Heat Pump Dryer
Cost Calculator UK
Calculate exactly how much your heat pump dryer costs to run per cycle and per year — and see your exact savings vs a condenser or vented dryer. Based on current 2026 Ofgem electricity rates.
Your Dryer & Usage Details
Personalise your cost calculation with your actual usage
UK average is 3 loads/week. Adjust to your household’s typical usage.
Default: 24.67p/kWh — Ofgem price cap Apr–Jun 2026. Check your energy bill for your exact rate. Economy 7 night rate ≈ 12–18p.
Your Running Cost Results
Based on 2026 Ofgem electricity rates
Select your dryer type and usage details, then click Calculate Running Cost to see your personalised electricity cost breakdown.
Dryer running costs compared
Side-by-side running costs for heat pump, condenser and vented tumble dryers — based on the July 2026 energy price cap of 26.11p per kWh and real-world energy consumption data.
| Dryer Type | Cost Per Cycle | Cost Per Hour | Annual Cost (3×/wk) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌀 Heat Pump | ~47p | ~14p | ~£73/yr | Most efficient · A+ rating |
| 💧 Condenser | ~£1.26 | ~46p | ~£196/yr | 3–4× more expensive |
| 💨 Vented | ~£1.23 | ~49p | ~£192/yr | Cheapest to buy, costliest to run |
Based on Ofgem price cap of 24.67p/kWh (April–June 2026). Full-load cotton cycle: heat pump dryer uses ~1.9 kWh, condenser ~5.1 kWh, vented ~5.34 kWh. Annual costs assume 120 cycles per year (≈3 per week).
| Dryer Type | kWh Per Full Cycle | kWh Per Hour | Wattage (Typical) | Cycle Time (Full Cotton) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌀 Heat Pump (8kg) | 1.9 kWh | 0.57 kWh | 400–530W | ~3 hrs 20 min |
| 🌀 Heat Pump (7kg) | 1.5–1.7 kWh | 0.50 kWh | 370–480W | ~2 hrs 45 min |
| 💧 Condenser (9kg) | 5.1 kWh | 1.85 kWh | 2,000–2,500W | ~2 hrs 45 min |
| 💨 Vented (9kg) | 5.34 kWh | 2.0 kWh | 2,200–2,600W | ~2 hrs 30 min |
| 🌀 HP (Economy 7 night) | 1.9 kWh | 0.57 kWh | 400–530W | ~3 hrs 20 min |
Heat pump dryers use about 0.8 to 1.2 kWh per cycle, compared with 3.5 to 4 kWh for a condenser dryer, thanks to their closed-loop air system. Figures are typical values — check your model’s energy label for exact consumption.
| Usage | Annual Saving vs Condenser | Premium Cost Paid Back In | 10-Year Total Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 load/week | ~£41/yr | ~3.6 years | ~£410 |
| 2 loads/week | ~£82/yr | ~1.8 years | ~£820 |
| 3 loads/week | ~£123/yr | ~1.2 years | ~£1,230 |
| 5 loads/week | ~£205/yr | ~0.7 years | ~£2,050 |
| 7 loads/week | ~£287/yr | ~0.5 years | ~£2,870 |
Assumes a £150 premium cost for heat pump vs condenser dryer and annual savings at 24.67p/kWh. A conventional vented or condenser dryer costs approximately £155 to £210 a year to run 150 cycles. A heat pump dryer costs approximately £60 to £95 a year for the same usage.
| Tip | Typical Saving | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Run on Economy 7 / off-peak rate | 30–50% per cycle | Easy |
| Always run full loads (not half loads) | ~40% per kg dried | Easy |
| Clean lint filter after every cycle | Up to 25–30% efficiency loss if ignored | Easy |
| Spin clothes at high speed in washer first | 15–20% less drying time | Easy |
| Use sensor drying (not timed programmes) | 10–20% per cycle | Easy |
| Dry outdoors in spring/summer | 100% savings on those loads | Seasonal |
| Match dryer capacity to washing machine | Avoids multiple part-cycles | Planning |
Economy 7 and Economy 10 tariffs offer night-time rates around 12–18p/kWh, reducing heat pump dryer running costs from 56p to 26–39p per load. Combining off-peak timing with sensor drying and full loads delivers the maximum savings.
Why heat pump dryers save so much
Closed-Loop Heat Recycling
A heat pump dryer recycles hot air through the drum instead of exhausting it. The warm air passes a heat exchanger that removes moisture and reheats it — meaning the drum’s heat is used multiple times per cycle rather than wasted once, cutting energy use by 60–70%.
Lower Temperatures
Heat pump dryers operate at 50–60°C vs 70–85°C for condenser and vented models. Lower temperatures mean less energy per cycle, gentler fabric care (extending garment life), and less heat added to your home in summer — a benefit in smaller or south-facing rooms.
Payback Within 1–2 Years
Most UK households running 3 loads per week will save around £120–£130 per year vs a condenser dryer. With a typical premium of £100–£200 over a condenser, the payback period is 1–2 years for regular users — and the dryer itself lasts 10–15 years.
Best Paired With Smart Tariffs
Heat pump dryers run at a low 400–530W — well suited to off-peak electricity tariffs like Octopus Go, Agile, or Economy 7. Scheduling cycles during cheap-rate hours (typically 11pm–7am) can cut per-cycle costs to as low as 20–28p, almost halving the already-low running cost.
CO₂ Reduction
A heat pump dryer running 3 times weekly produces approximately 112 kg of CO₂ annually, whilst a condenser dryer produces 270 kg CO₂ — a reduction of 158 kg per year. Over the appliance’s lifetime, a heat pump dryer prevents approximately 1.6 tonnes of CO₂ emissions compared to a condenser model.
Heat pump dryer cost FAQ
Answers to the most common questions about heat pump dryer running costs in the UK in 2026.
Based on an average electricity cost of 24.67 pence per kWh for the Ofgem Energy Price Cap period from 1 April to 30 June 2026, the average heat pump tumble dryer uses roughly 1.9 kWh to run a cotton cycle with a full load, costing approximately 47p per cycle. Annual running costs for a household doing 3 loads per week total around £73 — compared to around £196/year for a condenser dryer.
A heat pump tumble dryer costs around 20 to 30p per load in the UK, based on electricity at 25p per kWh. A condenser or vented model costs about £1 per load, so a heat pump version is roughly 70 to 80% cheaper to run. For a household doing 3 loads per week, this translates to annual savings of around £120–£130. Heavy users running 5+ loads per week can save over £200 per year.
The average heat pump tumble dryer uses roughly 1.9 kWh to run a cotton cycle with a full load. The average heat pump dryer uses around 0.57 kWh per hour, with current electricity prices of 24.67 pence per kWh meaning that running a heat pump tumble dryer for one hour costs £0.14. A condenser dryer uses 5.1 kWh per full cycle — nearly three times as much.
The estimated annual running cost is based on the July 2026 energy price cap of 26.11p per kWh of electricity. The April–June 2026 cap was 24.67p per kWh. Economy 7 tariffs offer off-peak night rates of around 12–18p per kWh. Always check your own energy bill to find your exact unit rate, as rates vary by supplier and tariff.
Yes, for most regular users. A conventional vented or condenser dryer costs approximately £155 to £210 a year to run 150 cycles. A heat pump dryer costs approximately £60 to £95 a year for the same usage. The difference — around £100 a year — is the single largest available appliance running cost saving for households who currently use a conventional dryer regularly. The premium upfront cost is typically recovered within 1–2 years.
Yes. Economy 7 and Economy 10 tariffs offer night-time rates around 12–18p/kWh, reducing heat pump dryer running costs to 26–39p per load. Regular maintenance significantly impacts running costs. Blocked lint filters reduce airflow, forcing the dryer to work harder and longer. Clean filters after every load, and deep-clean condenser units monthly. Poor maintenance can increase energy consumption by 25–30%. Running full loads also dramatically reduces cost per kilogram dried.