How much does a heat pump tumble dryer cost to run?
At the current price cap, a heat pump tumble dryer costs about 46.1p per load, or around £72.05 a year with typical use.
Tumble dryer (heat pump)
- An hour
- 18.4p
- A day used
- 46.1p
- A week
- £1.38
- A month
- £6.00
- Energy a year
- 274 kWh
700 W for 2.5 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.
Heat pump tumble dryer running costs
At 26.32p per kWh, with typical use of 2.5 hours a day, 3 days a week.
| Period | Energy | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Per load | 1.75 kWh | 46.1p |
| Per hour in use | 0.7 kWh | 18.4p |
| Per week | 5.25 kWh | £1.38 |
| Per month | 22.8 kWh | £6.00 |
| Per year | 274 kWh | £72.05 |
How the cost varies
Efficient to standard heat pump dryers, per full load.
| Energy use | Per load | Per year (typical use) |
|---|---|---|
| Lower | 26.3p | £41.17 |
| Typical | 46.1p | £72.05 |
| Higher | 52.6p | £82.34 |
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) (this page) | 18.4p | £72.05 |
| Washing machine (40°C) | 15.8p | £49.41 |
| Heated clothes airer | 7.9p | £49.41 |
| Iron | 63.2p | £16.47 |
Ways to spend less
- Heat pump dryers take longer than vented dryers but use far less energy.
- Clean both the lint filter and the condenser filter regularly to keep them efficient.
- Keep it in a room above about 10°C. Very cold garages make heat pump dryers slower.
How we calculate this
We take a typical heat pump tumble dryer at 700 watts (an average, as it switches on and off while running), used 2.5 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 load uses about 1.75 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 heat pump tumble dryer cost to run a year?
With typical use (2.5 hours a day, 3 days a week), about £72.05 a year at the current price cap, or £6.00 a month.
Are heat pump dryers cheaper to run?
Yes. They reuse heat instead of venting it, so a load typically uses about half the energy of a vented dryer.
Why does a heat pump dryer take longer?
It dries at a lower temperature. That is gentler on clothes and uses less energy, but the cycle runs longer.
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.
- Heated clothes airer 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.