How much does a tumble dryer cost to run?
A typical tumble dryer costs about 79p per cycle to run. At 4 cycles a week that is £3.16 a week, or £164.24 a year, based on 2,000 W for 1.5 hours (3.00 kWh) at 26.32p per kWh.
Adjust for your tumble dryer
Worked example
2,000 W is 2 kW. Running for 1.5 hours uses 2 × 1.5 = 3.00 kWh. At 26.32p per kWh that costs 79p.
Four cycles a week comes to £164.24 a year. Drying two of those loads on a rack or line instead would save about £82.12.
How to cut the cost
Heat is what costs money here. Spin clothes at the highest speed first, clean the lint filter every load, and check the energy label for kWh per cycle. Heat pump dryers use far less electricity than vented or condenser models, which matters most if you dry several loads a week.
Questions
Is a tumble dryer expensive to run?
It is one of the costliest appliances in most homes, because drying uses heat for a long time. At 26.32p per kWh, one typical cycle costs 79p.
How can I find my dryer's exact running cost?
Look for the kWh per cycle figure on the energy label or in the manual, multiply it by 26.32p per kWh and divide by 100.
Other appliances
Electricity rate: Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026, Great Britain average, Direct Debit, default tariff: 26.32p per kWh. Your own tariff and region may differ, so change the rate above to match your bill. Appliance figures are typical estimates; your appliance's energy label or manual is more accurate. Last checked 2026-11-03. Next review: January 2027, when Ofgem announces the next quarter's cap.