Best heated clothes airer: we've hand-picked the UK's top heated airers

Drying washing indoors is nobody’s favourite winter job, especially when yesterday’s load is still occupying the airer. When it’s too wet for the washing line, or you’re drying clothes that can’t go in the tumble dryer, a heated clothes airer (sometimes called electric airers or heated drying racks) can help keep things moving. The right one depends on how much washing you have, the space available and how quickly you need it dry.

We’ve tested the six models below in family homes, from tiered airers for bigger loads to drying pods for clothes on hangers and a compact model for socks and last-minute school uniform. We’ve assessed drying performance, ease of use and storage, alongside the costs of buying and running each model.

The Dry 3-Tier Heated Airer takes our top spot overall. Read on for our comparison table and hands-on verdicts, including the practical niggles that only become apparent once there’s a pile of wet washing to hang.

Best heated clothes airers, at a glance

Best for	Product	Drying space	Power	Timer
Best overall heated clothes airer	Dry 3-Tier Heated Airer	15kg; 21m of rails	300W	No
Best budget heated clothes airer	Minky Wing 12m Heated Airer with Cover	16kg; 12m of rails	230W	No
Best heated drying pod	Dry Drying Pod	10kg	1,000W	Up to 3 hours
Best heated clothes airers for large families	Dry Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Airer	15kg	300W	Up to 12 hours
Best for upgrading an existing clothes airer	Minky Sure Dri Heat Pod Drying System	Depends on your airer	850W	Up to 3 hours
Best heated clothes airer for small spaces	Homefront Slimline Heated Airer	2m of rails; six rungs	90W	No

Jump to reviews

How we chose and test heated clothes airers

We test heated clothes airers in family homes, using everyday washing to find out how they fit into a normal laundry routine. Our testers for this guide are Rachel Erdos, Tina Williams, Rebecca Roberts and Poppy O'Neill.

Our reviews cover setting up, loading, drying clothes and putting each airer away again. For example, we tested the Minky Wing with cotton, polyester and denim, draping washing over the rails and laying smaller items flat. With the Dry Pod, we assessed drying clothes on hangers, using its timer and assembling and dismantling the unit.

We also explain the conditions behind our findings. Poppy tested the Homefront alongside a dehumidifier, so its results reflect that setup. These are experiences from different homes and laundry loads, rather than a controlled, side-by-side speed test.

Find the best heated clothes airer for you

1

Best overall heated clothes airer

Dry:Soon 3-Tier Heated Airer

Best Buy Top Tested

Buy now from Amazon Buy now from Lakeland

What we like

Large enough for one big load, or two small loads of washing
Lightweight and foldable, easy to move around when not in use

What we don't like

On/off switch is at the base of the unit

It’s a little bit wobbly
It's incredibly popular, so it's frequently out of stock

Key specs

What Mumsnet users say

NewYearNewMNName · Recommended product

I have recently bought the Lakeland Dry soon 3 tier thing, and it is amazing. I can hang an entire 11kg wash of clothes on that bad boy, and it's dry in 4 hours. I've actually had to wash my clothes less frequently as the quick turnaround of clothes has highlighted that I don't have enough wardrobe/drawer space.

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goldierocks · Recommended product

Another vote for the Lakeland heated airer. I've had mine for about 4 years now and love it. Mine lives in my home office. It fits neatly behind the door when I'm not using it. When it's switched on, I don't need the radiator to be turned up unless it's a VERY cold day. I find it's great for my DS's t-shirts which have transfers on them. Even though the fabric itself could be tumble dried, the transfers would crack and peel off. I've never experienced an issue with 'lines'. I remove the laundry as soon as it's dry. If I'm drying anything heavy or particularly damp because it cannot be spun dry, I lay it flat on the airer. It's one of my most used purchases!

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Hepzibar · Recommended product

Had the Lakeland 3 tier for years. Would replace immediately if it conks. My daughter has the proper cover for hers but I just throw a sheet over it. It's invaluable in the winter months but frankly use it most days, even through what is supposed to be summer.

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Our verdict

Tested by Mumsnet ehead of editorial Tina Williams: Read our full review of the Dry:Soon 3-Tier Heated Airer

Released in 2008 by Lakeland, the Dry:Soon 3-Tier Heated Airer stormed to the top of its bestsellers list and has remained there ever since (and for good reason). It's raved about on the Mumsnet forums. And thanks to some rigorous testing over the course of seven years, it gets our vote too.

This large airer provided me with ample drying room for damp washing – 21 metres to be exact. Enough space for me to dry 15kg of washing in one go (or roughly two seven kg loads from your washing machine), a godsend for above-average-sized households. If you have a smaller space or only a few items to dry, you can opt to only open the shelves on one side. It can dry a full load of washing overnight and smaller items within a couple of hours.

I found it simple to set up, easy to use day to day, lightweight and long-lasting. This is a great all-rounder and deserves its title as the best heated clothes airer on our list.

2

Best budget heated clothes airer

Minky Wing 12m Heated Airer with Cover

Buy now from Amazon Buy now from Argos

What we like

Great price and cheap to run (around 8p per hour)
Holds a full load of washing
Lightweight but not flimsy

What we don't like

Takes up a lot of space when wings are extended (more than upright versions)
No timer
Feels a little stiff to set up and disassemble

Key specs

Our verdict

Tested by Mumsnet editor Rachel Erdos: Read our full review of the Minky 12M Electric Heated Airer

I found this popular heated airer simple to set up, lightweight without being flimsy and effective at drying clothes quickly. Pretty much what you want from an affordable airer! It's around half the price of many of the products that feature on this page and sturdier than other basic models we've tested.

It did take up quite a bit of space in my living room (bear in mind that once the wings are extended, it measures 148cm in length) and the folding mechanism is a little stiff, but it dried my family's clothes cheaply and swiftly, helping me to blitz through the laundry pile.

Heating up within minutes, there's enough space for a full load of washing. Just be careful when hanging things on the outer rails, particularly heavy items like jeans and towels, as I found it could easily topple over. It's worth noting this is an issue with the winged design in general, rather than this particular model.

Easy to use, effective and affordable - this gets my vote as my favourite budget buy.

3

Best drying pod

Dry:Soon Drying Pod

Buy now from Lakeland

What we like

Dries items within 2-3 hours
Great for delicates
Helps to reduce creases

What we don't like

Fiddly to move around and take apart
Sounds like an electric heater when in use
Items need to be hung on rails

Key specs

What Mumsnet users say

70isaLimitNotaTarget · Recommended product

I bought this last year , I can dry things on the hangers and avoid a lot of ironing . It sits by an open window so no condensation.

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76evie · Recommended product

Tumble dry the things that can be, get this for the bits that can’t be, they’re great, you could put it up in the bedroom with a window open a bit and then pack it away when dry.

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Our verdict

Tested by Mumsnet editor Rachel Erdos: Read our full review of the Dry:Soon Drying Pod

Part of Lakeland’s much-loved Dry:Soon range, this drying pod regularly sells out for good reason. When testing, I found that it dried clothes in around two to three hours thanks to the electric heater base unit (that circulates hot air around the pod). It's a fantastic way to keep on top of your laundry basket and it can reduce the ironing pile too as items are hung on hangers which helps to smooth out creases. The timer can be set up to run for up to three hours.

Perfect for delicates that you can’t put in a tumble dryer, it’s worth noting that it’s better suited to shirts, tees, jumpers and trousers rather than towels and smaller items like baby clothes and underwear.

We found it a little fiddly to set up and take apart and it sounds like an electric heater when in use but it’s a speedy way to dry clothes, is cheaper to run than a tumble dryer (around 30p per hour vs £1.50-£1.70 per cycle) and takes up far less space than a winged or large tiered airer. A win-win-win that lightens your laundry load at home.

Read next: Best ironing boards

4

Best heated clothes airer for large families

Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Airer

Top Tested

Buy now from Lakeland Buy now from Amazon

What we like

Easily holds two large washes
Can be folded flat for easy storage
Built-in timer with an eye-level control panel
Sturdy

What we don't like

Expensive
Accessories like the cover and castors are sold separately

Key specs

What Mumsnet users say

WollyParton · Recommended product

Uses very little electricity and helps take the edge off a cold room if I haven’t got the central heating on. Much cheaper than using the tumble dryer. It was worth buying the zipped cover as it dries washing much more quickly with the cover on.

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Nodlikeyouwerelistening · Recommended brand

I have the Lakeland 3 tier one and the proper cover with it too.It’s amazing. Would 100% get the proper cover too. It helps keep the heat from dissipating to dry the clothes but has air holes to let the moisture escape so the clothes don’t just stay damp.

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NonStopMoaning · Recommended product

We have the Lakeland Deluxe one and we love it. I bought the cover for it which is quite good. You can't overfill it though, so I tend to do a 3/4 load of washing (or 1/2 a load if it's jeans) so there is space around the items. It is big though but the cover zips down and goes over it when it's fully folded up which helps with storage.

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Our verdict

Tested by Mumsnet editor Rebecca Roberts: Read our full review of the Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Airer

While the original Dry:Soon 3-Tier Heated Clothes Airer takes the top slot on this list, Lakeland’s larger, deluxe version is a brilliant buy for families. It might be more expensive than the original but for its size, lightweight design, and drying space, it’s a great option for large loads of washing.

When it comes to drying solutions for larger families, bigger truly is better. I found the deluxe version has all the reliability and effectiveness of the original design, but with a few innovative enhancements. My favourite was the eye-level, built-in timer, allowing me to customise the heating duration and time to suit my needs without having to stoop.

It also features an integrated carry handle and storage clips, making it easy for me to move around and store. And it costs pennies to run (approximately 10p per hour), which is far more affordable than running the tumble dryer every other day when it’s too cold to get the washing on the line.

5

Best if you've already got a standard airer

Minky Sure Dri Heat Pod Drying System

Buy now from Amazon Buy now from Argos Buy now from Very

What we like

Transforms a standard three-tiered airer into a heated drying pod
Dries clothes in around three hours
Holds a full load of washing

What we don't like

Fiddly to set up
Top frame is quite large to store
Cable feels quite short

Key specs

What Mumsnet users say

ThomasineMay · Recommended product

I got a Minky SureDri Heat Pod -. Just a fan heater thing with a cover to go over any standard airer, though I bought the Minky airer to go with it. Things like t shirts dry in three hours, thicker stuff tends to take more like 5-6 hours. Depends how full you stuff the airer - the less you put in, the quicker it takes. Anyway, I wouldn't be without it now!

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Our verdict

Tested by Mumsnet editor Rachel Erdos: Read our full review of the Minky Sure Dri Heat Pod Drying System

A cross between an electric clothes dryer and a drying pod, the Minky Sure Dri Heat Pod Drying System is a nifty gadget that transformed my standard three-tiered drying rack into a brand-new heated clothes airer.

When testing, I found that it dried clothes in around three hours - quicker than a winged airer and on par with the Lakeland drying pod. But unlike a drying pod where I had to place a limited number of items on hangers, this setup allowed me to dry a full load of washing in one go.

I found this a little fiddly to set up, but it’s a clever design that extends the life of an existing product. And it dried my clothes quickly and cheaply when it’s cold and damp. A smart buy for the winter months.

Read next: Best steam iron

6

Best slimline heated clothes airer

Homefront Slimline Heated Airer

Buy now from Amazon

What we like

Takes up just 2sq ft of floorspace
Lightweight
Cheap to run
Simple controls
Can be stored flat
Good for socks, pants and warming towels

What we don't like

Not suitable for drying a full load of washing
No timer
Larger items take up all the drying space

Key specs

What Mumsnet users say

Mumsnet editor Poppy · Tried & Tested

Day to day, I mostly use the slimline heated airer for drying socks and pants. I can fit around 9 pairs of adult-size socks or 18 pairs of trainer socks or child-size socks at a time, and they dry pretty quickly, with no crispiness.

See Post

Our verdict

Tested by Mumsnet editor Poppy O'Neill: Read our in-depth Homefront Slimline Heated Airer review

While it's not built to dry a full load of laundry, this slimline airer comes in handy for drying small items of clothing, warming towels and baby bedding. I tested it on a range of clothing and found that larger items need the whole airer in order to dry, as overlapping meant wet patches were left on the clothes.

Folding flat for easy storage, I really like having this airer available for when I need some school uniform dried in a hurry, and for drying socks to free up space on my standard airer.

It would also be great for warming baby sleep suits and sleeping bags for cosy bedtimes. At less than 3p per hour to run, the Homefront Slimline Heated Airer is a brilliant backup option for drying clothes indoors.

Are heated clothes airers worth it?

In a word, yes. The UK’s unpredictable climate can wreak havoc on our laundry plans, which is why many families see the humble heated clothes airer as a household hero that’s well worth splashing out on and which they couldn’t live without, particularly on cold or rainy days.

Priced from as little as £60 and relatively cheap to run, one of these appliances will soon pay for itself – you won't need to use the tumble dryer or leave the central heating on for longer when damp washing is hung over radiators. It’s also a worthy purchase for its minimal environmental cost.

How much do heated dryers cost to run?

In the current energy crisis, heated clothes airers aren't as cheap as they used to be but are still relatively low on energy use.

A heated clothes airer or dryer currently costs between 7p and 45p per hour to run, making the cheaper models extremely economical compared to even the most energy-efficient tumble dryer – even if it takes several hours longer than expected to dry your washing.

Heated dryers with a fan cost more to run than non-fan models, but as a result, they also complete the drying process more quickly. As well as being more economical, heated clothes airers and dryers can also leave garments crease-free, cutting down ironing time. Unlike their spinning rivals, heated clothes airers also pose little risk of clothes damage or shrinkage, particularly to delicate items like underwear or woollens.

Are heated clothes airers safe?

Heated clothes airers are generally safe but always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and safety advice. Many have timers and are thermostatically controlled to avoid overheating.

While the bars do become warm (the clue's in the name), they shouldn’t be too hot to touch, which is good news for parents of curious infants and toddlers.

Leaving any plug-in electrical item on overnight is risky, but many heated clothes airers have a timer that will switch the appliance off once the time is up. In contrast, others have a thermostat that automatically shuts off beyond a certain temperature. The best we can say is always to check the safety features of your particular model and try as much as possible to dry clothes during the day.

How to choose the best heated clothes airer for your home

There are a variety of different heated clothes airers on the market, so here are some things to consider when making your choice:

Cost to run - To ensure your airer is economical, most brands now give an estimated cost per hour based on the average usage.
Capacity - How much washing do you want to hang? Do you wish to dry a full load or focus on the essential items you need the next day? Some dryers have a 10kg capacity, whereas others have up to 15kg – enough to carry a big load.
Ease of use - How easy is the heated airer to run? Does it have a timer? Can you set a drying time that auto shuts off once reached?
Size - How big is the heated airer, and how much space do you need? Some airers can be on the large side, whereas other tiered dryers tend to be more compact.
How easy is it to store? - Does the heated airer fold? Does it lie flat to enable simple storage?
Does it come with accessories? - Some of the best heated clothes airers come with accessories such as covers and casters included, whereas other brands have them available as an optional extra.

A heated airer is one approach to drying washing indoors. If you’re comparing alternatives, it’s also worth looking at a dehumidifier and fan. When I asked Meaco’s Chris Michael about indoor drying, he described the improvement seen when pairing the two:

"[A] dehumidifier alone offered a substantial improvement over natural drying," he says, "but pairing it with the pedestal cooling fan made the biggest difference. Drying time dropped by 58 percent, from nearly five hours to around two."

Which is the best heated clothes airer?

Mumsnetters, previous customers and experts all agree that the Dry:Soon 3-Tier Heated Airer is the best heated clothes airer available (hence the expensive price point). With a decent size capacity, and a lightweight and easily foldable frame, it’ll whizz through your laundry in no time and save you money on your energy bills.

Although it is often out of stock, it's worth checking with Lakeland and Amazon regularly, as stock often comes back in.

How we assess heated clothes airers

We weigh up drying performance alongside the practicalities of living with each model. An airer that handles a family wash needs different strengths from a compact one used for socks and school trousers.

Our assessments consider:

Drying results: how well clothes dry, including thicker areas and any damp patches left behind.
Capacity and floor space: how much washing fits comfortably and how much room the airer occupies.
Everyday use: loading, controls, stability and access to clothes when a cover is fitted.
Storage: how easily it folds or comes apart, plus the space needed for separate pieces.
Value: purchase price, useful features and running costs considered alongside drying time.

A low hourly running cost doesn’t tell you the cost of drying a whole load. Drying time matters too, and it changes with the fabrics, how you arrange the washing and the conditions in your home.

About the author

Rebecca Roberts (aka Beccy) is our resident lifestyle expert with a practical focus on sleep, wellness and everyday comfort. She’s equally at home tackling frank, NSFW‑adjacent topics as she is road‑testing kitchen appliances, mattresses and vacuums that work for real parents.

As a mum of two, she writes with the time‑poor, sleep‑deprived in mind - honest product reviews, realistic routines and products that make parents’ lives easier. When she’s not at her desk, she’s probably product‑testing with her two helpers, corralling a PTA or walking her two dogs up and down country lanes.

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