How much does it cost to run a tumble dryer?

The answer starts from the official energy figure on the energy label. This page uses the median of every tumble dryer registered for sale in the UK in our dataset, then scales it to your usage and your electricity price. Change the assumptions to match your home.

Short answer. The median tumble dryer registered for sale in the UK has 236 kWh a year on its label. At 3 loads a week and 26.32p/kWh, that is about £61 a year. Half of the models on the market fall between £50 and £73 at the same usage.

Where to find the numbers

kWh per 100 cycles is on the energy label and the product information sheet. Your electricity price is the unit rate on your bill (p/kWh).

What the figure is based on

The label figure is kWh per 100 cycles on the cotton programme at a weighted mix of full and partial loads. Heat pump dryers use roughly half the energy of condenser and vented dryers per load.

What changes the cost

• Dryer type: heat pump dryers use about half the energy per load of vented and condenser dryers, but take longer.
• How wet the load goes in: a faster washer spin removes water for a fraction of the energy a dryer needs to evaporate it.
• Load size and sensor drying: over-drying on timed programmes wastes energy; auto-sensing stops when the load is dry.
• Lint filter and airflow: a blocked filter or condenser lengthens every cycle.
• Loads a week is the lever: the label basis is one load a week in Australia and New Zealand.

Compare tumble dryers by energy use and running cost to see every model behind this figure.

For a specific model or any other appliance, use the electricity cost calculator.