How much does a vented tumble dryer cost to run?
At the current price cap, a vented tumble dryer costs about 94.8p per load, or around £148.22 a year with typical use.
Tumble dryer (vented)
- An hour
- 63.2p
- A day used
- 94.8p
- A week
- £2.84
- A month
- £12.35
- Energy a year
- 563 kWh
2,400 W for 1.5 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.
Vented tumble dryer running costs
At 26.32p per kWh, with typical use of 1.5 hours a day, 3 days a week.
| Period | Energy | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Per load | 3.6 kWh | 94.8p |
| Per hour in use | 2.4 kWh | 63.2p |
| Per week | 10.8 kWh | £2.84 |
| Per month | 46.9 kWh | £12.35 |
| Per year | 563 kWh | £148.22 |
How the cost varies
Small loads on low heat to full loads on high, per load.
| Energy use | Per load | Per year (typical use) |
|---|---|---|
| Lower | 79p | £123.52 |
| Typical | 94.8p | £148.22 |
| Higher | £1.32 | £205.86 |
Laundry appliances compared
Yearly cost with typical use, at 26.32p per kWh.
| Appliance | Per hour | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Tumble dryer (vented) (this page) | 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 | 7.9p | £49.41 |
| Iron | 63.2p | £16.47 |
Ways to spend less
- Spin clothes as fast as they allow in the washing machine first. Drier clothes need less drying time.
- Clean the lint filter every time. A blocked filter makes drying slower and costs more.
- Dry similar fabrics together, and use a timer or sensor setting so it stops when they’re dry.
How we calculate this
We take a typical vented tumble dryer at 2,400 watts (an average, as it switches on and off while running), used 1.5 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 3.6 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 vented tumble dryer cost to run a year?
With typical use (1.5 hours a day, 3 days a week), about £148.22 a year at the current price cap, or £12.35 a month.
How much does a tumble dryer cost per load?
A vented dryer typically uses around 3 to 5 kWh a load, making it one of the most expensive appliances to run in the home.
Is a heat pump dryer cheaper?
Yes, much cheaper per load, often using under half the energy. They cost more to buy but save money if you dry a lot.
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.
- Heat pump 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.