ENERGY · RUNNING COSTS

What a heated airer costs to run

On the price cap from 1 October to 31 December 2026, a 250 W heated airer at full power costs 6.6p an hour, in Great Britain on average and paying by Direct Debit. Put in your own model and region below.

Your region
Today's cap
Real models

An hour at full power

6.6p

At 26.32p a kWh: the cap's Great Britain average on Direct Debit, 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026.

Each time: 30.7p
A week: 92.1p
A month: £4.00
A year: £48.04

The working

250 W for 4 hours 40 minutes uses 1.17 kWh at full power.
1.17 kWh × 26.32p a kWh (Great Britain average, Direct Debit, VAT included) = 30.7p each time.
3 times a week is 92.1p; × 52.14 weeks = £48.04 a year, or £4.00 a month.

The standing charge (54.83p a day here) isn't in these figures: you pay it whatever you run. On Economy 7 or another time-of-use tariff, the cost depends on when it runs and your supplier's rates.

Real models

Ratings from each maker's or retailer's page. Great Britain average, Direct Debit.

Model	Rating	An hour
Dunelm Winged Heated Airer	220 W	5.8p
Dunelm 3 Tier Heated Airer	330 W	8.7p
Dunelm Extra Large 3 Tier Square Heated Airer	400 W	10.5p

Where you live

A 250 W heated airer at full power, on Direct Debit. The Great Britain average is 27.80p a kWh paying on receipt of a bill, and 25.52p on prepayment.

Region	A kWh	An hour	A year
Great Britain average	26.32p	6.6p	£48.04
Eastern England	26.61p	6.7p	£48.57
East Midlands	25.36p	6.3p	£46.27
London	26.60p	6.6p	£48.54
Merseyside and North Wales	27.86p	7p	£50.85
West Midlands	25.60p	6.4p	£46.73
North East England	25.46p	6.4p	£46.46
North West England	26.49p	6.6p	£48.34
Southern England	26.47p	6.6p	£48.30
South East England	26.88p	6.7p	£49.06
South Wales	26.55p	6.6p	£48.46
South West England	26.58p	6.6p	£48.51
Yorkshire	25.60p	6.4p	£46.73
South Scotland	26.11p	6.5p	£47.64
North Scotland	26.35p	6.6p	£48.08

A year is 4 hours 40 minutes a time, 3 times a week, from Which?: are heated airers worth it?.

What it uses

The power in watts on the airer's label or box, in the manual, or in the shop's listing (Dunelm calls it Wattage). Citizens Advice gives 250 W as typical.

Does it always use this much? No. Which? found every heated airer it tested simply turns on and off: it draws the same power whether the bars are full or not, and you can't heat only some of the bars.

Spending less

Fill the airer each time you use it: the empty bars use power too. (Which?: Are heated airers worth it?)
Skip plastic covers: they trap humidity and slow drying. In Which?'s tests covers didn't speed drying up. (Which?: Are heated airers worth it?)
In good weather, use the line or an unheated rack instead of a tumble dryer (Energy Saving Trust). (Energy Saving Trust: Quick tips to save energy)

Questions

How much does a heated airer cost to run?

A 250 W heated airer at full power costs 6.6p an hour at the price cap's 26.32p a kWh (Great Britain average, Direct Debit, from 1 October to 31 December 2026). For 4 hours 40 minutes a time, 3 times a week, that's £48.04 a year. The calculator above takes your own model, use, region and how you pay.

Is it cheaper to dry clothes on a heated airer or in a tumble dryer?

For small loads, a heated airer: Which? found it costs less than a condenser tumble dryer. For three large loads a week a tumble dryer worked out cheaper, and a heat pump dryer cost the least.

How many watts does a heated airer use?

Which? says heated clothes airers typically draw between 200W and 300W. Drying pods typically draw 1,000W or more.

How long does a heated airer take to dry clothes?

Which? found heated airers generally take about four to seven hours for a cotton load.