How much does it cost to run a tumble dryer?

Tumble dryers really help to speed up the boring laundry routine. But they can use a lot of energy and bloat up your bill if you use them a lot. And with the price of electricity on the rise, it’s more important than ever to understand how much it costs to run a tumble dryer. 

The good news is that some tumble dryers are pretty energy efficient. That's why we've crunched the numbers and compared a few different types. We’ve also put together some handy tips and tricks to help you save energy and money — no matter what dryer you have. 

Types of tumble dryers

Before we look at the tumble dryer running costs, here are the three main types of tumble dryer you'll find and what sets them apart: 

Vented tumble dryers
Vented tumble dryers spin and heat up your clothes, then pump the damp air out of a hose. This means that vented dryers need to be placed near a window or opening so you can hang the hose out. 

Condenser tumble dryers
Condenser tumble dryers work by lifting the moisture from your clothes and collecting it in a container that you can just empty when it gets full. With a hose-less design, you can put a condenser dryer almost anywhere in your house. 

Heat pump tumble dryers
Heat pump tumble dryers collect moisture like condenser dryers, but they recycle hot air (that usually gets lost) and use it to keep drying your clothes. They’re a bit gentler on your laundry too, as they don't get as hot as other tumble dryers. 

The cost of running a tumble dryer

So, how much electricity does a tumble dryer use and how much does it cost? According to Ideal Home, these are the costs of all three types of tumble dryer per load and per year (based on an average electricity cost of 29p per kWh): 

• Vented tumble dryer: £.154 per cycle and £184.44 per year
• Condenser tumble dryer: £1.51 per cycle and £178.93 per year
• Heat pump tumble dryer: 63p per cycle and £75.11 per year

And here's a more detailed look at the calculations: 

• A 9kg vented tumble dryer uses 5.34 kWh for a full load cycle. If you use your dryer around twice a week, it’ll use around 636 kWh over a year. This means that this vented tumble dryer costs £1.54 per cycle and £184.44 per year on average. 
• A 9kg condenser tumble dryer uses 5.2 kWh for a full load and approximately 617 kWh annually. This means a cost of £1.51 per cycle and £178.93 annually — a little less than a vented machine. 
• A 9kg heat pump tumble dryer uses 2.16 kWh for a full load and 259 kWh per year. So, you’ll be spending just 63p per cycle and £75.11 per year. 

Is a heat pump dryer worth the investment? 

As you can see from the numbers above, heat pump tumble dryers are clearly the most energy efficient of the lot. They might cost the most up front, but they’ll save you money in the long run when it comes to your energy bills. 

They’re also a bit gentler on your clothes too as they produce less heat. So, they’re a great option for delicate fabrics. And as they run at a lower temperature, this can make a big difference if you're using your dryer in a small apartment — especially in the summer! 

How to reduce your tumble dryer's running costs

Here are some top tips that’ll help you save some money, even if you have a less efficient tumble dryer: 

• Use a high-speed spin cycle on your washing machine first: This will remove excess water from your clothes, so your dryer won’t have to run for as long to get them dry. 
• Clean the lint filter after every use: When the filter’s clogged it reduces air flow, which makes your tumble dryer work harder and use more energy. 
• Try drying similar fabrics together: Fabrics that dry at the same rate will reduce the overall drying time. Smart! 
• Use wool tumble dryer balls: These help to keep your clothes separated in the dryer so hot air can circulate around them, making the drying time even quicker. 
• Dry a full load: It can be more energy efficient to dry loads of clothes all at once rather a few items here and there. 

FAQs

Are tumble dryers expensive to run? 

Tumble dryers cost a bit more to run that other household appliances like washing machines and fridges. But an energy efficient heat pump dryer will cost less to run than vented or condenser tumble dryers, with most offering an A++ energy rating. 

How much does it cost to run a tumble dryer for an hour? 

According to Heatable, a 2500W tumble dryer costs about 85p to use for an hour. However, the tumble dryer cost per hour depends on the energy efficiency rating of your tumble dryer and the cost of energy at the time. 

Which is cheaper, a tumble dryer or a heated airer? 

Heated airers are cheaper to buy and use than tumble dryers. But they don’t dry clothes as quickly, especially if you’re trying to dry thick materials or large loads of laundry.