Page last updated on 22nd April 2026
Drying clothes outside: does air drying clothes save money?
With everyone thinking more about energy at the moment, we’ve put together some helpful tips to help save energy around the home. In this guide, you’ll learn how to save money drying clothes, both indoors and outdoors. We’ve also teamed up with Energy Saving Trust to help you understand what the cheapest way to dry clothes is, and how avoiding the use of your tumble dryer could help you save money and energy.
What is a tumble dryer?
A tumble dryer is a household appliance used to dry wet clothing. They pull moisture from your clothes by rotating them in a heated drum. In 2021, just under 60% of British households owned a tumble dryer.
What is the cost of a tumble dryer cycle?
According to National Energy Action, a vented or condenser tumble dryer with a power rating of 1,500 – 2,500W could cost you approximately £1.21 - £1.56 per cycle.* As tumble dryers can be one of the highest energy-consuming appliances in the home, putting your dryer on too many cycles is likely to increase your energy bills.
How to save money drying clothes
If you’re wondering, “what is the cheapest way to dry clothes?”, there are a few different energy-saving options to try out:
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Dry your clothes outside
Should I air dry my clothes outside? If you have access to outside space where you could dry your clothes, there are a couple of reasons you might want to. Firstly, hanging your clothes on the washing line costs nothing more than a couple of minutes spent outside, so it will not waste energy. It's also a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to using a tumble dryer.
Can I dry my clothes outside in winter? You may be surprised to find out how often you can dry clothes outside, even in colder weather. As long as it’s not raining, wet laundry should be able to get mostly dry outside all year. Just keep in mind that the colder it is, the longer your clothes will likely take to dry.
So, what are your options for drying clothes on wet days? Let’s find out.
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Dry clothes inside
In wet weather, or if you don’t have access to outside space, you might need to consider drying clothes inside your home. But what’s the best way to dry clothes indoors? Like hanging your clothes on the washing line outdoors, using a clothing rack indoors is a cheap, energy-saving solution to drying clothes.
To air dry clothes without wrinkles, avoid overloading the clothing rack, allowing all your laundry plenty of space to spread out. It’s important that this is done in a warm and well-ventilated room, as indoor drying could lead to condensation.
You could also try running an extra spin cycle on your washing machine before hanging your clothes out to dry to remove as much water as you can. This could help reduce the drying time needed, both indoors and outdoors, but it will cause your washing machine to use a little more energy.
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If you do need your tumble dryer
Line drying or clothes rack drying will always be a sustainable and cost-effective way of drying your clothes, but there may be times when a tumble dryer is the best option for you. In these cases, consider using an energy-efficient model to save energy and money. According to Energy Saving Trust, if you’re looking for a new tumble dryer, heat pump tumble dryers rated A+++ could save you £700 over their 11-year lifetime versus standard B-rated condensing tumble dryers.
Does drying clothes on low heat save energy?
Yes – while they may not dry as quickly, running your tumble dryer on a lower heat setting could save energy compared to a high-heat setting. And if your clothes still need a bit more drying time, you can simply hang them on an indoor clothing rack to finish off.
Is there help and advice for those worried about the cost of energy?
If you are worried about the cost of energy and being able to pay your energy bills, we have information on the support and help which may be available.
You can also browse Government resources on help and advice with the cost of living on the GOV.UK website or get smart energy tips from their ‘Energy Efficient Home’ website.
Remember, by combining our smart energy tips you could save even more on your energy bills. Try reducing your boiler flow temperature or turning down your thermostat.
How much could I pay to run household appliances?
The appliance energy calculator below will show how the price cap change could affect the cost of using everyday household appliances. Simply update the drop-down buttons with your estimated usage to see the costs.
The energy calculator below will show how the price cap change could affect the cost of using everyday household appliances. Simply update the drop-down buttons with your estimated usage to see the costs.
The calculator below will show a cost estimate for the current price cap (April-June 2026), and compare that to the previous price cap (January-March 2026), and the price cap before that (October-December 2025). So, you can see how your energy bills might have changed over time.
Please note: The electricity used by domestic appliances can vary depending on make and model, so we’ve used average power ratings. We have also used the price cap figures for a standard variable rate, so this calculator doesn't take into consideration any fixed tariffs or additional costs.
This calculator was last updated on 01/04/2026.
How will the price cap increase affect my bills?
£39
Cost per month
Based on the current energy price cap
−£5
Compared to the previous price cap
(Jan-Mar 2026)
−£2
Compared to the price cap before the previous
(Oct-Dec 2025)
Our energy saving tips are courtesy of Nesta and Energy Saving Trust
It’s important that you use the energy you need to keep warm, safe and healthy at home. Please visit our trusted partners pages for more information on how to safely implement these tips within your home - Nesta and Energy Saving Trust.
Remember, by combining our smart energy tips you could save even more. Some of these tips include:
