AS a mum of two energetic girls, the laundry pile never quits — and now the days are shorter and the weather’s turning, the sheets are coming inside again.
That’s when the best heated clothes airers really earn their keep.
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Radiators leave rooms damp, and a standard airer can take all day to dry a wash.
I used to side‑eye them, but testing these heated clothes airers made me a convert.
The right ones cut drying times to a few hours, help keep condensation in check and save those last‑minute PE‑kit panics.
Most run at 200–300W, so you’re looking at roughly 5–10p per hour at typical 2025 rates — far cheaper than a tumble dryer.
Add a cover (or one of the best dehumidifiers) to speed things up.
For this guide, I’ve tried popular picks from Lakeland, Argos, Aldi, Asda, Swan and more to find what’s quickest, most efficient and easiest to stash away.
Here’s what impressed me — and what to skip.
How we tested
This was hands-on, at home, with real family laundry.
We ran each airer through typical autumn/winter loads (think school uniforms, towels, jeans and bedding) to see how they cope when the weather turns and everything has to dry indoors.
We looked at:
- Drying speed to “cupboard dry” with and without a cover where supplied
- Practicality: footprint in use, folding depth for storage, cable length and ease of assembly
- Build: stability, bar spacing, quality control, noise and any smells
- Extras that matter day to day: timers, covers, safety features and accessories
To estimate running costs, we monitored wattage and used a typical 2025 UK tariff to calculate cost per hour: power (W) ÷ 1000 × unit rate.
Most bar‑heated racks draw 200–300W (roughly 5–10p per hour at ~30p/kWh), while fan‑assisted pods sit closer to 850–1000W (around 25–30p per hour).
Your bill will vary with your tariff and how long you run them.
Finally, we scored each model on drying performance, value, ease of use and how well it fits real homes where space is tight and laundry is constant.
If you want to see how similar testing revealed the best air purifiers and best dehumidifiers you can buy, head to our guides.
The best electric heated clothes airers in 2025
- Best overall: Lakeland Dry:Soon Deluxe 3‑Tier Airer
- Best budget: Argos Home 11.5m Heated Electric Indoor Airer
- Best for large loads: Swan 3‑Tier Heated Clothes Airer
- Best for delicates: Beldray Heated Airer with Wings
- Best for easy setup: Asda Heated Winged Clothes Airer
1. Lakeland Dry: Soon Deluxe 3 Tier Heated Clothes Airer
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Lakeland Dry: Soon Deluxe 3 Tier Heated Clothes Airer
£244.98
Pros: Large 15kg capacity; zipped cover included for faster, even drying; can reduce reliance on tumble dryers/radiators, saving money over time; solid, durable build
Cons: Expensive upfront; large footprint; awkward to move when loaded
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.
Cost to run: 9p per hour
Capacity: 15kg; Size: 70 x 74 x 132.5cm; Folds to: 8cm deep; Power: 300W; Bundle: Zipped cover included
2. Swan 3 Tier Heated Clothes Airer
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Swan 3 Tier Heated Clothes Airer
£99.99
Pros: Big 21.5m drying space handles towels and bedding; fast-drying and folds for easy storage; overheat protection for safer use
Cons: Higher running cost than smaller models; frame can feel flimsy; occasional QC niggles
Rating: 9/10
One of the biggest you can buy with 21.5 metres of drying space.
It’s a sleek, space-saving design that dries clothes quickly and efficiently.
It’s big enough to cope with everything from delicate garments to larger items like towels and bedding.
It has safety features to prevent overheating.
It’s more expensive to run than some of the smaller models, but it was the fastest to dry clothes.
The frame was a little flimsy. In fact, one bar of mine was a little bent on arrival.
But overall I was very happy and would recommend.
Cost to run: 9p per hour
Capacity: 21.5m drying space; Size: 70 x 73 x 147cm; Folds to: Flat; Power: 300W; Bundle: Airer only
3. Beldray Heated Airer with Wings
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Beldray Heated Airer with Wings
£54.99
Pros: Up to 15kg capacity with flexible fold‑out wings; low 230W power draw; folds flat for easy storage; low profile; great for laying delicates flat
Cons: Slower than airers with covers; assembly can feel fiddly; frame flex
Rating: 8/10
This device may appear small, but it is an affordable airer that offers sufficient space to handle up to 15kg of laundry – approximately one load – across 18 heated bars.
Very handy that it could be used with the wings both extended or collapsed, so it took up less space if you only had a small amount of washing to dry.
It’s quite long but not tall, so you don’t have washing constantly in your eyeline, which was an issue with other airers.
It features a handy design that allows delicate items to be laid flat to dry. Drying time was reasonable, but it wasn’t as fast as those with covers.
I did have to force the brackets a bit when putting it together, and I worried it would break, but it held up okay.
A good space-saving and budget option.
Cost to run: 6.9p per hour
Capacity: Up to 15kg; Size: 91 x 54 x 148cm; Folds to: Flat; Power: 230W; Bundle: Airer only
4. Black + Decker 3-Tiered Heated Airer
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Black + Decker 3-Tiered Heated Airer
£164.99
Pros: Huge 21m drying space; aluminium build; cover included; around 6-hour dry with cover; folds for storage; wheels for easier moving
Cons: Not the most attractive with the cover on; tall, broad footprint may dominate small rooms
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 considerable 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.
Cost to run: 9p per hour
Capacity: 15kg; Size: 140 x 73 x 68cm; Folds to: Flat; Power: 300W; Bundle: Cover and wheels included
5. Argos Home 11.5m Heated Electric Indoor Clothes Airer
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Argos Home 11.5m Heated Electric Indoor Clothes Airer
£30
Pros: Sturdy yet lightweight; easy to carry and store; 10kg capacity across 18 heated rails handles a family load; simple, affordable, and heats evenly
Cons: Basic on/off design; no timer or cover; less drying space than 3‑tier tower airers
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.
Cost to run: 3.6p per hour
Capacity: 10kg; Size: 93 x 84 x 54cm; Folds to: Flat; Power: 120W; Bundle: Airer only
6. Asda Heated Winged Clothes Airer
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Asda Heated Winged Clothes Airer
£40
Pros: Quick, hassle-free setup; legs pre-attached; cheap to run (around 6p per hour at 230W); low profile and folds flat for easy storage
Cons: Smaller 5kg capacity; slower drying; may need to reposition clothes
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.
Cost to run: 6.9p per hour
Capacity: 5kg; Size: 54 x 147 x 94cm; Folds to: Flat; Power: 230W; Bundle: Airer only
7. Lakeland Dry Soon Mini 3-Tier Heated Airer
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Lakeland Dry Soon Mini 3-Tier Heated Airer
£129.99
Pros: Tall, space‑saving design that suits small rooms; plenty of bars; holds up to 15kg (a week’s worth of washing); low running costs with gentle, even drying
Cons: Cover not included and is pricey separately; slower than insulated setups without the cover
Rating: 8/10
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.
Cost to run: 6p per hour
Capacity: 15kg; Size: 60 x 63 x 113.5cm; Folds to: Flat; Power: 198W; Bundle: Airer only; optional Dry:Soon Mini cover sold separately
8. JML DriBUDDI Heated Indoor Airer
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JML DriBUDDI Heated Indoor Airer
£79
Pros: Quicker than most static airers; roughly six hours for a full load; tall, compact footprint suits tighter floorspaces; simple, effective warm-air drying
Cons: Loud in use; doesn’t fold down; smaller capacity than big 3-tier racks
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 850W an hour.
It took around six hours to dry the full load, which equates to £1.94 in total.
Cost to run: 25.5p per hour
Capacity: 10kg; Size: 133 x 64cm; Folds to: N/A; Power: 850W; Bundle: Main unit with fan tower
9. Amazon Concise Home Electric Clothes Dryer
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Amazon Concise Home Electric Clothes Dryer
£49.99
Pros: Fast drying: around 2 hours per load with auto shut-off; large 15kg capacity in a compact footprint; good per-cycle cost despite higher wattage
Cons: Loud in use and visually bulky with the cover; doesn’t fold for storage
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.
Cost to run: 30p per hour
Capacity: 15kg; Size: 140 x 45 x 60cm; Folds to: N/A; Power: up to 1000W; Bundle: Dryer pod with frame, fan unit and cover
10. Aldi Ambiano Heated Upright Airer
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Aldi Ambiano Heated Upright Airer
£79.99 (currently out of stock)
Pros: Low running cost with quick warm-up; big capacity with bundled cover and accessories; upright design makes good use of vertical space
Cons: Bulky to store; requires assembly; thicker items may need rotating for an even dry
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 and cumbersome, requiring 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.
Cost to run: 9p per hour
Capacity: up to 30kg; Size: 140 x 45 x 60cm; Folds to: N/A; Power: 300W; Bundle: Cover, mesh shelves, peg hangers included
11. Daewoo 3-tier Heated Airier with Cover
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Daewoo 3-tier Heated Airier with Cover
£149
Pros: Compact footprint; folds flat for easy storage; low 300W running cost; cover helps retain heat and speed drying
Cons: Slower on thicker items; may need rotation; blue cover looks cheap/obtrusive
Rating: 5/10
The bars of this airer warmed up quickly to around 40°C, which was hot enough to dry damp towels and socks in just a couple of hours.
It’s not as huge as some units if you are tight on space, with a footprint of just 60 x 62 cm.
It only has around 11m of drying space, again holding around 15kg of washing.
This small load still took over three hours to dry. The blue plastic cover isn’t very nice and looks cheap.
I didn’t like it out in my kitchen. Overall, I think it’s worth investing a bit more and getting something that dries clothes a bit quicker.
Cost to run: 9p per hour
Capacity: up to 30kg; Size: 60 x 62cm; Folds to: Flat; Power: 300W; Bundle: Airer with cover included
12. Argos Home 3-Tier Heated Airer
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Argos Home 3-Tier Heated Airer
£105
Pros: Generous 3‑tier hanging space with 15kg capacity; lightweight and easy to carry; folds flat for storage
Cons: Flimsy build; clip broke during setup; slow drying without a cover
Rating: 3/10
Argos‘ model was quite flimsy.
I didn’t quite open this correctly on the first try, and one of the rack clips broke off before I’d even had a chance to dry any clothes on it.
I would have expected better for the price.
It’s quite bulky too, and even though it can hold 15kg of washing, clothes took days to fully dry, even when I turned them regularly.
Lightweight and easy to carry, but overpriced.
Cost to run: 9p per hour
Capacity: 15kg; Size: 144 x 75 x 75cm; Folds to: Flat; Power: 300W; Bundle: Airer only
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 vs dehumidifier vs 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”.
Electric heated clothes airers FAQs
Are heated clothes airers worth it?
Heated clothes airers are an upgrade on a bog‑standard rack, especially now it’s colder and everything’s drying indoors.
On a regular airer, laundry can sit damp for ages; a good heated model cuts that to a few hours and helps keep condensation under control.
Most bar‑heated racks use around 200–300W, so you’re looking at roughly 5–10p per hour on typical 2025 tariffs — far less than a tumble‑dryer cycle.
Pick one with a cover (or use a dehumidifier) for faster results, and choose a fold‑flat design so it disappears when the washing’s done.
Are heated clothes airers cheap to run?
Bar‑heated racks sip around 200–300W, which works out at roughly 5–10p per hour on typical 2025 tariffs.
Fan‑assisted pods draw more (about 850–1000W), so think 25–30p per hour, but they dry faster, so the per‑load cost can still be modest.
The real number depends on your tariff: cost per hour = wattage ÷ 1000 × your unit rate (p/kWh).
If you want to save more, add a zipped cover or run a dehumidifier to shorten run times, and don’t over‑pack the rails.
Do heated clothes airers cause condensation?
Heated airers evaporate moisture from clothes, and without good airflow that water ends up in your room as humidity, which leads to condensation and, over time, damp.
The fix is simple: ventilate while you dry—crack a window, run an extractor, or team your airer with a dehumidifier to pull moisture from the air.
Keep loads sensible and give thicker items space so they finish faster, and you’ll keep condensation in check while still speeding up laundry.
Are heated clothes airers safe to use overnight?
Most heated airers have overheat protection, but manufacturers generally advise against leaving any heat‑emitting appliance unattended.
If you are tempted, set a timer so it switches off before bed, keep it clear of bedding and curtains, use only the brand’s cover, and ventilate the room.
Plug straight into a wall socket (no daisy‑chained extensions), keep cables dry and out of walkways, and read the manual.
My rule: run it in the evening, then let residual warmth finish the job while you sleep.
How long do heated airers take to dry clothes?
Most loads need around 3–5 hours on a heated airer, depending on fabric and how packed the rails are.
Light cottons are often done in roughly four hours, while bulky bits like jeans and chunky knits can take longer.
Use a zipped cover or park a dehumidifier nearby to speed things up and keep moisture in check—it can shave hours off in the right setup.
Cooler, draughty rooms slow everything down.
In real use, expect roughly 3–6 hours for a family load, with quicker turnarounds on lighter mixes.
