The best place to dry your clothes is outside. A warm summer breeze not only drys clothes quickly but leaves them smelling fresh and clean. That’s all good and well except for when it raining which let’s face it, is most of the year in the UK.
If you live in a home without outside space then hanging clothes outside isn’t really an option either. Tumble dryers are very expensive to run and clothes take forever to dry on an indoor rack.
This is where a heated clothes airer can really make a difference. They dry clothes much quicker than a standard rack and running costs are a fraction of the price of a dryer.
There are loads of options out there to suit many different homes and budgets and to help you find the best heated clothes airer for your home I’ve found 10 fantastic options that are worth your consideration.
Have a read through the options and if you like the look of any of them have a click on the “Price & Reviews” button to go to Amazon.co.uk to check current prices.
Top 5 best Heated Clothes Airers
- Top Choice – Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Airer
- Runner Up – ABIS Heated Clothes Airer
- Best Large Capacity – Innotic 3-Tier 1200W Heated Clothes Dryer
- Best For Towels – HOMCOM Electric Cloth Airer
- Budget Option – Fine Elements Foldable Heated Airer
1. Top Choice – Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Airer
Brand: Drysoon
Capacity: 21 meters/15kg of Laundry
Foldable: Yes – 8cm width
Footprint: 70 x 74cm
Power: 300 watt
The top pick today has to be the Lakeland Drysoon deluxe, 3 tier heated airer. This drying rack holds a lot of clothes despite its small footprint. It has an impressive 21m of drying space which is very versatile due to the 3 shelves. You can hang clothes on the rails or stack folded clothes on them to use it as a towel airer or to dry delicate items laying flat. To aid with small items it comes with two fine mesh shelves.
I love the fact that the control panel is set at eye level so you don’t need to bend awkwardly to read or set it. It even has a timer function so you can set it to go on and off whenever suits you. It doesn’t use much power and costs around 6p per hour to run so much cheaper than a tumble dryer!
It folds flat to a narrow 8cm and has a plug store to keep it compact as well as a carry handle for ease of use. To really optimize the efficiency of this rack you can buy an additional cover which will help reduce the drying time.
This is a really well-designed clothes horse and perfect for drying clothes, sheets and anything else be it big or small. It’s a really good all-rounder.
2. Runner Up – ABIS Heated Clothes Airer
Brand: Abis
Capacity: 12 meters/12kg
Foldable: Yes
Footprint: 39 x 77.5cm
Power: 4p per hour
This indoor clothes airer is a slightly more compact design so perfect for a small flat or a busy home. It also features 3 foldable shelves with heated bars to hang clothes or lay them flat over it. At 1.5 meters tall you can hang large towels or bed sheets over it without them dragging on the ground.
It’s made of durable aluminum and is designed with non-slip feet so it’s not at risk of toppling over. It has a waterproof switch which is a nice safety feature.
The shelves and feet fold in to allow this rack to be easily stored.
The manufacturers claim that this radiator costs no more than 4p an hour to run. This makes it extremely economical but I can’t find any more information on power consumption to back this up. This means the actual power cost will depend on the rate from your supplier.
3. Best Large Capacity – Innotic 3-Tier 1200W Heated Clothes Dryer
This clothes airer is absolutely massive. It’s so large you can even use it as a wardrobe when it’s off if you need the extra storage. Thickened steel tubes and re-inforced brackets make this a very sturdy rack of good build quality.
It has three tiers of storage space which can be used as shelves, hangers, or towel rails. It operates at a higher temperature range of 60-70 degrees which kills any mites in clothing or bedding.
It’s big enough to dry duvet covers and heavy towels and the cover speeds up the drying process. It’s operated by remote control so you can still use it without having to bend over.
The only downside with this airer is that it has a fairly high energy consumption compared to some of our other models.
4. Best For Towels – HOMCOM Electric Cloth Airer
Brand: Homcom
Capacity: 2 Tier Shelves, 10kg
Foldable: Yes – 9cm width
Footprint: 73 x 67cm
Power: 200 Watts
If you don’t have a traditional airing cupboard space in your home then towel storage can be tricky. A dryer with shelves like this Homcom one can be a perfect solution. You can hang longer items across the top shelves, use it for lots of smaller items or use it as extra storage for folded towels or jumpers.
It’s lightweight, easy to use, and folds away nice and compact for easy storage. You can add up to 10kg of wet clothes due to the sturdy design of this dryer.
It doesn’t draw very much power at only 200 watts so is an eco-friendly option. It’s also budget-friendly, which is a nice bonus.
5. Budget Option – Fine Elements Foldable Heated Airer
Brand: Fine Elements
Capacity: 10kg
Foldable: Yes – 6cm width
Footprint: 147 x 57cm
Power: 230 watts
If your budget is quite small then this electric heated clothes dryer is a great option. It’s much cheaper to buy and run compared to a tumble dryer and will dry your clothes a lot quicker than on the washing line.
It’s pretty energy efficient and can hold a generous 10kg of wet laundry. The winged design makes it adaptable to small spaces as well.
An issue with this product is the thermostat isn’t very sensitive. The heating element can get very hot if left on for a long time so I would be cautious about leaving it on unattended.
Heated Clothes Airer Buying Guide
Design
The design of your clothes airer is important as it has to fit into your home as well as work effectively for your needs. If you have a lot of large items then you’ll need an airer with extra height and if it’s small items like baby clothes or underwear then a design with many rails and flat drying is needed.
Make sure it’s a shape that will work in your home and that you are comfortable setting up. Things like castors make it easy to move and other settings like temperature and hour timers can help make this item even more useful.
Footprint
The floor space the clothes airer occupies needs to be considered especially if you struggle for space in your home. Plan out where you’re going to set up the rack and make sure it’s near enough to a power source and in a well-ventilated area.
You should also take into account the height of the rack so that you don’t meet any obstructions when setting it up.
Capacity
The length or weight of laundry capacity is a good indication as to how useful this airer will be to your home. A small-capacity one in a busy family home will never keep up with the washer. A large capacity one in a studio flat may be too obtrusive.
Consider how much washing you usually do and what size of loads are necessary for your home to make sure you choose an airer that will cope.
Energy Usage
The power drawn by your clothes airer will have an impact on your electricity bills so whilst you want an energy-efficient one the downside with a lower wattage clothes airer is that it won’t be as powerful so clothes will take longer to dry.
To maximise the efficiency of the airer make sure it’s an adequate size for your requirements and a cover will help speed up the drying process.
Cost
The most important consideration when buying electrical equipment has to be the cost. These drying racks can vary hugely in price with the cheaper ones tending to be more flimsy and less powerful.
Make sure you budget before you buy and consider the running costs alongside the initial cost of buying the airer.
F.A.Q.s
Are heated clothes Airers any good?
Heated clothes airers are much more economical to run compared to a tumble dryer. They dry clothes a lot quicker than a standard clothes horse but do take longer than a dryer.
The average tumble dryer costs around 35p per hour to run. Most of these options work out around 6p per hour so that’s huge savings.
Are heated clothes Airers expensive to run?
They are much cheaper to run compared to a tumble dryer. Of course, this does depend on the wattage with 250 watts costing around 4-5p per hour.
Can you leave heated clothes Airer on overnight?
If the airer has a thermostat then it is safe to leave on overnight. Some of the cheaper airers may get too hot if left unattended so it’s safer to switch them off before you go to bed. They are much cheaper to run overnight compared to leaving clothes to dry near a radiator.
Do heated Airers cause damp?
If used in a poorly ventilated area, a clothes airer will cause dampness. The moisture that comes out of the clothes needs to go somewhere! They are best used in a large, airy room so the moisture can diffuse or in a dampproof room like a utility room, bathroom, or a kitchen with an extractor fan.
Do heated Airers shrink clothes?
The heat given off by a heated clothes airer isn’t intense enough to shrink clothing. This makes it a much gentler and ideal way to dry delicate items.
More Heated Clothes Airers Reviewed
Homefront Electric Heated Clothes Airer
Brand: Homefront
Capacity: 2m of washing
Foldable: No
Footprint: 53.5cm x 36cm
Power: 90 watts
This towel rail type clothes airer has a few great uses. It can be used to hang wet towels after use or to dry clothes when they come out of the washing machine. It’s a narrow design so perfect for placing in a corridor or tight space.
It doesn’t draw very much power at all at only 90 watts it’s barely more than running a lightbulb and costs around 2p per hour to run.
It doesn’t have a huge amount of total drying space but it is perfect for small flats or homes that struggle for extra space. It’s not foldable but the feet can be removed to allow for flat storage.
Be wary when attaching the feet as they are fairly flimsy and easily broken. With the very low price of this dryer, I guess that’s to be expected.
Dry:Soon Drying Pod
Brand: Drysoon
Capacity: 10kg
Foldable: Yes
Footprint: 62cm Diameter
Power: 1000 watts
If you don’t have a lot of floor space or you just want a dryer that looks like it belongs in the international space station then this drying pod is perfect for you.
It’s designed to hold items like t-shirts on hangers for drying and to reduce the need for ironing. It can hold up to 12 hangers.
It’s not the most energy-efficient at 1000 watts and costs around 15p per hour to run. It does get hotter than other dryers and the heating element can get up to 70 degrees before blowing this warm air over your clothes.
By using a cover and extra power this airer drys heavy items like jeans very well so is a good option if fast drying is what you need.
AMOS Eezy-Dry Electric Clothes Dryer
Brand: Amos
Capacity: 15kg
Foldable: Yes – 15cm width
Footprint: 48 x 70cm
Power: 1300 watts
If you find that you’re never getting to the bottom of the laundry basket then you need an air dryer with a large capacity. This drier by Amos can fit up to 50 items on hangers. It comes with 8 bars that can be added to the tiers to make the drying area customised to your needs.
It’s 1.5 meters high and has a pretty compact footprint for the large capacity. It comes with a zip airer cover to speed up the drying process and stop the dampness from spreading to your living area.
It folds up flat for easy storage and is very lightweight so not difficult to move around.
A downside with this airer is that it doesn’t come with any hangers so these need to be purchased separately. Most of us should have plenty of these around the home anyway so isn’t a major issue. You can buy this clothes rack with a 6-peg airer to add extra sock drying.
BARGAINS-GALORE 3 TIER ELECTRIC CLOTHES AIRER
Brand: Bargains-Galore
Capacity: 21m of hanging space
Foldable: Yes – 8cm width
Footprint: 59.5 x 62cm
Power: 220 watts
For a budget pick, this clothes airer performs very well. It’s made from sturdy aluminum tubing and has 24 rails capable of holding 21 meters of laundry. It heats up to a toasty 45-55 degrees Celcius and you have the option of using the rails as shelves for flat drying as well.
The cross-bar arrangement of the footprint of this airer makes it very stable and strong and it won’t take up a huge area in your home.
It’s pretty energy-efficient and costs less than 6p per hour to run so you’ll barely notice it on the electricity bill.
It doesn’t come with a cover but you can add a flat sheet over it to get the same effect.
BLACK+DECKER BXAR0005GB 3-Tier Heated Clothes Airer
Brand: Black + Decker
Capacity: 15kg/21m
Foldable: Yes
Footprint: 68 x 73cm
Power: 300 watts
Last but not least we have Black + Decker with this sturdy clothes horse. It’s quick and easy to unfold and has a simple on button located on the rail. It has 3 tiers of shelves for hanging small items or laying clothes out flat.
It folds flat for storage and is lightweight so easy to move. It can hold a fair amount of washing on the rails or larger items can be draped over it.
It doesn’t come with a cover so does take longer to dry clothes unless you hand a sheet over it or something similar.
It doesn’t draw much energy and only costs around 6p per hour to run.
Overall it’s a functional and fairly nice looking clothes airer and will save you loads of money by not needing the use the dryer as much.
Take-Home
Heated clothes airers are a cost and energy-efficient way to dry clothes indoors. They come in all shapes and sizes and there’s one to suit every budget. They are gentle on delicate items and fold up flat for storage.
I hope you have found this article helpful in showing you some of the great options out there and I hope it has helped answer any questions you may have had.
Best of luck with your new clothes airer and take my word for it, once you see how effective they are, you’ll never go back to the tumble dryer!
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