How much does a tumble dryer cost to run?

A vented or condenser tumble dryer is one of the most expensive appliances in the house to run, because it heats air for an hour or two at a time. Three loads a week adds up to a noticeable chunk of an annual bill.

How we work it out

A typical tumble dryer uses about 4kWh for condenser or vented, full load, taking around 2 hours. Electricity on a standard variable tariff costs about 26p a unit across Great Britain at the moment (it varies a little by region), so one run comes to about £1.05. Your own model may use more or less: the energy label, or a plug-in energy monitor, will tell you.

If you're on a tariff where the price changes through the day, such as Agile Octopus, Economy 7 or an electric car tariff, the same run can cost much less at the right time. The Cheap Watts tool finds that time for you on your own tariff.

How to spend less

• Spin the washing at the highest speed first. Drier washing means a shorter, cheaper dry.
• Clean the filter every load. A clogged filter makes every cycle longer.
• Use the sensor-dry setting rather than a timer, so it stops when the clothes are dry.
• Don't overfill it. Clothes need room to tumble.

A cheaper option

A heat pump dryer uses about a third of the electricity for the same load. See what a heat pump dryer costs to run.