How much does a tumble dryer cost to run?
It depends almost entirely on the type. A conventional vented or condenser dryer that uses around 4.5 kWh for a full cotton load costs about £1.18 per load at the Ofgem cap rate of 26.32p/kWh. A heat-pump dryer using around 2 kWh costs about 53p. At three loads a week, that gap is worth roughly £103 a year.
Prices last checked: 26 September 2026 · Source: Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 · Great Britain average, standard variable tariff, paid by Direct Debit
Cost per load by dryer type
The kWh figures are examples within the range you'll see on energy labels for full cotton loads. Your own label is the number to use. Half loads and synthetics cycles use less.
| Dryer | Example kWh per full load | Cost per load | 3 loads a week, per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Older vented dryer | 5 kWh | £1.32 | £205 |
| Vented or condenser, recent | 4.5 kWh | £1.18 | £185 |
| Heat-pump dryer | 2 kWh | 53p | £82.12 |
| Efficient heat-pump dryer | 1.5 kWh | 39p | £61.59 |
Why heat-pump dryers cost so much less
Vented and condenser dryers heat air with an electric element, blow it through the clothes, and then either vent the warm, wet air outside or condense the water and lose the heat. A heat-pump dryer recycles that heat. It works like a fridge running backwards, pulling heat out of the exhaust air and putting it back into the drum. The trade-off is time: heat-pump cycles are usually longer, and the machines cost more to buy.
Whether the upgrade pays for itself depends on how often you dry. Use the upgrade payback calculator with your purchase price and the two kWh figures.
Cheaper ways to get clothes dry
- Spin faster first. Water removed by the washing machine's spin is far cheaper to get rid of than water removed by heat. Use the highest spin speed your fabrics allow.
- Don't over-dry. Sensor or auto-dry programmes stop when the clothes are dry. Timed programmes keep going regardless.
- Clean the lint filter every load and the condenser or heat-pump filter as the manual says. Blocked filters lengthen cycles.
- Dry full, but not stuffed, loads. Two half loads usually cost more than one full load.
- Consider the alternatives for items that don't need the dryer: a dehumidifier in a closed room or a heated airer are both cheaper per load, just slower.
Mistakes when estimating dryer costs
- Rated watts × cycle time. This usually overstates the cost of heat-pump dryers and can go either way for conventional ones.
- Comparing a label figure with a half load. The label is measured on a full load.
- Ignoring the washer's spin speed. A 1,000 rpm spin leaves noticeably wetter clothes than 1,400 rpm, and the dryer pays for it.
Limits of this estimate
Costs use the Ofgem cap average unit rate (Great Britain, Direct Debit, standard variable tariff). If you are on a time-of-use or EV tariff, running the dryer in the cheap period can cut the cost well below these figures. Enter that rate in the calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a tumble dryer for an hour?
Hours are a poor measure, because dryers cycle their heaters. As a rough ceiling, a 2.5kW element running flat out for an hour would use 2.5 kWh, about 66p. Use kWh per load for a real figure.
Is a heat-pump dryer worth it?
If you dry several loads a week, the running-cost saving is significant. If you use a dryer occasionally, the higher purchase price may take many years to recover.
Is it cheaper to use the tumble dryer at night?
Only on a time-of-use tariff such as Economy 7 or an EV tariff with a cheaper night rate. On a single-rate tariff the price is the same at any time.