How much does it cost to run a heated airer? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a heated airer rated at 230W costs 6.1p an hour to run and around £88.38 a year assuming 4 hours a day drying a load.
Per hour
6.1p
Per typical use
24p
Per day
24p
Per week
£1.70
Per year
£88.38
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 230W for a heated airer; published figures for this appliance range from 200W to 300W. A heated airer dries clothes far more slowly than a tumble dryer but at a much lower wattage, so for a full load left running it is often — though not always — cheaper than a short blast in a vented tumble dryer. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 4 hours a day drying a load, which is how the per-day, per-week and per-year figures above were calculated — see the cost-to-run calculator to change the wattage, hours or region yourself.
Rate used: Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026, GB average electricity — 26.32p/kWh (excl. VAT, removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027).
Cost by region
Same appliance, same use — ranked most to least expensive by region under the price cap:
| Region | Elec p/kWh | Cost per hour | Typical annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merseyside and Northern Wales | 27.86 | 6.4p | £93.55 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 6.2p | £90.26 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 6.1p | £89.36 |
| London | 26.60 | 6.1p | £89.32 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 6.1p | £89.26 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 6.1p | £89.15 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 6.1p | £88.95 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 6.1p | £88.89 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 6.1p | £88.48 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 6.0p | £87.68 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 5.9p | £85.96 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 5.9p | £85.96 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 5.9p | £85.49 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 5.8p | £85.16 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 6.1p | £88.38 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £85.16 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £93.55 a year — a gap of £8.39 for identical use.
How a heated airer compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in heating & cooling, GB average:
- heated airer — £88.38 a year (this page)
- electric underfloor heating (per m²) — £86.46 a year
- electric shower (8.5kW) — £109 a year
- electric shower (9.5kW) — £122 a year
- ceiling fan — £46.11 a year
- electric shower (10.5kW) — £134 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Use the cover if one is supplied — it traps heat around the clothes and cuts drying time significantly
- Combine with good room ventilation or a dehumidifier — heated airers add moisture to the room air
- Spin clothes on the highest suitable setting first so less water needs removing on the airer
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a heated airer for an hour?
- 6.1p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 230W). One typical use — 4 hours a day drying a load — costs closer to 24p.
- How much does a heated airer cost to run per year?
- Around £88.38 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 4 hours a day drying a load — about £1.70 a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a heated airer in?
- East Midlands, at £85.16 a year, against £93.55 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £8.39 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my heated airer change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 200W–300W, so the top of that range costs about 1.5x the bottom. This page uses 230W; check your own rating plate.
- Does the October 2026 price cap affect this figure?
- Yes — figures use the Ofgem cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Electricity excludes VAT (removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027); gas includes 5%. See the price cap page for the full breakdown.
Sources
- Heatable — how much energy do household appliances use — wattage and usage figures for this appliance.
- Ofgem — Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (regional tables, read 12 September 2026).
Related
- Cost-to-run calculator and full A–Z — check any appliance or enter a custom wattage.
- Energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 — every region, every payment method.
- Back-billing calculator — if a bill for this or any appliance looks like it covers too many months.
- Free bill audit — if your overall energy costs look high regardless of any one appliance.
Send us one bill. We'll send back every overcharge — and the cheapest legitimate replacement.
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