How much does a heated clothes airer cost to run?
At the current price cap, a heated clothes airer costs about 31.6p per 4 hours, or around £49.41 a year with typical use.
Heated clothes airer
- An hour
- 7.9p
- A day used
- 31.6p
- A week
- 94.8p
- A month
- £4.12
- Energy a year
- 188 kWh
300 W for 4 hours a day, 3 days a week, at 26.32p per kWh.
Excludes the daily standing charge, which you pay whatever you use.
How it compares
Yearly cost with typical use, at your unit rate.
Heated clothes airer running costs
At 26.32p per kWh, with typical use of 4 hours a day, 3 days a week.
| Period | Energy | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Per 4 hours | 1.2 kWh | 31.6p |
| Per week | 3.6 kWh | 94.8p |
| Per month | 15.6 kWh | £4.12 |
| Per year | 188 kWh | £49.41 |
How the cost varies
200 W to 350 W airers, for 4 hours.
| Energy use | Per 4 hours | Per year (typical use) |
|---|---|---|
| Lower | 21.1p | £32.94 |
| Typical | 31.6p | £49.41 |
| Higher | 36.8p | £57.64 |
Laundry appliances compared
Yearly cost with typical use, at 26.32p per kWh.
| Appliance | Per hour | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Tumble dryer (vented) | 63.2p | £148.22 |
| Dehumidifier (compressor) | 5.3p | £115.28 |
| Tumble dryer (heat pump) | 18.4p | £72.05 |
| Washing machine (40°C) | 15.8p | £49.41 |
| Heated clothes airer (this page) | 7.9p | £49.41 |
| Iron | 63.2p | £16.47 |
Ways to spend less
- Use a cover if your airer has one. It traps the heat and dries clothes faster.
- Spin clothes well first, and space them out so air can circulate.
- Put it in a ventilated room or run a dehumidifier nearby to stop damp.
How we calculate this
We take a typical heated clothes airer at 300 watts, used 4 hours a day, 3 days a week, and multiply the energy it uses by the Ofgem price cap unit rate of 26.32p per kWh.
One 4 hours uses about 1.2 kWh. Use the calculator above with your own appliance’s power and how you use it for a closer figure.
Questions people ask
How much does a heated clothes airer cost to run a year?
With typical use (4 hours a day, 3 days a week), about £49.41 a year at the current price cap, or £4.12 a month.
Is a heated airer cheaper than a tumble dryer?
Usually. Four hours on a heated airer uses about 1.2 kWh, against about 3.6 kWh for a load in a vented dryer, though it takes longer.
How long do clothes take on a heated airer?
Often 3 to 6 hours, depending on the fabric, how wet the clothes are and how warm the room is.
Does this include the standing charge?
No. The standing charge (54.83p a day under the current cap, about £200.13 a year) is a fixed daily cost for being connected. It does not change with how much you use any appliance.
Related calculators
- Washing machine running costCosts per use and per year.
- Vented tumble dryer running costCosts per use and per year.
- Heat pump tumble dryer running costCosts per use and per year.
- Dehumidifier running costCosts per use and per year.
- Appliance running cost calculatorCompare any appliance, at your own rate.
- Energy bill calculatorYour whole yearly bill at the price cap.