Tumble-dryer cost calculator
Work out how much it costs to run a tumble dryer, from its power rating, cycle length and how often you use it.
Result
Cost per year
Cost per cycle
How to use this calculator
- Check your dryer's power rating — vented and condenser dryers are typically 2000–3000W; heat-pump dryers use significantly less.
- Enter the typical cycle length and how many cycles you run per week.
- Enter your electricity price per kWh.
- Read the cost per cycle and per year.
Assumptions
- Uses an average power draw across the cycle — actual power varies through a cycle's heating and cooling phases.
- A heat-pump dryer typically uses roughly half the energy of a vented or condenser dryer for the same load — check your specific model's rated energy per cycle for a precise figure.
Technical details: what the fields mean
- Dryer power
powerWatts - Power rating from the appliance's energy label — heat-pump dryers use much less than vented/condenser types.
- Hours per cycle
hoursPerUse - Typical cycle length for a full load.
- Cycles per week
usesPerWeek - How many drying cycles you run per week.
- Electricity price
pricePerKwh - Your electricity price per kWh.
Methodology
Energy per cycle = power (kW) × cycle length. Cost per cycle = energy × price per kWh. Cost per year = cost per cycle × cycles per week × 52.
Worked example
2500W dryer, 1.5-hour cycle, 4 cycles/week, 27p/kWh
Inputs: powerWatts=2500, hoursPerUse=1.5, usesPerWeek=4, pricePerKwh=0.27
Result: £1.01/cycle, £210.08/year
Practical guidance
- A heat-pump tumble dryer costs more upfront but roughly halves the running cost of a vented or condenser model.
- A shorter, higher-spin wash cycle removes more water before drying, cutting the dryer's own energy use.
Common mistakes
- Comparing a heat-pump dryer's power rating directly to a vented dryer's without noting the very different cycle lengths and efficiency.
FAQs
How much does it cost to run a tumble dryer per load?
For a typical 2500W dryer on a 1.5-hour cycle at 27p/kWh, about £1.01 per load.