United Kingdom · GBP

Tumble dryer cost per load

Start with the electricity used for one complete drying cycle, then enter your unit rate and number of loads. Use a measurement or the figure for your model and programme; a dryer type alone does not determine its energy use.

Tumble dryer electricity cost calculator

Use watts and running time, or enter energy from a label, meter or completed load. Your inputs stay on this device.

What energy information do you have? Choose the information you have. Direct kWh inputs already include the cycling recorded in that energy. Electricity rate preset pence per kWh Electricity rate pence per kWh Enter 26.32 for £0.2632/kWh. Use your bill’s unit rate; standing charges are separate. Ofgem reference: 1 October–31 December 2026, Great Britain, Direct Debit, single-rate meter. Excludes Northern Ireland. Your tariff may differ.

Energy per completed use or load

Energy per use kWh/load or session Use measured or specified energy for a representative completed load or session. Uses per active week loads or sessions Five uses is an example schedule. Enter your own average; fractional numbers are valid. Active weeks per year weeks This mode uses a 52-week (364-day) planning year. Reduce active weeks for seasonal use.

Annual cost uses your selected active weeks. The monthly average is that annual cost divided by 12, including inactive weeks. For laundry, water and sewer charges and any unmeasured external water heating are separate.

Your estimated energy cost

Cost per use/load—

Per active week—

Annual cost ÷ 12—

Annual cost—

— per year at your selected active-week schedule

Energy per use is multiplied by uses per active week and active weeks per year. The monthly equivalent is the annual total divided by 12; it does not describe every calendar week or month.

Energy charges only. Standing or supply charges, purchase, installation and maintenance are excluded. See the calculation method and sources.

Reset calculator

JavaScript is required to update inputs and calculation methods. No total is shown until the required inputs are supplied. Cost in GBP = kWh × rate in pence per kWh ÷ 100. For power, kWh = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × duty cycle ÷ 100. For a per-use annual estimate, multiply kWh per use by uses per active week and active weeks per year.

Before you compare costs

Enter kWh per cycle for your model and chosen programme, or use a measurement of a complete load.
Read the unit printed beside the label figure. Per-cycle, per-100-cycle and annual energy figures need different treatment.
Compare the same load size, programme and target dryness. A shorter cycle or lower rated wattage does not necessarily use less energy.

How energy per load changes the cost

Illustrative energy inputs at 26.32p/kWh, with three loads per active week and 52 active weeks per year. These values are not measurements of heat-pump, condenser or vented dryers. Annual costs hold the rate constant.

Example rate: Ofgem GB Direct Debit, single-rate average, 1 October–31 December 2026. The table is fixed for comparison; changing the calculator updates its results only.

How energy per load changes the cost
Example energy per load	Cost per load	3 loads per week	52 active weeks
0.5 kWh	£0.13	£0.39	£20.53
1 kWh	£0.26	£0.79	£41.06
2 kWh	£0.53	£1.58	£82.12
3 kWh	£0.79	£2.37	£123.18

Find the right energy figure

Check the energy label, product information sheet or manual for the exact model and programme. A suitable measurement over a completed cycle gives another input, with that load and those conditions.

The label describes a specified test. Your fabric mix, load size, starting moisture, programme and dryness setting can change the electricity used at home.

If the figure is kWh per cycle, enter it directly.
If the figure is kWh per 100 cycles, divide by 100 to estimate one cycle under that stated test basis.
If the figure is annual kWh, use annual-energy mode for its stated annual scenario. Convert it to kWh per cycle only when the product documentation identifies the underlying cycle basis; do not assume a universal cycle count.

Turn one load into a weekly or annual cost

Cost per load in pounds = kWh per cycle x rate in p/kWh / 100. Multiply by loads per active week for a weekly cost, then by active weeks per year for an annual estimate.

Use fewer active weeks if the dryer is seasonal, or calculate different seasons separately. A future annual total at the present rate is a scenario, not a forecast of future tariffs. Daily standing charges are excluded from appliance running costs.

Compare drying methods on the same basis

For two dryers, compare energy for comparable laundry loads, programmes and target dryness. Keep the tariff and number of loads the same. The calculator does not assign a fixed energy saving to a heat-pump, condenser or vented design.

For a heated airer, include the full drying time and any separately measured dehumidifier or additional room-heating energy used for that task. An hourly power comparison cannot establish which method costs less to finish the same load.

Common questions

How much does a tumble dryer cost per load?

Multiply the kWh used for one cycle by your electricity rate. An illustrative 2 kWh cycle at 26.32p/kWh costs £0.53. That energy input is an example, not a typical value for any dryer technology.

Can I calculate dryer costs from watts and cycle time?

You can estimate from average electrical input and time, but a dryer can vary its power during the programme. Multiplying maximum rated watts by the entire cycle time can misrepresent its energy use. Prefer complete-cycle kWh when available.

Is it cheaper to use a tumble dryer at night?

Only if your tariff charges less for the electricity used at that time. A single-rate tariff costs the same per kWh throughout the day. For Economy 7 or another time-of-use tariff, use the actual rate and energy for each applicable period.

Does the annual energy label equal my annual use?

No. It describes the label test basis. Your number of loads and programme choices may differ. Check the product documentation before deriving a per-cycle value, then apply your own schedule.

Is a heated airer always cheaper than a tumble dryer?

No single hourly comparison can answer that. Compare the energy needed to finish the same load to a similar dryness, including any additional equipment used for the task.

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Sources and checking your inputs

Source review: 2 October 2026. Use the rate and energy units on your own tariff and product documentation. Report a correction.