Contact

Home energy

Dehumidifier or tumble dryer for laundry?

A dehumidifier with a clothes airer usually costs less a load than a vented or condenser tumble dryer, but takes much longer. Drying outside is free whenever the weather allows.

Updated 3 October 2026 · energy.org.uk editorial team

The short answer

A tumble dryer heats air to dry clothes quickly, so it uses a lot of electricity in a short time. A dehumidifier uses less power but runs for hours while clothes dry on an airer. Heat-pump tumble dryers close much of the gap. Compare them with your own loads below.

Calculator

Cost to dry a load of laundry

Change assumptions
Heat-pump dryers usually use much less than vented or condenser dryers
On its label
Longer in a cold room
Tumble dryer2.50 kWh a load · about £103 a year
66p a load
Dehumidifier with an airer1.68 kWh a load · about £69 a year
44p a load

Drying outside costs nothing. An airer indoors without a dehumidifier adds moisture to the air, which can lead to condensation and mould.

Ofgem price cap, GB average, Direct Debit, 1 Oct – 31 Dec 2026. Example appliance figures, as in our appliance calculator; check your own appliance's label. Drying time varies with the room's temperature and how well clothes are spun.

Cost other appliances →

Open the appliance calculator →

What changes the result

  • The type of dryer. Heat-pump dryers use much less energy than vented or condenser models. Check the label.
  • How long the dehumidifier runs. A cold room or thick fabrics take longer to dry.
  • Your spin speed. A faster final spin leaves less water to remove, whichever method you use.
  • The room. A dehumidifier works best in a small room with the door shut.

Check

What to check first

  • Your dryer's energy use per load, from its label or manual.
  • Your dehumidifier's power, on its label, and whether it has a laundry mode.
  • Where you dry clothes indoors. Drying on radiators or an airer without ventilation adds moisture to the home.

Do

Practical next steps

  1. Dry outside when you can.
  2. Use the fastest spin your clothes allow before drying.
  3. If drying indoors, use a dehumidifier or open a window in a closed room, not a shared living space.
  4. If you are replacing a dryer, compare running costs in the appliance replacement calculator.

Take care

Important limitations

  • Figures are examples, as used in our appliance calculator; your appliances may differ.
  • A dehumidifier also dries the room, which can help with condensation, but it does not fix damp caused by leaks.
  • The estimate leaves out any extra heating the room needs.

Related tools and guides

Sources

Official sources checked 3 October 2026.