat pump models release less heat into the room.
All prices calculated at 26p per kWh
See how drying compares with cooking, heating and boiling water — all priced the same way.