AS a mum of two energetic girls, the laundry pile never quits. It’s a load a day, or the basket turns into a battlefield.
Drying is the real slog. On a standard airer, a full wash can take the best part of a day, and in winter, you’re left with damp rooms and condensation.
I used to side‑eye heated airers—until I tested a stack of them.
I’m now a convert. The good ones cut drying times to a few hours, help keep condensation in check, and deliver that last‑minute PE‑kit rescue.
Most run at 200–300W, so you’re looking at roughly 5p–10p per hour at typical 2025 electricity rates—much cheaper than a tumble‑dryer cycle.
Pair one with a cover (or a dehumidifier) and you’ll speed things up even more.
For this guide, we’ve tried and tested popular models from Lakeland, Argos, Dunelm, Aldi and more to find the quickest, most efficient and easiest to store.
Here’s what impressed us—and what to avoid.
How we tested heated clothes airers
Our reviewers tested the heated clothes airers in real-life situations at home, using them to dry their family’s wash.
They tested how practical the airers were to use, how much space they occupied when in use, and whether they were foldable or easy to store away.
Our testers also considered how they looked and how much energy they consumed, in addition to factors such as cable length, whether the airer came with a cover for quicker drying, and extras like different temperature and time settings.
How much each airer can dry at any one time depends on the size of the appliance, with some airers able to handle full wash loads, while others have limited capacity, so are better suited to one or two-person households rather than larger families.
The best electric heated clothes airers in 2025
1. Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Airer and Cover Bundle
Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Airer and Cover Bundle
£244.98
Pros: Large capacity, saves money in the long run, worth the price, bundle includes cover
Cons: Expensive if you’re on a budget
Rating: 10/10
Lakeland’s Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Airer is the priciest airer on this list, so I was intrigued to see if it would significantly speed up drying times.
Its large size means it’s not ideal for tight spaces, but the well-designed cover with zips helps insulate the heat effectively.
After hanging my washing on it and placing the cover on top, each time I went to check up on how things were doing, warm air wafted out from under the cover – so it held in the heat.
While moving it can be cumbersome due to its size and weight, the savings from reduced dryer and radiator use could offset the high cost.
And although expensive, I think it’s an investment worth considering – proving that quality often justifies the price.
Capacity: 15kg, Size: 70 x 74 x 132.5cm H. Folds to 8cm deep, Power: 300W
2. Black and Decker 3-Tiered Heated Airer
This beast of a dryer gives you 21 metres of drying space[/caption]
Black and Decker 3-Tiered Heated Airer
£164.99
Pros: Doesn’t take up a lot of room, folds away, and takes six hours to dry
Cons: Unsightly
Rating: 8/10
The daddy of all dryers, this is a large aluminium beast boasting 21 metres of drying space, which is incredible.
I managed to get two whole loads on one dryer, and that’s the ultimate time-saver.
It comes flat and then smoothly folds out with shelves that you click in. Although it’s 140cm high and 73cm wide, it folds down really smoothly.
It’s activated with a simple switch without timers, and, as with all these products, I never think the (1.6m) power cable is long enough; unless you start involving extension leads, you’re trapped into where you can put it.
And although it doesn’t take up a huge amount of room, once it’s got the cover on top, it’s rather imposing and not that attractive, which is not ideal if you live out of one room.
However, one load dried in only six hours with the hood on, which is absolutely brilliant.
I don’t think I’d use the cover unless I needed really speedy drying, as it works very well without it.
Capacity: 15kg, Size: 140cm H x 73cm W x 68cm D Power 3000W
3. Argos Home 11.5m Heated Electric Indoor Clothes Airer
It’s pretty basic, but will certainly get the job done[/caption]
Argos Home 11.5m Heated Electric Indoor Clothes Airer
£30
Pros: Sturdy, easily hang a family load of washing on it, 10kg capacity, lightweight
Cons: Basic
Rating: 8/10
This Argos heated clothes airer does exactly what it says on the tin.
It folds out nicely, looks sturdy, and boasts a large drying area over 18 smooth-to-the-touch racks.
You could easily hang a family load of washing on there; it says it can take up to 10kg.
It folds up small, and crucially, it’s lightweight, so it can be carried and stored away when you don’t need it.
Also, this is ideal for taking outside in the summer when you don’t need to heat it.
It’s basic but decent and heats to a nice temperature; a really good budget buy.
Capacity: 10kg, Size: H93 x W84 x D54cm Power: 120 watts
4. Asda Heated Winged Clothes Airer
Asda Heated Winged Clothes Airer
£40
Pros: Easy to set up, cheap to run
Cons: Took nine hours to fully dry clothes, 5KG capacity
Rating: 8/10
Asda’s airer was much easier to set up than the other winged airers, and the legs are already attached.
During the drying process, I found the clothes weren’t drying fully and needed to be moved twice.
It took approximately nine hours to dry completely, which cost around 56p.
Thicker items like towels and heavier t-shirts took the longest, while lighter bits like sports bras and socks took far less.
That’s because the gadget uses 230W of energy, which is the equivalent of 6p an hour.
Capacity: 5kg, Size: H54 x W147 x D94 cm, Power: 230 watts
5. JML DriBUDDI Heated Indoor Airer
JML DriBUDDI Heated Indoor Airer
£79
Pros: Six hours to dry load
Cons: Loud when in use, doesn’t fold down after use, doesn’t have the largest capacity
Rating: 6/10
This was an unusual style of dryer we’d not seen before, with a rather loud fan attached to a tower from which you hang your clothes up.
Unlike some of the others, you have to put the contraption together yourself, and it doesn’t fold down, which is definitely a downside.
It also doesn’t hold as many clothes as the usual airers, although there’s no denying it’s quicker at drying than some of the others.
While loose tops took a couple of hours, jeans and thick jumpers took about double that.
This airer was slightly more expensive, though; it uses 1200W an hour.
It took around six hours to dry the full load, which equates to £1.94 in total.
Capacity: 10kg, Size: H: 133cm, D: 64cm, Power: 850 watts
6. Lakeland Dry Soon Mini 3-Tier Heated Airer
Dry Soon Mini 3-Tier Heated Airer
£129.99
Pros: Great size, good for smaller spaces, fits a week’s worth of washing on it
Cons: Pricey cover not included
Rating: 4/5
This Lakeland heated clothes airer comes without a cover, unlike the other two I tried.
You have to buy the Dry:Soon Mini 3-Tier Heated Airer Cover separately, which is available from the retailer for an extra £39.99 – pricey!
But what’s great about this airer is its size. It has three layers and is tall, rather than folding out like the Aldi one, which can be extremely beneficial for smaller spaces.
It also has more bars to dry clothes on than the two from Amazon and Aldi I tested, holding a week’s worth of washing.
Lastly, it uses only 229Wph, which means it costs 62p for eight hours of usage.
Capacity: 15kg Size: 60 x 63 x 113.5cm Power: 198W
7. Amazon Concise Home Electric Clothes Dryer
This dryer from Amazon is quite unsightly and doesn’t fold up[/caption]
Concise Home Electric Clothes Dryer
£49.99
Pros: Only takes two hours to dry clothes, can double as a heater
Cons: Unsightly, burning smell, loud
Rating: 6/10
This dryer from Amazon is slightly different to the other ones I tested, as it uses an electric fan rather than heated rails to warm up the clothes.
While this dryer uses considerably more energy (940Wph), it dries clothes much quicker, requiring at most two hours of runtime.
Once it’s done, it turns itself off automatically, so despite its higher energy use, it still costs just 64p to run.
The fan can also double as a heater, although it was quite loud and had a slight burning smell.
The other problem with this dryer is that the cover is quite ugly, bright blue. It also doesn’t fold away, which means you’re stuck with an unsightly box in your home at all times – there’s no hiding this one.
Capacity: 15kg, Size: 140 x 45 x 60cm Power: 1000W
8. Aldi Ambiano Heated Upright Airer
This Aldi bestsellers is an appealing budget-friendly option[/caption]
Aldi Ambiano Heated Upright Airer
£79.99 (currently out of stock)
Pros: Cheaper than others on the market, includes drying cover and extra racks, heats up fast, dries up to 30kg of washing
Cons: Bulky and hard to store, not very lightweight, average drying results
Rating: 6/10
The Aldi heated clothes airer was released in stores on October 20th and quickly sold out.
Priced at £79.99, it’s more affordable than competitors – and with running costs under 9p per hour, it’s an appealing budget-friendly option.
The unit is large, cumbersome, and requires assembly with a screwdriver.
While it boasts multiple racks and accessories like mesh shelves and peg hangers, these additions don’t all heat up.
Although effective for up to 30kg of laundry, thicker items require rotation for complete drying.
My overall verdict is that it’s good but not exceptional.
Capacity: Up to 30kg, Size: 140 x 45 x 60cm, Power: 300W
Best electric heated clothes airers FAQs
Do heated clothes airers use a lot of electricity?
The majority of heated clothes airers are not expensive, with some costing as little as 3p an hour to run.
However, it’s best to check with your energy provider to get an estimate on how much it costs to run a heated clothes airer.
Heated airers are actually more environmentally friendly than having your heating on and drying your clothes on a non-electric drying rack.
You can save money on energy bills by investing in one, that’s for sure.
Are heated clothes airers worth it?
Think of electric heated clothes airers as an upgrade from your bog-standard drying racks.
Often, letting clothes dry on an ordinary airer can leave them smelling damp because they just take too long to dry without the help of sunshine. Britain’s not reliable for that either.
Heated clothes airers are definitely worth investing in, as they can save both time and money on central heating.
The airers we tested did the job, and the best of the mid-tier models were distinguished by their energy efficiency and low operating costs.
We also love heated airers that can be folded and stored away easily.
This means if your room is small, you don’t have to have the airer constantly in your view, and you can put it out of sight when you’re not using it.
How long does a heated airer take to dry clothes?
The time it takes to dry your clothes on a heated clothes airer depends on the capacity of your airer and its maximum temperature.
Cotton or linen will usually dry in three to four hours on your heated airer, whereas thicker fabrics such as knit jumpers might take ten hours.
Each heated clothes airer has individual instructions, although they are generally similar to operate — you hang your clothes on the airer, plug it in and switch it on.
The maximum temperature varies between brands and even within products; however, the top temperature appears to be around 60 degrees.
If the space your airer is situated in is breezy, then the temperature will drop, and as a result, it will take longer to fully dry your clothes.
Most airers we tested took between two and six hours to dry a load of clothing.
But that’s much quicker than an old-fashioned, non-electric one.
Can I leave my electric clothes dryer on overnight?
If used responsibly, heated clothes airers are perfectly safe to use, although they shouldn’t be left on overnight or unattended.
As with anything that emits heat, electric clothes dryers can be fire hazards when left on for too long.
When using any electrical appliance in and around the home, you should always read the instructions and safety advice before using it.
Best way to dry clothes/ hang clothes on a heated airer
When hanging clothes on a heated clothes airer, think of it as playing Tetris with your laundry.
Start with heavier items, such as jeans or towels, on the outer bars, as they need all the extra heat they can get.
Hang shirts and PJs in the middle, where they can soak in the warmth.
The key is not to cram everything in, as your clothes need space for air to circulate so they dry properly.
Pair the lightest items like socks and underwear together on the smaller bars, as they’ll be the quickest to dry.
For best results, you’ll want to rotate your clothes halfway through for an even finish.
Dehumidifier vs heated airer: which is best?
Wondering what’s best for drying laundry: a dehumidifier or heated airer?
When it’s too cold and wet to dry laundry outside, both dehumidifiers and heated airers offer indoor solutions.
Dehumidifiers work by absorbing moisture from the air surrounding wet clothes. The dried air is then warmed back to room temperature and blown out, which lowers the humidity in the room and encourages moisture from the clothes to evaporate more quickly.
It also helps to prevent dreaded mould, which can often rear its ugly head in the winter with all that excess wet laundry indoors.
Heated airers dry wet laundry by using electric heating elements within their bars to generate warmth. When clothes are draped over the bars, the heat is transferred directly to the fabric – speeding up the evaporation of moisture.
Some heated airers also come with a cover or hood to trap heat, creating an insulating effect that further boosts drying efficiency.
The verdict:
Both options can be significantly cheaper and more energy-efficient than running the tumble dryer.
For the fastest results, using both can be highly effective. Running a dehumidifier helps circulate dry air and prevent moisture buildup by using a heated air dryer.
Our writer, Harriet Cooke, put both options to the test (plus a fan hack) in our heated airer dehumidifier fan test.
She ultimately preferred using a dehumidifier, noting that “it not only dries clothes but also deals with the mould and moisture – all for similar energy consumption, around 245 – 250 watts”.
Don’t miss out…
Visit The Sun’s shopping home and garden hub for more news, deals and tips.
For more discounts and recommendations from the Sun Shopping team, sign up to our newsletter and join the WhatsApp group.