How Much Does a Heated Airer Cost Per Hour?
Multiply the airer's power in kilowatts by your electricity unit rate.
Find the wattage on the appliance label or manual. Divide watts by 1,000 to convert to kilowatts, then multiply by your electricity price in pence per kWh. For example, the calculation for a 300W airer is 0.3 × your tariff for each hour it is drawing that power.
Ofgem publishes average price-cap unit rates for default tariffs, but the rate you actually pay depends on your region, payment method, meter and tariff. The October to December 2026 average Direct Debit electricity unit rate is 26.32p/kWh; use your own bill instead when it differs [S3].
The DryHomeLab calculator keeps the tariff editable, so the page does not depend on one national figure staying current.
- Step 1: read the airer's wattage
- Step 2: divide watts by 1,000
- Step 3: multiply by your p/kWh tariff
- Step 4: multiply the hourly result by the real drying-session duration
Why Cost Per Load Matters More Than Cost Per Hour
A low hourly figure can be misleading if the load takes a long time or needs multiple sessions.
Search results often lead with pence per hour because it is easy to understand. For a household decision, the stronger comparison is the electricity used to finish the same laundry job.
Which? reports that heated airers can be economical for loads that fit in one go, while larger loads can change the result if the airer has to be run more than once. Their testing also found drying time varies, so an hourly figure by itself does not tell you the finished-load cost [S1].
For your own test, start with a similar wash load and spin setting, record the airer runtime until the clothes reach the same dryness, and multiply that runtime by the hourly cost. Repeat rather than relying on one unusually warm, cold or humid day.
- Compare the same load size and end dryness
- Count every session needed to finish the load
- Keep the washing-machine spin setting similar between tests
- Record runtime rather than assuming a universal drying time
Heated Airer vs Tumble Dryer: Compare the Job, Not the Wattage
Use completed-load kWh or completed-load cost for both methods.
A tumble dryer can draw more power while running but may finish the job much sooner. A heated airer uses lower power but can run for several hours. That is why comparing rated watts or cost per hour across the two methods can produce the wrong conclusion.
If your tumble dryer provides energy-label or measured kWh-per-cycle data, compare that with the heated airer's measured or calculated kWh for the complete load. Which?'s 2026 comparison similarly concludes that the cheapest indoor method depends on the amount of laundry and the equipment being compared [S1].
Purchase price, convenience, fabric care and room moisture are separate decisions from electricity cost and should not be hidden inside the running-cost calculation.
- Heated airer: watts × total hours for the completed load
- Tumble dryer: prefer kWh per completed cycle when available
- Compare equal laundry jobs rather than equal clock time
- Keep purchase price separate from electricity running cost
Does a Cover Make a Heated Airer Cheaper?
A cover can only reduce electricity cost if it reduces the time or energy needed to finish your load; measure the result on your own setup.
Do not assume a universal percentage saving. Airer design, load spacing, room temperature, humidity and the cover itself can all change the outcome.
Run a simple A/B test with comparable loads: one session using the manufacturer's normal setup and one using the compatible cover, keeping the spin setting and target dryness similar. Compare completed-session runtime or measured kWh.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the airer and cover. Do not improvise with materials that could obstruct the appliance or create a safety issue.
The Moisture Cost That the Electricity Figure Misses
Drying clothes indoors releases moisture into the home, so the cheapest electricity method is not automatically the best choice for every room.
Which? notes that moisture from indoor laundry has to go somewhere and highlights ventilation when using heated airers indoors [S1]. UK government guidance also treats normal activities including laundry as moisture sources while stressing that persistent damp and mould can have multiple underlying causes [S2].
If windows, cold walls or corners repeatedly become wet while laundry is drying, treat that pattern as a reason to manage moisture and investigate the conditions rather than simply extending the drying session.
A dehumidifier can be evaluated separately using completed-session kWh. It should not be presented as a substitute for fixing leaks, inadequate ventilation or other building-related causes of persistent damp.
A Repeatable Home Cost Test
Use one normal load to turn the calculator into a household-specific figure.
Record the load type, washing-machine spin setting, airer wattage, electricity tariff and start time. Stop the session when the load reaches the dryness you normally accept, then record the total runtime.
Calculate session kWh as watts ÷ 1,000 × runtime hours. Multiply session kWh by your tariff to get the completed-load electricity cost. If the load needs a second session because it does not fit, include that energy too.
Repeat the test on a few ordinary loads. That gives you a more useful household baseline than a generic national pence-per-load claim.
- Record wattage and tariff
- Keep spin setting and load reasonably comparable
- Measure total time to your normal end dryness
- Include every session required
- Compare completed-load kWh with alternative drying methods
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heated airer cost to run per hour?
Use watts ÷ 1,000 × your electricity rate. For example, a 300W airer uses 0.3 kWh for each hour it draws its rated power, so multiply 0.3 by your p/kWh tariff. Your actual tariff is more useful than a generic national figure.
How much does a heated airer cost per load?
There is no single per-load figure. Multiply the hourly cost by the actual time required to finish your load and include any second session needed because the load does not fit in one go.
Is a heated airer cheaper than a tumble dryer?
It depends on the load, runtime and appliances. Compare the heated airer's completed-load kWh with the tumble dryer's kWh per completed cycle rather than comparing cost per hour. Which? testing shows load size can change which option is cheaper [S1].
Does a heated airer cover cut running costs?
It can if it reduces the time or energy needed to finish the load, but there is no universal percentage saving. Use a compatible cover as instructed by the manufacturer and compare completed-session runtime or kWh on similar loads.
Bottom line
For a useful heated-airer cost estimate, calculate both pence per hour and cost per completed load. The second figure is the one to use when comparing drying methods because capacity and runtime can change the result. Use your own wattage, tariff and measured session time rather than treating a generic national estimate as a guarantee.
Sources
Sources are shown so readers can check time-sensitive or factual claims directly.