Is it cheaper to run a dehumidifier or a tumble dryer?
Price updated 9 July 2026 · Q3 2026 (Jul–Sep)
With typical usage, a tumble dryer is cheaper — about £5.33 a month less (£63.99 a year) than a dehumidifier.
Drying laundry indoors with a dehumidifier can undercut a conventional dryer per load.
Compare with your own usage
Dehumidifier
About £16.68 a month · £200.13 a year
Uses about 767 kWh a year. Prefilled with the Ofgem cap of 26.11p/kWh — edit any box for your own figures.
Tumble dryer
About £11.35 a month · £136.14 a year
Uses about 521 kWh a year. Prefilled with the Ofgem cap of 26.11p/kWh — edit any box for your own figures.
The bottom line
At the current 26.11p/kWh cap and typical usage, a tumble dryer runs at about £11.35 a month against £16.68 for a dehumidifier. Your own habits decide the real answer — the tool above lets you put in exactly how you use each one.
Read more: Dehumidifier running cost · Tumble dryer running cost.