Clothes dryer electricity cost in United Kingdom

Frequent tumble-dryer use can be a visible household load, while heat-pump and resistance dryers have very different energy profiles.

Rate used for the starting scenarioGBP 0.2611/kWh

Use the unit rate for the time the dryer runs. Do not allocate the household standing charge to each drying cycle.

Billing scopeGreat Britain

Confidence A 99/100. Effective 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-30.

Check official source ↗

Live local scenario

Calculate with an editable rate.

Resistance and heat-pump dryers can have very different power profiles. Use the programme's kWh-per-cycle figure when available for the strongest estimate.

01

Your scenario

Change any value. Results update instantly.

Active runtime accounts for cycling. Use 100% for devices that draw the rated power continuously.

02

Your reading

Planning estimate · based on your inputs
Estimated monthly cost£10.18

Likely planning range £9.16–£11.20

Per day£0.33
Per active hour£0.49
Per year£122.19
Energy / month39.0 kWh

FormulakW × runtime × tariff

Month52 weeks ÷ 12

Data qualitySelf-entered estimate

Worked calculation

A United Kingdom starting scenario

2.500 kW is multiplied by scheduled time and the 75% active-runtime assumption. The inputs are examples, not claims about every device. Replace each one with the label, meter reading, schedule, and tariff that apply to you.

Drying cost = average active kW × cycle duration × cycles × tariff
Inputs shown

2500 W · 1.2 hours/day · 4 days/week · 75% active

Monthly energy
39.0 kWh
Monthly cost
£10.18
Annual cost
£122.19
Calculated at GBP 0.2611/kWh

Transparent method

The local calculation

Drying cost = average active kW × cycle duration × cycles × tariff

The device model stays global. The currency, tariff scope, validity period, and billing cautions come from the United Kingdom data layer.

Read the methodology →

Before trusting the result

Three checks for United Kingdom

01

Prefer the programme’s kWh-per-cycle figure when available.

02

Use a lower input only when modelling a heat-pump dryer.

03

Account for spin speed and load moisture when estimating cycle duration.

Turn estimates into evidence

Measured this device in United Kingdom?

The calculator accepts anonymous smart-plug, meter, charger, or utility readings after the result. A real measurement improves the country-device cohort without exposing your name or exact address.

Contribute a real reading

Calculation standards

Visible inputs. Reproducible results.

WhoPowerCost Lab's research desk maintains the formulas, market notes, and worked examples.

HowEnergy, tariff, and behavioural assumptions stay separate so readers can replace one input without hiding the others.

WhyThe page exists to answer an operating-cost decision. Advertising never changes a formula, default, or recommendation.