Tumble Dryer vs Line Drying Calculator
See what your tumble dryer really costs a year by type, what line-drying half or all your loads instead would save, and how quickly a heat-pump dryer upgrade pays for itself.
Estimate only. These are estimates, appliance ratings and tariffs vary, and your actual cycle energy use depends on load size and the programme selected. Check your dryer's energy label and your own electricity tariff for the figures that apply to you.
Enter your dryer details
Your annual dryer cost and line-drying savings appear here as you type.
How tumble dryer running costs are calculated
Each dryer type uses a different amount of energy for the same full load, measured in kWh per cycle. Multiplying that by your electricity unit rate gives the cost of one cycle; multiplying again by how many cycles you run a week, then by 52 weeks, gives the annual running cost. Line or airer drying is free (a dehumidifier-assisted indoor dry adds a small energy cost of its own), so moving even some loads off the dryer cuts the annual total directly. Because a heat-pump dryer uses roughly a third of the energy of a vented dryer, the running-cost saving from upgrading can be large enough to pay back the extra purchase price within a few years.
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