Best heated clothes airers UK: 5 picks to dry washing for pennies an hour
A heated airer won't replace a tumble dryer for everyone, but for many UK households it dries a winter wash for a fraction of the cost. Here's how the popular models compare.
How we chose: We compared drying space, load capacity, wattage and covers from manufacturer listings, drew on drying-time tests published by The Guardian and Which?, and reviewed owner feedback on Amazon.co.uk. We have not personally tested these products; this is a research-based roundup. Our research process.
Quick picks
- Best overallDry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Clothes Airer with TimerCheck price
- Best with cover includedBLACK+DECKER 3-Tier Heated Airer with Cover & Wheels (63091)Check price
- Best value towerBLACK+DECKER 3-Tier Heated Clothes Airer (63099)Check price
- Best winged airerMinky SureDRI Winged Heated Clothes Airer (12m)Check price
- Budget pickBLACK+DECKER Winged Heated Clothes Airer (63159)Check price
Heated airers are aluminium drying racks with gently warmed bars. They typically draw 200–300W, roughly a tenth of a tumble dryer, so many UK households have switched to one since energy prices rose. They work by warming the fabric touching the bars and the air around them, so how fast they dry depends on how you load them, whether you use a cover, and how damp the room is.
There are two main designs. Tiered (tower) airers have two or three levels and dry the most washing in the least floor space. Winged airers are lighter, cheaper and fold away easily, but hold less. Which? has found tiered designs generally strike the best balance of speed and running cost.
Comparison table
| Pick | Type | Drying space | Max load | Cover | Power | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-TierBest overall | 3-tier tower | 21m | 15kg | Sold separately | 300W | Check price |
| Black+Decker 3-Tier + CoverBest with cover included | 3-tier tower | 21m | 15kg | Included | 300W | Check price |
| Black+Decker 3-TierBest value tower | 3-tier tower | 21m | 15kg | Not included | 300W | Check price |
| Minky SureDRI WingedBest winged airer | Winged | 12m | 16kg (maker) | Not included | Check listing | Check price |
| Black+Decker WingedBudget pick | Winged | 11.5m | 10kg | Not included | Check listing | Check price |
Specs are from manufacturer listings as of 19 October 2026; claimed figures (running costs, runtimes) are the maker’s, not ours. Check the Amazon page for the current price and exact variant before you buy.
The picks in detail
Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Clothes Airer with Timer
Best for: Families drying full loads several times a week
- Type
- 3-tier tower
- Drying space
- 21m
- Max load
- 15kg
- Cover
- Sold separately
- Power
- 300W
Lakeland's Dry:Soon Deluxe is the airer most UK reviewers measure others against. The Guardian's tester dried a 4kg load in about two hours, at a cost of roughly 9p an hour, and rated it the best choice for full loads. Amazon owners are mostly positive (around 4.3 stars from 1,500+ ratings), and several say theirs has lasted 4–5 years. A minority find it slow without a cover. The open-sided H-frame makes it easier to load than closed-end towers, and the 1–12 hour timer means you can set it and forget it, which most rivals lack.
It's expensive for an airer, and the Amazon listing is for the airer only. The fitted cover, which speeds up drying noticeably, is an extra purchase. It folds to about 8cm deep for storage.
What owners and reviewers like
- Large 21m drying space across 3 tiers
- Built-in 1–12 hour timer
- Easy-access open frame
- Strong independent test results
Watch-outs
- Pricey, and some owners don't think it's worth it
- Cover not included
- Some reports of it getting wobbly over time
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BLACK+DECKER 3-Tier Heated Airer with Cover & Wheels (63091)
Best for: Anyone who wants Dry:Soon-style capacity with a cover in the box
- Type
- 3-tier tower
- Drying space
- 21m
- Max load
- 15kg
- Cover
- Included
- Power
- 300W
This Black+Decker tower matches the Dry:Soon on paper, with 21m of drying space and a 15kg load, and adds a fitted cover and wheels in the box. The cover traps warm air around the washing, which is the single biggest factor in how fast any heated airer dries. Wheels make it easy to move to a spare room overnight.
There's no timer, so you'll need a plug-in timer socket if you want it to switch off automatically. Owner ratings average around 4.1 stars. Most owners say it dries a full wash overnight, and the top rails dry fastest. Some say a big load takes closer to 24 hours, or that the bars don't get very warm, which is typical of 300W towers.
What owners and reviewers like
- Cover and wheels included
- 21m / 15kg capacity
- Folds flat
- 2-year manufacturer guarantee
Watch-outs
- No built-in timer
- Big loads can take up to a day
- Mixed views on how warm the bars get
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BLACK+DECKER 3-Tier Heated Clothes Airer (63099)
Best for: Large loads on a tighter budget
- Type
- 3-tier tower
- Drying space
- 21m
- Max load
- 15kg
- Cover
- Not included
- Power
- 300W
The same frame as the version above, without the cover and wheels, and usually quite a bit cheaper. It arrives assembled, so you just unfold it and plug it in. Black+Decker quotes a running cost of around 8.4p an hour. With 1,500+ ratings it is one of the most reviewed heated airers on Amazon.co.uk.
Owners mostly say it dries a full load overnight and warms a small room, and several point out that a cover makes a big difference. The main complaints are about the frame: a minority report breakages within months, so handle the hinges gently.
What owners and reviewers like
- Same 21m/15kg capacity as pricier towers
- Arrives assembled
- Lots of owner reviews
- Low maker-quoted running cost
Watch-outs
- No cover or timer
- Some reports of the frame breaking
- Takes floor space
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Minky SureDRI Winged Heated Clothes Airer (12m)
Best for: Small homes that need to fold the airer away after every use
- Type
- Winged
- Drying space
- 12m
- Max load
- 16kg (maker)
- Cover
- Not included
- Power
- Check listing
Minky is a long-standing UK laundry brand, and the SureDRI winged airer is a light, fold-flat design with 12m of drying space and 19 individual rails, so you can hang shirts on hangers. Minky quotes about 8p an hour to run. It's a sensible size for couples, or as a second airer for towels and smalls.
Owner ratings are mixed, averaging just under 4 stars. People like that it's light and easy to put up. The complaints are that it mainly dries the parts of clothes touching the bars, and a few say the hinge failed within weeks. That's typical of uncovered winged designs, which dry more slowly than a covered tower.
What owners and reviewers like
- Light and folds flat
- 19 rails, including hanger-friendly ones
- Low running cost (maker figure)
- Trusted UK brand
Watch-outs
- Mixed owner reviews
- Some hinge/sturdiness complaints
- No cover in this version
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BLACK+DECKER Winged Heated Clothes Airer (63159)
Best for: Smaller loads, towels and delicates on a budget
- Type
- Winged
- Drying space
- 11.5m
- Max load
- 10kg
- Cover
- Not included
- Power
- Check listing
The Guardian recommended this Black+Decker winged airer as the cheaper, lighter option for lighter loads. Its tester dried a small load in about 4 hours 15 minutes at roughly 10p an hour. It weighs about 3.5kg, so it's easy to move, and Black+Decker quotes about 6.2p an hour.
Amazon ratings are lower than for the towers (around 3.6 stars). Owners say it heats well for small items, but complain that the legs feel flimsy with heavy loads and that clothes only dry where they touch the bars. Buy it for small top-up loads rather than as your only way to dry a family's washing.
What owners and reviewers like
- Cheap to buy and run
- Light and compact
- Good for towels and smalls
Watch-outs
- Mixed reviews; flimsy legs under heavy loads
- Only 10kg / 11.5m
- Slow for big or heavy loads
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Tiered vs winged
Choose a tiered tower if you dry full loads regularly. You get 20m+ of drying space in a small footprint, and with a cover it dries faster. Choose a winged airer if storage space is tight or you mainly dry smaller loads. It's lighter and folds flatter, but holds less and dries more slowly.
Covers make the biggest difference
A fitted cover traps the warm air and can cut drying times considerably. If your airer doesn't come with one, a brand-matched cover is usually worth buying. A light cotton sheet over the top is a free alternative. Don't use thick blankets that block airflow completely, and always follow the maker's safety instructions.
What does it cost to run?
Most heated airers draw 200–300W. At about 26p per kWh (Ofgem's average price-cap unit rate for October–December 2026), that's around 5–8p an hour, or roughly 20–60p for a load depending on how long it takes. By comparison, a tumble dryer cycle often costs £1 or more. Pairing an airer with a dehumidifier in a small closed room usually gives the fastest, driest results (see our dehumidifier guide).
Loading tips
- Spin clothes at the highest safe speed first; less water in means faster drying.
- Lay thick items (jeans, hoodies) directly on heated bars and drape thin items across the top.
- Don't overload: air needs to circulate.
- Turn heavy items halfway through.
- Check care labels; some fabrics (wool, silk, elastane-heavy items) shouldn't go on heat.
Safety
Use the airer on a flat, stable floor, plug it directly into a wall socket rather than a daisy-chained extension, and keep it away from curtains and water. Only use covers designed for the airer or light fabrics, and switch off when you go out unless the maker says it's fine to leave running.
FAQs
Are heated airers cheaper than tumble dryers?
Usually, per hour by a wide margin: about 5–8p an hour for a 300W airer versus far more for most tumble dryers. They take longer, though, so the saving depends on load size and how you use them.
How long does a heated airer take to dry clothes?
Anywhere from about two hours for a well-spread load on a covered tower to six hours or more for heavy items on a winged airer. Room temperature and humidity make a big difference.
Can I leave a heated airer on overnight?
Many people do, but check your model's instructions. A built-in timer (like the Dry:Soon's) or a plug-in timer socket is the safest way to limit running time.
Do heated airers cause damp?
The water in your washing has to go somewhere, so drying indoors raises humidity. Open a window slightly or run a dehumidifier in the same room to avoid condensation and mould.
Is a cover worth it?
Yes, especially on tiered airers. A cover traps warm air around the washing and speeds up drying.
Sources we consulted
- The Guardian, The Filter: best heated clothes airers tested
- Which?: are heated airers worth it?
- Which?: best heated clothes airers
- Lakeland: Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier
- Ofgem: energy price cap
Prices change constantly, so we don’t list them here. Always check the current price, seller and delivery details on Amazon before buying. If anything on this page looks wrong or out of date, tell us.
