Running costs · price cap 1 July to 30 September 2026
How much does a tumble dryer cost to run?
At the current price cap of 26.11p per kWh, each load in a tumble dryer costs about 88p. Used 3 times a week, that is £11.49 a month or £137.89 a year. The figures are based on Which? lab tests, which found an average of about 3.39 kWh per load.
Prices checked against Ofgem on .
Per load
88p
3.39 kWh
Per week
£2.65
3 loads
per year
£137.89
528 kWh
Unit rate
26.11p
per kWh, price cap
Tumble dryer running cost by how often you use it
At 26.11p per kWh and about 3.39 kWh per load.
| Usage | Per week | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 load a week | 88p | £3.83 | £45.96 |
| 2 loads a week | £1.77 | £7.66 | £91.93 |
| 3 loads a week | £2.65 | £11.49 | £137.89 |
| 4 loads a week | £3.54 | £15.32 | £183.85 |
| 5 loads a week | £4.42 | £19.15 | £229.82 |
| 7 loads a week | £6.19 | £26.81 | £321.75 |
| 10 loads a week | £8.84 | £38.30 | £459.64 |
| 14 loads a week | £12.37 | £53.62 | £643.49 |
Tumble dryer running cost by electricity price
Monthly and yearly cost at the same usage. Fixed deals vary, so check the unit rate on your bill.
| Tariff | Unit rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July to 30 September 2026 price cap | 26.11p | £11.49 | £137.89 |
| 1 October to 31 December 2026 price cap | 26.32p | £11.58 | £139.00 |
| A 20p per kWh fixed deal | 20p | £8.80 | £105.62 |
| A 24p per kWh fixed deal | 24p | £10.56 | £126.75 |
| A 30p per kWh fixed deal | 30p | £13.20 | £158.43 |
Each extra load
One more load a week adds about £45.96 to your yearly bill. Running fuller loads less often is the simplest way to cut the cost.
Condenser or heat pump
These figures are for a condenser dryer. A heat pump tumble dryer uses about 1.32 kWh a load, so it costs about 34p a load or £53.57 a year: £84.32 a year less.
From 1 October
The price cap changes to 26.32p per kWh from 1 October to 31 December 2026. At the usage above, a tumble dryer would cost £139.00 a year, £1.11 more than now.
Guides and definitions
- Energy price cap explained: rates from 1 October 2026 and your bill (Guide)
- Is Economy 7 worth it? Hours, price cap and the night-use break-even (Guide)
- Standing charge vs unit rate: which energy tariff is cheaper for you? (Guide)
- Economy 7 (Economy 7 is an electricity tariff with seven cheaper off-peak hours, usually overnight, and a dearer daytime rate; Ofgem assumes 42% of use falls off-peak.)
- Typical domestic consumption values (TDCVs) (Typical domestic consumption values are Ofgem's yearly usage figures for a typical home, 2,500 kWh electricity and 9,500 kWh gas from 1 July 2026.)
- Energy price cap (The energy price cap is Ofgem’s limit on unit rates and standing charges for default tariffs; typical bill £1,723 from 1 October 2026.)
- Standing charge (A standing charge is the fixed daily amount on an energy bill, paid whatever you use; the capped average is 54.83p a day for electricity.)
Other appliances
- Washing machine (running costs)
- Dishwasher (running costs)
- Electric oven (running costs)
- Air fryer (running costs)
- Kettle (running costs)
- Fridge freezer (running costs)
- TV (running costs)
- Electric shower (running costs)
- Immersion heater (running costs)
- Electric heater (running costs)
Appliance running cost calculator · Use your own wattage and unit rate
Common questions
How much does it cost to run a tumble dryer per load?
About 88p at 26.11p per kWh, using around 3.39 kWh.
How much does a tumble dryer cost to run a year?
About £137.89 if you use it 3 times a week, which is the usage Which? assumes for an average household.
How many kWh does a tumble dryer use?
Around 3.39 kWh per load on average, or 528 kWh a year at 3 loads a week. Efficient models use less.
Is a heat pump tumble dryer cheaper to run?
Yes. Which? found heat pump dryers average about 34p a load against 88p for condenser dryers, based on three cotton cupboard-dry loads a week.
Sources and assumptions
- Prices use the Ofgem price cap for 1 July to 30 September 2026: 26.11p per kWh, the average for Direct Debit customers in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is not covered by the cap.
- Energy use comes from Which? lab tests of typical models. Your own model may use more or less.
- The daily standing charge (57.19p a day) is paid whatever you use, so it is not included.
- Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges
- Which?: how much your appliances cost to run (26 August 2026)
These are estimates. Your bill depends on your tariff, your region and how you use the appliance.