⚡ Quick picks
- Cheapest to run with washingMost rooms: low running cost
- Big family loadsBig family loads, lowest cost per kg
✅ Do these first: they’re free
- Give the load an extra fast spin before you hang it. Less water in, less water in the air.
- Dry in one room with the door shut: the bathroom with the extractor fan on is best.
- Open a window a crack (1–2cm is enough in winter) or keep trickle vents open.
- Leave space around the airer and don't put wet clothes straight on the radiator.
- Keep humidity at 40–60%. Mould spores multiply at 70–80%. A cheap hygrometer tells you where you are.
What each method costs (Oct–Dec 2026 price cap)
Electricity is capped at 26.32p per kWh (Direct Debit average, 1 Oct–31 Dec 2026), and gas at 7.97p per kWh. Cost = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Standing charges are paid whatever you do, so they're left out.
Swipe the table sideways →
| Method | Power | Cost per hour | Typical cost per load | Moisture in your home? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heated airer (3-tier, 300W) | 300W | 7.9p | 32p–55p for a small 2.15kg load (4–7 hours in Which? tests) | Yes, about 2 litres per load |
| Heated airer (winged, 230W) | 230W | 6.1p | 24p–42p if it takes 4–7 hours | Yes |
| Dehumidifier next to an ordinary airer (Meaco Arete One 10L) | 151W | 4p | 32p for 8 hours overnight (drying time varies with the room) | No: it collects the water in its tank |
| Dehumidifier (Meaco Arete One 20L) | 216W | 5.7p | 46p for 8 hours | No |
| Heat pump tumble dryer (Samsung 9kg, A+++) | 1.54kWh per full load | n/a | 41p for a full 9kg load, 23p for a half load | No |
| Condenser or vented tumble dryer | varies | n/a | About 79p–87p a big load (Which?: £123–£135 a year for 3 big loads a week) | Vented: no, if vented outside. Condenser: a little |
| Radiator (central heating on anyway) | no extra appliance | n/a | About 11p of gas in heat taken to dry 2 litres (our estimate, see below) | Yes, all of it, right next to a cold wall or window |
How we worked these out: heated airer and dehumidifier wattages are from the product listings and Meaco's spec pages. Which? found heated airers took four to seven hours to dry a small (2.15kg) cotton load. The heat pump figure is from Samsung's EU product fiche (1.54kWh full load, 0.89kWh half load). Radiator: drying 2 litres of water takes about 1.25kWh of heat (water's latent heat is about 2,260kJ per kg), which is about 1.4kWh of gas from a 90%-efficient boiler, so about 11p. That heat comes out of your room, and the water goes into the air.
The short answer: for small loads, a heated airer or a dehumidifier with an ordinary airer is the cheapest way to dry indoors. For big family loads, a heat pump tumble dryer costs the least per kilo and keeps the water out of your home. Drying on radiators looks free, but it adds about 2 litres of water to the air for every load, which is how condensation and mould start.
Compare our picks
Swipe the table sideways →
| Pick | Best for | Key spec | Main downside | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry:Soon 3-Tier Heated Clothes Airer (300W) | Most homes: big capacity, low wattage | 3 tiers · 300W · 15kg | Slow: heated airers took 4–7 hours for a small load in Which? tests | Check price on AmazonAd |
| BLACK+DECKER 3-Tier Heated Clothes Airer with Cover & Wheels (300W) | Faster drying with a cover | 3 tiers · 300W · cover | Bulky when open (140 x 73 x 68cm) | Check price on AmazonAd |
| Status 230W Heated Winged Clothes Airer | Budget pick for small households | Winged · 230W · 15kg | One level, so less space than a 3-tier | Check price on AmazonAd |
| Meaco Arete One 10L compressor dehumidifier / air purifier | Most rooms: low running cost | 10L/day · 151W | Compressor models slow down in cold rooms like garages | Buy from MeacoAd |
| Meaco Arete One 20L compressor dehumidifier / air purifier | Big damp homes and drying washing | 20L/day · 216W | Bigger and heavier | Buy from MeacoAd |
| Samsung Series 5+ DV90T5240AN 9kg heat pump tumble dryer | Big family loads, lowest cost per kg | 9kg · heat pump · A+++ | Costs a lot more upfront than an airer | Check price on AmazonAd |
We don't show prices because they change daily. Tap a button for today's price at Meaco or Amazon.
Watch nowWhy Are British Homes So Damp?
The video that goes with this guide, from the Mains & Drains channel.
▶ Watch on YouTubeHeated airers
Cheap to buy and about 6–8p an hour. Best for small loads that fit on in one go. The water still ends up in the room, so ventilate or pair it with a dehumidifier.
Dry:Soon 3-Tier Heated Clothes Airer (300W)
Lakeland's Dry:Soon is the best-known heated airer in the UK. Three tiers hold up to 15kg of wet washing and the 300W bars cost about 7.9p an hour at the Oct–Dec 2026 price cap.
- About 7.9p an hour (300W)
- Three tiers, up to 15kg
- Folds flat to about 8cm
- Slow: heated airers took 4–7 hours for a small load in Which? tests
- The moisture still goes into the room, so ventilate or run a dehumidifier
BLACK+DECKER 3-Tier Heated Clothes Airer with Cover & Wheels (300W)
A 300W three-tier airer that comes with a fitted cover, which keeps the warm air around the clothes. Wheels make it easy to move between rooms.
- Cover included
- Wheels
- About 7.9p an hour (300W)
- 2-year guarantee
- Bulky when open (140 x 73 x 68cm)
- Covered airers trap moisture: open the cover or ventilate when you take clothes off
Status 230W Heated Winged Clothes Airer
A simple winged airer with 20 heated rails. At 230W it costs about 6.1p an hour, and it's one of the cheapest heated airers to buy.
- About 6.1p an hour (230W)
- Cheap to buy
- Light and foldable
- One level, so less space than a 3-tier
- No cover or timer
Dehumidifiers
A compressor dehumidifier next to an ordinary airer dries washing and takes the water out of the air, for about 4p an hour. Set it to 50–60% and it switches itself off between cycles.
Meaco Arete One 10L compressor dehumidifier / air purifier
A 151W compressor model: about 4p an hour at the Oct–Dec 2026 price cap (26.32p/kWh). The humidistat switches it off once the room reaches your set level, so real costs are usually lower.
- About 4p an hour to run (151W)
- Built-in humidistat
- Doubles as an air purifier
- Compressor models slow down in cold rooms like garages
- Costs more upfront than budget brands
Meaco Arete One 20L compressor dehumidifier / air purifier
More extraction for whole floors, bad condensation or drying washing indoors. 216W: about 5.7p an hour at the current price cap.
- High extraction for big rooms
- About 5.7p an hour (216W)
- Laundry mode
- Bigger and heavier
- Overkill for a single small room
Heat pump tumble dryer
The cheapest per kilo for big loads, and no moisture in your home. It costs more to buy, so it makes most sense for families doing several loads a week.
Samsung Series 5+ DV90T5240AN 9kg heat pump tumble dryer
Heat pump dryers reuse warm air, so they use far less electricity than condenser or vented models. This A+++ 9kg Samsung uses 1.54kWh for a full cotton load (EU product fiche): about 41p at the current price cap.
- About 41p for a full 9kg load (1.54kWh)
- No moisture released into the room
- A+++ energy rating
- Costs a lot more upfront than an airer
- Slower than a condenser dryer: about 3 hours 40 minutes on a full cotton load
📄 Print it, stick it on the fridge
UK First Home Survival Guide (£7): written for UK homes, instant A4 download.
Questions people ask
Is a heated airer cheaper than a tumble dryer?
For small loads, yes, compared with condenser and vented dryers. For big loads you'd need to run the airer several times, so a heat pump dryer works out cheaper per kilo (Which? found the same).
Does drying washing indoors cause mould?
It can. One load releases about 2 litres of water, and a Glasgow School of Art study found drying washing could be up to a third of the moisture in the air in poorly ventilated rooms. Dry in one ventilated room, or run a dehumidifier.
What humidity should I set my dehumidifier to?
50–60% is a good target. Councils' damp guidance suggests keeping homes around 40–60% and notes mould spores multiply at 70–80%.
Should I dry clothes on the radiator?
Better not. The water goes straight into the room, often next to a cold window or wall, and it blocks heat from reaching the room.
Why you can trust this guide
We haven’t lab-tested these products, and we won’t pretend we have. Every pick is researched and recommended: we compare specs, UK safety standards, warranties, official guidance and patterns in owner reviews, and we write down the real downsides. No brand paid to be here. Read how we choose.
Official advice and sources: Ofgem: price cap 1 Oct–31 Dec 2026 · Which?: best heated clothes airers · Which?: tumble dryer running costs · Samsung DV90T5240AN product fiche · Meaco Arete One 10L · Glasgow School of Art laundry research · Westmorland and Furness Council: damp and mould · GOV.UK: damp and mould health risks
Related guides
Damp and condensation: what actually works
Wet windows and black mould? The free fixes first, then the right size of moisture absorber or dehumidifier for the room, with honest pros and cons.
Read the guide →
Energy-saving gadgets that are actually worth it
Find out what each appliance really costs, then fix the worst offenders. Smart plugs with energy monitoring, LED swaps and heating controls, researched for UK homes.
Read the guide →
Keep warm for less: winter kit for cold UK homes
Heat the person, not the house. Researched picks for electric blankets, heated throws, draught-proofing, radiator foil and storm-ready car kit.
Read the guide →