Cheapest tumble dryer to run: how to cut your drying costs

What actually drives a dryer's running cost

A tumble dryer's running cost comes down to one thing above all others: how much electricity it uses to remove the water from your clothes. That, in turn, is decided by the technology inside it. A standard condenser or vented dryer heats fresh air from cold on every cycle and throws that warmth away, which uses a lot of power. A heat pump dryer recycles its warm air instead, so it does far less heating from cold and uses much less electricity for the same load.

This is why the single biggest decision for running cost is the type of dryer you buy, not the brand or the price. A cheap condenser dryer can quietly cost you more over its life than a dearer heat pump model, because the difference shows up on every electricity bill rather than once at the till.

Energy rating: aim high

The energy label is the quickest way to compare running costs. Heat pump dryers reach the top tiers, A++ and A+++, while standard condenser dryers usually sit at B or C. The higher the rating, the less electricity the dryer uses per load. For the lowest running cost, buy the highest energy rating you can afford: an A+++ heat pump dryer like the AEG 7000 Series is the cheapest to run on our list, closely followed by the A++ models.

It is worth treating the rating as the headline figure when you shop, because it captures the efficiency difference that matters most over the years you will own the machine. A B-rated dryer might tempt you with a low price, but if you dry often, the running cost can erase that saving. Our reviews note the energy rating of every machine, so you can weigh it against the purchase price.

How much can a heat pump dryer save?

A heat pump dryer typically uses around half the electricity of an older condenser dryer for the same load. The exact figure depends on your loads, your electricity tariff and how often you dry, but the direction is always the same: a high-rated heat pump dryer is markedly cheaper per cycle than a low-rated condenser one. For a household that dries several loads a week, that lower consumption accumulates into a real saving over a year.

That is the mechanism by which a heat pump dryer's higher purchase price gradually pays for itself. The more you use the dryer, the faster the running-cost saving repays the premium you paid upfront. The flip side is that for someone who dries only occasionally, the bills are low in absolute terms, so the payback takes much longer, which is exactly when a cheaper condenser dryer like the Beko DTLCE70051W can make more sense. Be realistic about your usage; it is the figure that decides which dryer is truly cheapest for you.

Habits that cut your drying costs, whatever dryer you own

Whichever dryer you have, a few simple habits reduce the energy each cycle uses:

• Spin your washing harder first. A higher spin speed on your washing machine wrings out more water, so the dryer has less to remove and runs for less time. This is the single most effective free saving.
• Dry full loads, not small ones. A part-empty drum still uses energy to spin and heat the air, so combining loads is more efficient than running the dryer half full.
• Use sensor programmes, not long timers. Sensor drying stops the cycle when the clothes are dry, instead of running on and over-drying, which wastes electricity and wears your clothes. Every dryer we recommend has it.
• Clean the lint filter every cycle. A clogged filter restricts airflow and forces the dryer to work harder and longer, raising the cost of every load.
• Don't over-dry. Choosing a cupboard-dry setting rather than extra-dry, and taking clothes out promptly, saves energy and reduces creasing.