Do Heated Airers Actually Save Money? (UK 2026)

Running costs updated 1 October 2026. Every electricity figure on this page is costed at the Ofgem price cap average electricity unit rate of 26.32p per kWh, which applies from 1 October to 31 December 2026. Your own tariff may be higher or lower, so check your latest bill before relying on these numbers.

Quick answer: a heated airer saves money if it replaces tumble dryer cycles. At 26.32p per kWh, a 300W airer costs about 32p–47p a load against 66p–92p for a condenser dryer. It does not save money if you would otherwise dry on a washing line, and against a heat pump dryer the saving is small. A cheap airer like the Duronic CA20 can pay for itself in around 120 loads.

Heated airers sell out every autumn, and the pitch is always the same: dry your washing for pennies. Pennies is a stretch, but the core claim holds up, with one big condition. Whether an airer saves you money depends entirely on what it replaces. Here is the honest maths.

What a heated airer costs to run

At the Ofgem average unit rate of 26.32p per kWh:

Airer	Per hour	Per load	Typical time
202W compact (e.g. Duronic CA20)	5.3p	26p–32p	5–6 hours
300W, with a cover	7.9p	32p	About 4 hours
300W, uncovered	7.9p	47p	About 6 hours
1000W heated drying pod	26.3p	About 39p for 90 minutes	1–2 hours

My heated airer running costs guide breaks this down model by model, and the heated airer running cost calculator works out your own figure.

Does it save money? It depends what it replaces

If the airer replaces...	Their cost per load	Saving per load (300W airer)	Verdict
Vented tumble dryer	79p–£1.18	About 32p–86p	Saves money
Condenser tumble dryer	66p–92p	About 19p–60p	Saves money
Heat pump tumble dryer	32p–53p	Up to about 21p, often nothing	Little or no saving
Washing line outside	Free	Costs you 32p–47p	Costs money
Unheated airer indoors	Free	Costs you 32p–47p	Costs money, but faster and less damp

The full head-to-head with every dryer type is in my heated airer vs tumble dryer comparison.

What about drying on radiators?

Clothes on radiators feel free, but they block heat from reaching the room, which can make the heating run longer to reach the thermostat temperature, and they release all their moisture into the room. Whether a heated airer beats radiator drying on cost depends on your boiler, your thermostat and whether the heating would be on anyway, so I will not pretend there is one answer. What is clear is that both methods put roughly two litres of water per load into your home.

How long until an airer pays for itself?

Replacing condenser dryer cycles (3 kWh, 79.0p a load), at prices at our last check:

Airer	Price at our last check	Cost per load	Saving per load	Loads to pay back	At 4 loads a week
Duronic CA20 (202W)	£59.99	29.0p	50.0p	About 120	About 30 weeks
Black+Decker 3-Tier, uncovered	£89.99	47.4p	31.6p	About 285	About 71 weeks
Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier, with cover	£199.99 (cover extra)	31.6p	47.4p	About 420	About 2 years

Over a 26-week winter of four loads a week (104 loads), a covered 300W airer costs about £32.85 to run against £82.12 for a condenser dryer: a saving of about £49. The cheap Duronic saves about £52 because it uses so little power, though it dries less per load.

How to make a heated airer actually save money

Use a cover. It traps heat around the clothes and cuts drying time from about six hours to four, which cuts the cost by a third. The VonHaus 3-Tier and Minky SureDri include one.
Use a timer. Leaving an airer on for hours after the clothes are dry is the most common way people waste money. Built-in timers or a plug-in timer fix it.
Spin hard and space the load. Less water in, and more fabric touching the warm rails.
Switch off and let residual heat finish. The last hour often does very little on dry items; turn them or take them off.
Deal with the moisture. A heated airer puts water into the room. In a small or cold room, that means condensation. A window cracked open, or a dehumidifier in the same room, keeps the savings from turning into a mould problem. See do heated airers cause condensation?

When a heated airer is not worth it

If you have a garden and dry outside from spring to autumn, an airer only earns its keep in the winter months, so payback takes longer. If you already own a heat pump dryer, the savings are too small to justify one on cost alone. And if your home already suffers condensation, a dehumidifier may be the better buy, because it dries clothes and the room together. My dehumidifier vs tumble dryer cost article has those numbers.

The verdict

Yes, heated airers save money, but only against a vented or condenser tumble dryer. Used with a cover and a timer, a 300W airer roughly halves the cost of a condenser cycle. For the best value, the Black+Decker 3-Tier matches premium airers on wattage and drying space for less; the Dry:Soon Deluxe is my overall pick. All eight are compared in my best heated clothes airers UK guide.

Dehumidifier and drying guides

By room and problem

Choosing one

Drying clothes for less

Not sure what size you need? Try the dehumidifier size calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do heated airers really save money?

Yes, if they replace a vented or condenser tumble dryer. A 300W airer costs about 32p–47p a load at 26.32p per kWh, against 66p–92p for a condenser dryer. They cost money if they replace a washing line.

Is a heated airer cheaper than a heat pump dryer?

Only slightly, and sometimes not at all. A heat pump dryer costs about 32p–53p a load, close to a 300W airer. A covered airer with a timer is usually a little cheaper.

How long does a heated airer take to pay for itself?

Replacing condenser dryer cycles, a £59.99 compact airer pays back in about 120 loads, and an £89.99 300W airer used uncovered in about 285 loads, at prices at our last check.

Is it cheaper to dry clothes on a heated airer or a radiator?

It depends on your heating system and whether the heating would be on anyway. Clothes on radiators block heat from the room. Both methods release moisture indoors, so ventilation matters either way.