Tumble dryers: Tumble dryer energy costs
£60how much you could save each year by buying an A-rated dryer over a C-rated one.
Depending on the model you choose, an A-rated dryer could be up to £60 cheaper to run each year than a more common C-rated model.
Tumble dryers aren't usually associated with energy efficiency - but big differences in energy consumption between tumble dryer models make buying an efficient model a good way of cutting your energy bills.
Which? can help you choose an energy-efficient tumble dryer, and get more out of your current dryer by running it more efficiently - see our energy-saving tumble-drying tips video for expert advice on how to cut the money you spend on running your tumble dryer.
How tumble dryers compare on energy efficiency
Our testing has showed some significant differences in energy efficiency between tumble dryer models.
Take a look at the typical A-rated and C-rated tumble dryers below. The C-rated Beko DRCT70W costs an extra £63.88 to run over a year than the A-rated Bosch WTW84360GB dryer.
| Electric: A-rated vs C-rated tumble dryers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | Model | Cost per 7kg load | Annual cost |
| A | Bosch WTW84360GB | 14p | £26 |
| C | Beko DRCT70W | 49p | £89 |
Table notes: Costs are according to drying one load every two days
You can't always trust energy labels
Energy labelling for tumble dryers
Energy labels on electric tumble dryers are meant to help you choose a more energy efficient model. The classes go from A to G, with most models scoring a C-rating – but the energy they use can vary by a third. In the past, we've found that energy labels don't always correspond with how much electricity a machine uses to dry a load.
The energy class of an electric tumble dryer also depends on which program the manufacturer selects for the test.
For example, White Knight has produced models such as the 84AW, which is A-rated because White Knight chose to test it on a special low-energy program, which can take up to seven hours to dry a load.
We aim to make our own energy consumption ratings more realistic. They're calculated on the basis of four different programs and reveal bigger differences between models than official energy labels do. Go to our tumble dryer compare features and prices page to search for tumble dryers with a running costs rating of four stars or more. This shows you all tumble dryers that scored well for energy efficiency, and should cost you less to run.
Most electric tumble dryers have a C-class energy rating
Energy-efficient tumble dryers
White Knight introduced the first A-rated electric dryer to the UK in 2003 – the CL 847, which was later renamed the 84AW. It has since launched the 85AW which - while B-rated for energy - proved energy efficient in our tests. Unfortunately the low energy program takes a very long time.
A full 5kg load of laundry takes over eight hours to dry in the 85AW, or 98 minutes per kg of laundry. A 2kg load of synthetics needs just under four hours.
If you're prepared to wait eight hours for your washing to dry, you'd save money and energy by hanging it outside on a sunny day rather over running a tumble dryer for the same period.
Heat pump tumble dryers
Heat pumps are an innovation in tumble dryers that can lead to big energy savings. They work in two ways: reheating air that's sucked out of your washing on one side, and cooling the air to condense it back into water on the other. Condensed water is collected in the machine as in a normal condenser dryer, and the reuse of hot air means energy is kept within the machine instead of being allowed to escape.
The Bosch WTW84360GB and Miele T8826WP use a heat pump, which conserves the heat of the air inside the drum and uses it to dry clothes.
This heat pump works on all of the programs and reduces the energy used by at least a third compared to some other models - and the drying times are not longer. It's a good choice if you want an electric dryer that's as energy efficient as possible.
Gas dryers
Gas dryers are an energy-saving alternative to traditional electric machines and are significantly cheaper to run. Running costs for a standard dryer are around 0.1p per kilowatt hour (kWh), whereas gas dryers cost around 0.01p per kWh. We've tested two gas powered models, the ECO 43A and the ECO 83A from White Knight - both of which cost around £300, or almost three times the price of its cheapest models.
Clean the lint after each load to prevent blockages
Energy-efficient drying
- Choose a more efficient tumble dryer Energy labels can help you find a more energy efficient tumble dryer – but use them alongside the star ratings for energy efficiency in our tumble dryer review for a full picture of efficiency
- Fully fill Try to fit the maximum load in your tumble dryer every time
- Use a high spin speed on your washing machine This will get your washing as dry as possible before using your tumble dryer
- Clean the lint filter every time you use the machine A blocked filter prevents the hot air from circulating freely, so clothes take longer to dry
- Position your dryer in a well-ventilated room This will stop the tumble dryer from overheating
- Sensor models dry clothes for ironing together with other clothes. Start the load with an iron-dry setting, remove the clothes for ironing, and then put the rest on a cupboard-dry program
- Minimise use Make the most of good weather by drying your clothes outside, and leaving the tumble dryer switched off
More tumble dryers advice
For more tips on how to save money when you tumble dry your clothes, have a look at our tumble drying video guide, which offers more advice on planning your loads and reducing your energy bills. Alternatively, our washer-dryers review has in-depth reviews of over 70 washer-dryers.
