Heat-pump dryer vs condenser dryer: which costs less to run?

Is a heat-pump tumble dryer cheaper to run than a condenser tumble dryer?

Yes, per use as we measure it. At 26.32p per kWh, a heat-pump tumble dryer costs about 38p per load and a condenser tumble dryer about £1.25 per load, so the condenser dryer costs 3.3 times as much. Heat-pump dryers are condenser dryers that recycle warm air instead of making new heat, so they use a fraction of the electricity per load. Their cycles are longer: 174 minutes for a full load on the Hotpoint heat-pump model we cite, against 142 minutes for a standard Hotpoint condenser.

How much do they cost a year?

At the usage each page assumes, about £59 a year for a heat-pump tumble dryer and £196 for a condenser tumble dryer (October–December 2026 GB average rate). For a heat-pump tumble dryer: three full loads a week all year. The 2011 Energy Follow-Up Survey found a median of three drying loads a week in winter and none in summer, so this is on the high side for anyone who line-dries in summer. For a condenser tumble dryer: three full loads a week all year. The 2011 Energy Follow-Up Survey found a median of three drying loads a week in winter and none in summer, so this is on the high side for anyone who line-dries in summer.

Does where I live change which is cheaper?

No. Both run on electricity, so a higher or lower unit rate changes both costs in the same proportion. The cheaper appliance stays cheaper; only the pence change. Your region, tariff and how long you run each appliance change the actual amounts.