The best heated airers in the UK, for every budget.
A heated airer is the cheapest way to dry clothes indoors when it’s too cold and wet to hang them outside. At October 2026’s energy price, a typical 300W airer costs around 8p an hour to run, a fraction of a tumble dryer.
I read through the Amazon UK reviews for each one, checked the specs and independent tests, and worked out the real running costs, so you get the four worth buying and the catches buyers keep mentioning.
Quick picks
Short on time? Buy the BLACK+DECKER. It’s the most proven airer here at half the price of the famous Dry:Soon. If you want a timer and a cover in the box, the Minky 4-Tier is only £15 more.
- Best overallBLACK+DECKER 63099 3-Tier Heated AirerCheck price ↗
- Best with timer & coverMinky SureDri 4-Tier Heated Airer with CoverCheck price ↗
- Best budgetMinky SureDri Winged Heated Airer (12 m)Check price ↗
- The famous oneDry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated AirerCheck price ↗
Heated airers compared
| Airer | Power | Cost / hour* | Drying space | Max load | Timer | Cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLACK+DECKER 63099 3-Tier Heated AirerBest overall | 300W | 7.9p | About 21 m | 15 kg | No | Not included |
| Minky SureDri 4-Tier Heated Airer with CoverBest with timer & cover | 300W | 7.9p | 23 m | 20 kg | Yes, up to 9 hours | Included |
| Minky SureDri Winged Heated Airer (12 m)Best budget | 230W | 6.1p | 12 m | 16 kg | No | Check the listing: some buyers didn’t get one |
| Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated AirerThe famous one | 300W | 7.9p | 21 m across 36 heated bars | 15 kg | Yes, 1–12 hours | Sold separately (or as a bundle) |
*At 26.32p per kWh: Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 (direct debit average).
BLACK+DECKER 63099 3-Tier Heated Airer
£99.99 · ★ 4.2 from 1,552 Amazon ratings · about 7.9p an hour to run
The safest buy: over 1,500 UK ratings, bars that buyers say get properly hot, and room for a full wash load, all for about half the price of the Dry:Soon. You give up a timer, and the shelf clips need care.
What UK buyers sayBuyers say it gets properly hot, takes a full 10 kg wash and even warms a small room. The recurring gripes are the flimsy shelf clips and working out how to fold it.
- Power
- 300W
- Drying space
- About 21 m
- Max load
- 15 kg
- Timer
- No
- Cover
- Not included
- Size
- 140 × 73 × 68 cm; 4.5 kg
What buyers like
- Takes a full 10 kg wash, two loads for some buyers
- Gets hot enough to warm a small room
- Jeans and tops dry in around four hours, according to buyers
- Light, folds flat and stores easily
What buyers complain about
- Shelf clips are flimsy and can pop out when you move it
- Folding order isn’t obvious; shelves must be lowered the right way
- No timer and no cover
- A minority report it breaking early or arriving damaged
Best for: Most homes: a proven, full-size airer without paying premium prices.
Check today’s price on Amazon ↗Minky SureDri 4-Tier Heated Airer with Cover
£114.95 · ★ 4.1 from 58 Amazon ratings · about 7.9p an hour to run
The biggest airer here, with four tiers, 23 m of drying space and a 20 kg load. It includes both a timer and a cover, which the Dry:Soon charges extra for, and it currently costs far less.
What UK buyers sayBuyers call it sturdy and well made, and like that the cover is included. Heavy items can take a long time, and one buyer had trouble returning it through the seller.
- Power
- 300W
- Drying space
- 23 m
- Max load
- 20 kg
- Timer
- Yes, up to 9 hours
- Cover
- Included
- Size
- 147 × 73.5 × 71 cm open; 15.5 cm folded; 5.1 kg
What buyers like
- Largest capacity on the list
- Timer and cover both included
- Buyers describe a stronger build than other airers
- Switch it off and leave the cover on: clothes keep drying in the trapped heat
What buyers complain about
- Heavy items can take up to 16 hours
- Bigger than many buyers expect; measure your space
- Fewer reviews than the others (58)
- One buyer had a poor returns experience; check the seller before buying
Best for: Big families, bedding, and anyone who wants it to switch itself off.
Check today’s price on Amazon ↗
Minky SureDri Winged Heated Airer (12 m)
£60.00 · ★ 3.9 from 432 Amazon ratings · about 6.1p an hour to run
The cheapest airer worth buying, and the cheapest to run here at 230W. Light, quick to heat and folds almost flat, so it suits flats and smaller loads.
What UK buyers sayBuyers like how light it is and how easily it folds away. Drying performance gets mixed reviews: it only heats what touches the bars, so it suits smaller loads.
- Power
- 230W
- Drying space
- 12 m
- Max load
- 16 kg
- Timer
- No
- Cover
- Check the listing: some buyers didn’t get one
- Size
- 94 × 148 × 54 cm open; folds to 6 cm; 3.4 kg
What buyers like
- Lowest running cost on this list
- Very light, no assembly, folds to 6 cm
- Heats up quickly; a typical load dries in 4–5 hours for some buyers
What buyers complain about
- Only dries what touches the bars, so thick items take longer
- About half the space of a 3-tier airer
- One buyer’s plastic hinge snapped after 8 months
- No timer, and the cover may not be included
Best for: Flats, couples and topping up a tumble dryer.
Check today’s price on Amazon ↗Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Airer
£199.99 · ★ 4.3 from 1,573 Amazon ratings · about 7.9p an hour to run
The UK’s best-known heated airer, with the best timer here and every bar heated. We’ve moved it down our list because of how often buyers report it arriving damaged, and a handful of units failing within a year. If you buy it, unbox it straight away.
What UK buyers sayHappy owners love the timer and the even heat. But damage on arrival comes up again and again: 8 of the 18 UK reviews with photos show bent bars, cracked parts or crushed boxes. One owner found light clothes took 6–8 hours and thicker items 8–12, about the same as their old dehumidifier.
- Power
- 300W
- Drying space
- 21 m across 36 heated bars
- Max load
- 15 kg
- Timer
- Yes, 1–12 hours
- Cover
- Sold separately (or as a bundle)
- Size
- 70 × 74 × 132.5 cm open; folds to 8 cm deep
What buyers like
- The best timer here: set it to start later, stop later, or both
- Heats evenly across every bar and tier
- No assembly, and it folds with a carry handle
- Room for big items like sheets and duvet covers
What buyers complain about
- Arrival damage is the most common complaint: bent bars, dents and crushed boxes
- A few report the heat or display failing within a year
- Bars only get warm, not hot: one full load with sheets took 16 hours, even with the cover
- Short flex on the same side as the controls; feels flimsy for £200
Best for: Anyone who really wants a timer and is happy to inspect it on delivery. It’s sold by Lakeland, so returns are straightforward.
Check today’s price on Amazon ↗Or buy it bundled with the cover ↗Is a heated airer cheaper than a tumble dryer?
For small and medium loads, yes. A 300W heated airer uses 0.3 kWh an hour. At the October 2026 price cap of 26.32p per kWh, that is about 7.9p an hour, so a six-hour session costs under 50p.
Which? estimated about £46 a year to run a heated airer for a small household, compared with about £79 for a condenser tumble dryer and £93 for a vented one. For very large loads, a tumble dryer becomes the better balance of speed and cost, and if you already own a heat-pump dryer, stick with it.
Source: Which? running-cost estimates. Heated airer at about 7.9p an hour (300W at 26.32p per kWh).
How long does a heated airer take to dry clothes?
Longer than most people expect. UK buyers report around four hours for jeans and tops on a lightly loaded airer, six to eight hours for light clothing on a full airer, and eight to twelve hours for thicker items. One buyer drying sheets and a bed protector with the cover on needed sixteen hours.
The reason is simple: only the parts of the fabric touching the bars dry quickly. Spreading items out, laying towels flat across the top tier and turning things halfway through make a bigger difference than the airer you choose.
Based on drying times described in Amazon UK reviews of the airers in this guide. Your results depend on spin speed, room temperature and how you load it.
Do you need a heated airer cover?
A cover traps the heat around your washing and speeds drying noticeably, which is why buyers of the Minky 4-Tier rate having one in the box. But several buyers warn that a cover also traps moisture, leaving clothes damp or musty if you seal it up straight away.
Run it uncovered for the first hour or two, or crack a window, then zip the cover on. Keep the airer away from curtains and furniture, plug it straight into the wall rather than a cheap extension lead, and don’t leave it running overnight unattended. A timer makes that easy.
Heated airer FAQs
How much does a heated airer cost to run in the UK?
A 300W heated airer costs about 7.9p an hour at the October–December 2026 price cap of 26.32p per kWh. A 230W model costs about 6.1p an hour.
Which heated airer is the cheapest to run?
Of these four, the Minky SureDri Winged airer is cheapest to run at 230W, about 6p an hour. It also has the smallest capacity.
Do heated airers really dry clothes?
Yes, but more slowly than a tumble dryer. Buyers report around four hours for jeans and tops on a lightly loaded airer, and 12 hours or more for a packed full load. Spreading items out and turning them halfway makes the biggest difference.
Is the Dry:Soon heated airer worth it?
It has the best timer and heats evenly, but it costs about £200, buyers frequently report it arriving damaged, and drying is slow on full loads. Most people will be better served by the BLACK+DECKER at about half the price.
Do heated airers arrive damaged?
It happens, especially with the Dry:Soon: 8 of its 18 UK reviews with photos show damage on arrival. Unpack any airer straight away, check the bars and hinges, and use the return window if anything is bent.
Is it safe to leave a heated airer on overnight?
It is best not to leave any heated airer running unattended. Choose one with a timer, such as the Minky SureDri 4-Tier or Dry:Soon Deluxe, so it switches itself off.
Is a heated airer worth it with a cover?
Usually, yes. A cover traps the heat and speeds drying, but buyers warn it can trap moisture too. Leave it uncovered for the first couple of hours or keep a window cracked. The Minky 4-Tier includes one; Dry:Soon sells it separately or as a bundle.
How I picked these
I read the Amazon UK reviews for each airer, looking for the praise and complaints that come up repeatedly, then checked manufacturer specifications and independent tests and worked out running costs at the current Ofgem price cap. I haven’t used every airer myself. Where I have hands-on notes, they’re labelled. Read how I pick products.