230W (example), 4 hours a load
0.23 kW × 4 h × 26.32p = 24.21p a load (0.92 kWh).
Home & lifestyle · Energy costs
Heated airer running cost calculator
At 26.32p per kWh (Ofgem cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026), a 300W heated airer costs about 7.9p an hour, or 47p to dry a load over 6 hours.
Enter your airer’s wattage, hours to dry a load, loads a week and electricity price for the cost per hour, load, week and month. The 300W default is an example: use your airer’s rating.
47.38pa load for a 300W (example) airer on for 6 hours at 26.32p per kWh7.90p an hour
Work out your heated airer’s running cost
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Running cost
Per load47.38p
Per hour7.90p
Per week£1.42
Per month£6.18
Electricity per load1.8 kWh
Condenser dryer, full load (Bosch, 4.63 kWh)£1.22
Heat pump dryer, full load (Bosch, 1.87 kWh)49.22p
0.3 kW × 6 h × 26.32p = 47.38p a load × 3 loads = £1.42 a week
A week is the loads you enter; a month is a week × 365 ÷ 7 ÷ 12 (4.35 weeks). The standing charge is not included (see below).
Per load
Heated airer cost per load by wattage and drying time
Cost per load = power in kW × hours to dry × price per kWh. At 26.32p per kWh, with the airer on for the whole drying time:
| Airer power | Per hour | 4 hours | 6 hours | 8 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150W (example) | 3.95p | 15.79p | 23.69p | 31.58p |
| 230W (example) | 6.05p | 24.21p | 36.32p | 48.43p |
| 300W (example) | 7.90p | 31.58p | 47.38p | 63.17p |
| 400W (example) | 10.53p | 42.11p | 63.17p | 84.22p |
Other wattages: Example only: replace with the watts on your appliance’s rating plate or manual.
Comparison
Heated airer vs tumble dryer: cost per load
| Method | kWh per load | Cost per load |
|---|---|---|
| Condenser dryer, Bosch WTN85280GB 8kg, full load | 4.63 kWh | £1.22 |
| Condenser dryer, Bosch WTN85280GB 8kg, half load | 2.61 kWh | 68.70p |
| Heat pump dryer, Bosch WTW85471GB 8kg, full load | 1.87 kWh | 49.22p |
| Heat pump dryer, Bosch WTW85471GB 8kg, half load | 1.14 kWh | 30.00p |
| Heated airer 300W × 6 hours (example) | 1.8 kWh | 47.38p |
In this example the airer (47.38p) is cheaper than the condenser dryer’s full load (£1.22) and close to the heat pump dryer’s (49.22p). A longer drying time or a higher-watt airer changes that, which is why it is worth entering your own figures. The dryer figures are one model each, for the standard cotton programme; check your own dryer’s energy label or manual.
Dryer figures: Bosch WTN85280GB spec sheet (PDF) and Bosch WTW85471GB spec sheet (PDF).
Step by step
Worked examples
Per load = kW × hours × price per kWh. Weekly = per load × loads a week. Monthly = weekly × 365 ÷ 7 ÷ 12.
230W (example), 6 hours a load
0.23 kW × 6 h × 26.32p = 36.32p a load (1.38 kWh).
230W (example), 8 hours a load
0.23 kW × 8 h × 26.32p = 48.43p a load (1.84 kWh).
300W (example), 6 hours a load
0.3 kW × 6 h × 26.32p = 47.38p a load (1.8 kWh).
300W (example), 6 hours, 3 loads a week
0.3 kW × 6 h × 26.32p = 47.38p a load × 3 loads = £1.42 a week, or £6.18 a month.
300W (example), 4 hours every day
0.3 kW × 4 h × 26.32p = 31.58p a load × 7 loads = £2.21 a week, or £9.61 a month.
Wattage
How to find your airer’s wattage
Look on the rating label (often on a leg, the base or the plug end of the cable) or in the manual for a figure in watts (W). The wattages on this page are examples, not typical figures, because we have no source for a typical heated airer rating.
Your bill
Standing charge not included
Your electricity bill also has a daily standing charge: an Ofgem GB average of 54.83p a day on Direct Debit for October to December 2026. You pay it whether or not the airer is on, so it is not a running cost of the airer and this calculator leaves it out. Only the unit rate (pence per kWh) changes with how long you use it.
Source
Where the 26.32p figure comes from
26.32p per kWh is Ofgem’s GB average Direct Debit electricity unit rate under the energy price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026. There is no VAT on electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. The cap rate varies by region and payment method, and Economy 7, fixed and prepayment tariffs differ, so use the unit rate on your bill if you know it. The next price cap period starts on 1 January 2027. Source: Ofgem, energy price cap unit rates and standing charges.
Ofgem’s energy price cap unit rates and standing charges page, checked on 23 October 2026, gives for electricity paid by Direct Debit from 1 October to 31 December 2026: “26.32 pence per kWh” and “54.83 pence daily standing charge”.
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Helpful answers
Heated airer running cost FAQs.
How much does a heated airer cost per hour?
Cost per hour = watts ÷ 1,000 × the price per kWh. For a 300W airer (an example wattage) at 26.32p per kWh it is about 7.9p an hour; for 230W about 6.05p. Your airer’s wattage is on its rating label or in the manual.
Is a heated airer cheaper than a tumble dryer?
Often, but it depends on the wattage and drying time. In our example a 300W airer on for 6 hours uses 1.8kWh (47.38p), less than a Bosch condenser dryer’s 4.63kWh full load (£1.22) and close to a Bosch heat pump dryer’s 1.87kWh (49.22p). A longer drying time or a higher-watt airer changes that.
Does a cover make a heated airer dry faster?
Covers are sold for some heated airers. Whether one shortens the drying time depends on the airer and the load, and we have not tested it, so we make no claim. If a cover cuts your drying time, enter the shorter hours and the calculator shows the saving.
Is the standing charge included?
No. The daily standing charge (an Ofgem GB average of 54.83p a day on Direct Debit for October to December 2026) is paid whether or not the airer is on, so it is not a running cost of the airer.