Best Heated Clothes Airers UK [2026]: Running Costs and 3 Picks

It's October, the washing line is pointless until spring and the radiators are covered in damp socks. A heated airer is one of the cheapest ways to dry clothes indoors, but they only work well if you get the size right, use a cover and give the moisture somewhere to go.

I've compared these from manufacturer and retailer specifications. I haven't tested them in my own home.

For most homes, the Lakeland Dry:Soon 3-Tier is the one to beat: 300W, up to 15kg of washing and a wide range of covers and accessories. Dunelm's 3 Tier Heated Airer is a similar size, and Dunelm's Extra Large 3 Tier Square suits families who wash every day.

Running cost is just watts × hours × your unit rate. At 26.32p per kWh (the Ofgem price cap average for electricity paid by Direct Debit, 1 October to 31 December 2026):

• 300W airer: about 7.9p an hour

• 330W airer: about 8.7p an hour

• 400W airer: about 10.5p an hour

From 30 years in electrical engineering: these heaters draw their full rated wattage while switched on, so the figure on the label is a fair guide. Measure your own with a metering smart plug if you want certainty.

Lakeland Dry:Soon 3-Tier Heated Airer — best all-rounder

Lakeland's manual lists 300W power consumption and a 15kg maximum load, and Lakeland describes about 21m of drying space — roughly two wash loads. It's the most widely sold heated airer in the UK, and covers and bundles are easy to find.

Choose it if: you want a proven tower design with plenty of accessories. Think twice if: you mostly dry small loads — a smaller wing airer uses less floor space.

Check current price of the Lakeland Dry:Soon 3-Tier

Dunelm 3 Tier Heated Airer — close alternative

Dunelm lists 330W, 20m of drying space and up to 15kg of washing, in an aluminium frame. It's designed to work with Dunelm's own 3 Tier cover.

Choose it if: you shop at Dunelm or want a Dry:Soon alternative. Think twice if: you want the widest choice of accessories.

Dunelm Extra Large 3 Tier Square Heated Airer — for big households

Dunelm lists 400W, 25m of drying space and 36 rails, still with a 15kg load limit. The extra rail length helps spread clothes out so they dry evenly.

Choose it if: you wash for a family most days. Think twice if: floor space is tight.

Compare heated airers on Amazon UK

*At 26.32p per kWh. Check current specifications on the retailer page before buying.

Every load of washing releases litres of water into the room. Put the airer in a small room with the door shut, open a window slightly or run a dehumidifier, and space clothes out instead of layering them. A cover holds the warmth in. Spin washing on the fastest setting your fabrics allow — less water in means less drying time.

• Wattage (sets your cost per hour)

• Drying space in metres and load limit

• Folded size and where you'll store it

• Whether a cover or timer is available

• A UK plug and a manufacturer guarantee

• Lakeland: Dry:Soon 3 Tier Heated Airer

• Dunelm: 3 Tier Heated Airer and Extra Large 3 Tier Square Heated Airer

• Ofgem: October–December 2026 price cap rates

*Researched October 2026 from manufacturer specifications, official guidance and independent UK sources; we do not test products in our own home. Prices change often — always check the current price before buying. This article contains affiliate links — see our disclosure.*