Is it cheaper to run a tumble dryer or a heat pump tumble dryer?
Price updated 9 July 2026 · Q3 2026 (Jul–Sep)
With typical usage, a heat pump tumble dryer is cheaper — about £5.22 a month less (£62.63 a year) than a tumble dryer.
Same job, very different power. Heat pump models use roughly a third of the electricity per load.
Compare with your own usage
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.
Heat pump tumble dryer
About £6.13 a month · £73.52 a year
Uses about 282 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 heat pump tumble dryer runs at about £6.13 a month against £11.35 for a tumble dryer. Your own habits decide the real answer — the tool above lets you put in exactly how you use each one.
Read more: Tumble dryer running cost · Heat pump tumble dryer running cost.