How much does a tumble dryer cost to run?
A standard tumble dryer costs about 65p an hour — roughly £1.14 per load, or about £178 a year at 3 loads a week.
Tumble dryers are one of the most expensive appliances in the house because they heat air for a long time. The good news: there are cheaper ways to get the same load dry.
Cost per load, side by side
| Drying method | Time | Per load |
|---|---|---|
| Standard tumble dryer | about 2 hours | ~£1.14 |
| Heat pump dryer | about 3 hours | ~42p |
| Heated clothes airer | about 8 hours | ~62p |
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 a heat pump dryer worth it?
A heat pump dryer uses around a third of the energy of a standard dryer, so each load costs roughly 42p instead of £1.14. At 3 loads a week, that's a saving of about £114 a year.
They cost more to buy, so the question is how long the savings take to cover the difference. For a household drying most loads in the machine, that's typically a few years — after that, the savings are yours.
Cheaper ways to dry a load
- Spin faster. An extra spin in the washing machine removes water the dryer would otherwise have to heat away.
- Use a heated airer for everyday clothes. Slower, but gentle and cheap per load — especially with a cover.
- Don't overfill. A packed drum takes longer and costs more per load.
All prices calculated at 26p per kWh
See how drying compares with cooking, heating and boiling water — all priced the same way.
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