Best heated clothes airers for drying clothes fast – tried and tested

The best heated clothes airers can speed up laundry drying times considerably compared to drying washing indoors on a normal airer.

If you don’t have a suitable outside space, have been thwarted in your line drying attempts by the good old British weather, or are looking for the most time or cost-efficient way to dry washing during winter, then we think this is one household purchase that you’ll soon come to view as an essential.

A heated clothes airer plugs into a wall socket and either uses electricity to warm up the drying rack or uses a fan to circulate warm air around your clothes. Either option makes tackling a pile of wet washing ten times easier and eliminates that dreaded ‘damp washing’ smell that can haunt colder laundry days. Most heated clothes airers are also foldable or can be dismantled, so they can be tucked neatly inside a cupboard or behind furniture when not in use.

Discover the Ideal Home team's tried and tested favourites below. For top results, pair with one of the best dehumidifiers to suck away the moisture that washing releases as it dries, and your indoor laundry regime is sorted.

The quick list

Short on time? This quick list is an overview of the very best heated clothes airers. You'll find more information on each airer and why our testers recommend it if you keep on scrolling.

Best heated clothes airers 2024

Fastest drying

This fan-powered heated clothes airer circulates warm air within its zip-up cover to dry washing in super fast times.

Instead of folding clothes over rails, the heated drying pod has six poles at the top of the airer that you can hang coat hangers from. That means drying space is more limited – you can only hang 18 items on hangers within the pod which means it isn't going to cope with a full washing machine load – but on testing, we were extremely impressed with the drying times, with clothes drying in 1-3 hours, dependent on thickness, compared to 8-12 hours on a classic heated airer. Plus, the bonus of hanging garments is that this eliminates creasing and reduces the need for ironing.

The downsides are that the fan does make for a noisier addition to the household than a silent railed rack – we found that we wanted this option set up in a room with a closed door rather than one we were using – and, the setup is more time-consuming. Unless you have the space to leave the airer set up, then there is five minutes of work in slotting together all of the components, and this airer requires a little more storage space than a racked airer which folds flat.

It should be noted that the powerful 1200W fan uses more energy than a standard 300W heated airer. However, in our tests, we only needed this airer turned on for a fraction of the time of a standard heated drying rack, with even the thickest hoodies and jeans drying in 3 hours max. That's why this quickly became our go-to airer for speedy drying.

Largest capacity

A new launch from laundry specialist Minky, the brand's 4-Tier Heated Airer with Timer & Cover looks set to give the market-leading Dry:Soon 3-Tier Deluxe Heated Airer a run for its money. 

Similarly to the Dry:Soon Deluxe, each drying rack on the Minky SureDri can be folded down independently, which makes it a great option for drying longer items like trousers, towels, and sheets. Like the Dry:Soon Deluxe, it also offers a useful timer function, meaning you can set the airer to heat for drying intervals of up to 9 hours before it will automatically shut off.

On testing, we were also impressed by the Minky SureDri's angled tiers which make hanging washing easier, and allow a little more space to hang longer items without them touching the rack below. Plus, the SureDri comes with a zip-up cover included, whilst the Dry:Soon's must be bought separately. The cover helps to retain the heat and can speed up drying times a little. 

However, our favourite feature has to be the fact that the SureDri's clever adjustable feet mean it can be used with one half of the airer folded flat so it fits against a wall – perfect if laundry space can sometimes be limited, or you only have a small load of washing to dry.

And, whilst the SureDri is a bit more bulky when folded flat than the Dry:Soon (the Minky airers folded depth is 15.5cm compared to the Dry:Soon's 8cm depth), because the SureDri is freestanding, it can be stored upright which the Dry:Soon can not.

The only real niggle we have with this airer is the fact that its control panel is on the base of the airer next to the floor, which makes it slightly awkward to operate. The Dry:Soon Deluxe has solved this issue by offering more user-friendly eye-level controls.

The Minky SureDri isn't cheap, and drying times are slower than either of the drying pods in our round-up (either the JML DriBUDDI Heated Indoor Airer or the Dry:Soon Drying Pod), but, if you have a large volume of washing to dry indoors then we think this model is one of the best large capacity heated drying racks available right now. 

Best heated clothes airer for bed sheets

Dry:Soon's deluxe heated clothes airer isn't as fast at drying as the fan-powered JML DriBUDDi Indoor Airer at the top of this list, and it's more expensive, but it is silent and can cope far better with large volumes of washing. Plus, the right Lakeland discount code may help you cut down this price tag.

It offers the most drying space of any airer we've tested. The 3-tiered design offers 36 heated drying bars overall, which means 21 metres of drying space that can hold up to 15kg of washing. Its generous size means there's a good amount of space between clothes which allows for better airflow and quicker drying times compared to more compact drying racks. 

The well-thought-out design also means it copes the best of all the drying racks we've tested with airing longer items like trousers, towels, and even bedsheets. Plus, an eye-level control panel makes for easy use, and an auto shut-off timer means you don't need to worry about remembering to switch it off. Although sizeable once erected, the aluminium frame folds down to just 8cm deep, which makes it easy to tuck it out of sight behind furniture or in a cupboard. 

This deluxe version also comes with several attachments (that can be bought separately or as part of a bundle) including detachable castors that mean you can wheel the airer around for loading or unloading, or easily move it out of the way if guests arrive.

Most versatile heated airer

Investing in the Sure Dri Heat Pod Drying System gets you a zippable cover that fits a standard 3-tier airer (which isn't included) and a small motor with a fan that generates warm air and circulates it within the cover to dry wet washing faster.

It's one of the few fan-powered heated airers we've come across that works with a tiered drying rack, which means it combines the larger drying capacity of a tiered rack with the quick drying times of a fan-powered airer. In many ways that combo should this the best heated clothes airer going. However, in practice, we found it isn't quite perfect.

First up, it's fiddly to assemble, and we found that wet washing still needed rotating regularly for even drying, with washing at the top and sides of the airer (furthest from the fan hose) taking longer to dry than items in the middle of the airer. The fan motor is also bulky to store, its controls could be of better quality, and, unlike a silent heated drying rack, that fan motor also means noise.

However, its larger drying space does make the Minky Sure Dri Heat Pod Drying System one of the best heated airers we've come across for drying larger items like towels and sheets, and that circulating warm air meant drying times were considerably faster than using a standard heated drying rack.

Ultimately whether this is the best heated airer for you probably depends on whether you have an existing 3-tier airer you want to convert over winter, the type of washing you want to dry faster, and whether you're happy to accept fan noise in return for faster drying.

Bestseller

A little cheaper than Dry:Soon's deluxe model, the brand's original heated drying rack has very similar specifications, but minus the option to add on the detachable castors for easier manoeuvring and with more awkwardly placed controls. 

Whereas the Deluxe model places the controls at the top of the airer, on this model the control switch is at ground level, which is a little annoying in practice and could be a deal breaker for those with reduced mobility or bad backs. It's also designed with cross-bar supporting legs rather than the deluxe model's side supports which makes hanging washing much more fiddly. Those cross-bars also hamper the drying of larger items like sheets and towels as you can't lay them flat over the tiered levels.

Other than that, this option remains a bestseller for good reason, making an easy job of drying up to 15kg of wet washing on its 21 metres of drying space and folding up easily when not in use.

Ideal Home's digital editor, Rebecca Knight, says, 'I bought the Dry:Soon heated airer back in 2015 and it still works as well as it did when I bought it. The three-tier frame is sturdy and I find it takes up less space than a traditional clothes horse when completely unfolded. When not in use, it folds flat and slots neatly behind a sofa.  It works so well as a clothes airer I use it all year round, even when it’s not plugged in. When it is plugged in I find it takes roughly 5-6 hours to dry a full load of washing, a little longer if your house is colder, and if you leave it on overnight then clothes are extra toasty.'

A budget buy

A winged drying rack is generally one of the most affordable options to consider if you're looking for the best heated clothes airer on a budget. 

This Status model has one of the lowest prices in our round-up, plus it's one of the most economical to run, with a relatively low 220W power usage. 

That said, the winged design does mean our testers found clothes were a lot slower to dry compared to a tiered option, with longer garments staying wet at the ends that were furthest from the 18 drying bars – a problem that can be solved by rotating your clothes frequently, but that does make laundry drying a more time-consuming affair.

Ideal Home's ecommerce editor, Molly Cleary, says 'I love my heated clothes airer and have it on most days during winter. However, I do find this winged design means I need to keep shuffling the clothes around so that all sections of a garment get the chance to touch the bars and dry thoroughly.

If this particular model is out of stock when you come to shop, you'll find a host of other winged heated clothes airers on Amazon.

Compact

Cute and compact, this mini version of the Dry:Soon drying rack is a great option for a smaller space, with its footprint and height both of a more manageable size when unfolded.

Of course, that does mean less drying space. Although its specifications state the Mini 3-Tier Heated Airer can still dry 15kg of wet washing – just like the larger Dry:Soon models – there is only 13m of drying rack space compared to both the larger Dry:Soon airer's 21m. 

As well as less heated bars (25 compared to the larger model's 36) each drying bar is also narrower (43cm in width compared to 57cm for the deluxe version) and crucially the distance between each tier is reduced, offering a 33cm gap compared to the deluxe models 37.5cm. This may not sound like much, but in practice, we found it made a real difference to drying times, with the reduced space resulting in reduced airflow around the garments meaning they stayed wet for longer. It also makes hanging longer items without them touching the clothes on the tier below more challenging. 

For kids' clothing in particular, it's still a workable size though, and if space is at a premium, it may be the best option for a smaller home.

Quick-drying alternative

Similar to the JML DriBUDDi airer in design, the slightly more expensive Dry:Soon Drying Pod is fan-powered and circulates warm air to dry clothing within the zip-closed cover

On assembly, it became clear that both fan-powered models were very similar in design, although in general, we found the Dry:Soon Drying Pod to be the more sturdy option and the easiest to fit together. The Dry:Soon's threaded components are much easier to twist into a secure fit and the hanging poles are less fiddly to operate as they don't require the depression of a slightly awkward safety catch to lock them into place. However, we did miss the grooves to locate each coat hanger on the DriBUDDi features.

The DriBUDDi can also hold more washing, offering space for 18 coat hangers as opposed to the Dry:Soon Drying Pod's capacity for just 12 items. Both models require clothes to be spread out evenly so that the weight of the washing is well distributed for stability, but when clothes weren't well positioned, we found this model the more stable of the two on its feet.

Performance-wise, the DriBUDDi is slightly more powerful at 1200W compared to the 1000W Dry:Soon Drying Pod, although in practice we didn't see that much difference in drying times. So which would we buy? For the build quality and stability the Dry:Soon Drying Pod gets our vote, but in terms of price, the DriBUDDi is better value in that it's more affordable and has a larger drying capacity, which is why it just pipped the Dry:Soon model to the post in this league table. However, overall, we don't think you'll be disappointed investing in either model.

Easy slipper and sock drying

A little bit different from the usual 3-tier heated clothes airer, this John Lewis & Partners option features a ladder-style design that's quick and easy to fold away and set up.

Although the triangular shape means there's a little less space on the top drying rack, it still holds 15kg of wet washing overall, and the tiered design makes it easy to hang washing flat across each level. It also features four hooks for thick socks or slippers.

Ideal Home's editor, Heather Young, says, 'I've owned this John Lewis & Partners heated clothes airer for a couple of years now. It's solid and reliable, and I like that it's versatile so I can either hang clothes or lay them flat. It also heats up quickly, and means I don't have radiators lined with clothes throughout the house.'

Amazon bestseller

Unlike the other models in this round-up, we haven’t yet tested the Black + Decker 3-Tier Heated Clothes Airer, but we’ve included it in this list because it’s a good price and regularly gets good reviews from verified purchasers across a multitude of websites. 

Similarly to the comparable Dry:Soon models at the top of this list, this 3-tier drying rack can hold a 15kg load of wet washing, and operates similarly, although some reviewers have complained about the tight spacing between the rails which can affect the amount of air able to circulate the washing and increase drying time if it's packed too full.

This model is also foldable, although again some reviewers have noted that it isn't the easiest to fold away, with some also mentioning a lack of stability once it's erected. This heated drying rack also lacks an auto shut-off timer, a feature that comes in useful if you're prone to forgetting to turn your airer off after it's had a few hours to run.

However, it is a lot cheaper to purchase than the Dry:Soon alternatives, with an RRP of £119.99 compared to the entry-level Dry:Soon's £149.99 price tag, so if you have a set budget to play with, this could be an option worth considering.

How to choose a heated clothes airer

Finding the best heated clothes airer for you and your household's needs depends on a few different factors. We've rounded up the main considerations below.

Type: There are two main types of heated airer; heated drying pods and heated drying racks.

Based on our laundry-drying tests, the fastest way to dry clothes indoors is with one of the heated drying pods listed in our round-up. That's either the JML DriBUDDI Heated Indoor Airer or the Dry:Soon Drying Pod. Both of these heated airers use a high-powered fan that circulates the hot air within the zippable cover to dry washing quickly – in our tests that took roughly three hours. 

The downside of one of these drying pods is the noise of the fan and the fact you can't squeeze much washing in at once – these airers won't hold a full load of laundry, but they're great for drying a school uniform or sports kit super fast.

The downside of one of these drying pods is the noise of the fan and the fact you can't squeeze much washing in at once – these airers won't hold a full load of laundry, but they're great for drying a school uniform or sports kit super fast.

A heated drying rack, like the Lake Dry:Soon 3-Tier Deluxe Heated Airer, will also speed up laundry drying times compared to a non-heated airer, especially if you don't have the heating turned on. However, the drying process is slower with one of these models. The turnaround from wet to dry washing was between six to ten hours in our tests, although drying times will be faster if you also have the central heating cranked up. 

The laundry drying process is a little more labour-intensive with a heated drying rack as you might need to readjust longer washing to give all sections a turn next to the heated bars. However, compared to a heated drying pod, opting for a heated rack airer means you can fit more washing on at once, it will use less energy overall, and it's silent to operate.

If you decide to opt for a heated drying rack then you'll also need to decide between a tiered or a winged model. Winged heated airers, like the Status Portable Heated Clothes Airer, are generally the cheapest heated airers available. However, in our tests, we found that tiered heated airers worked a lot better than winged heated airers at drying washing. On a winged heated airer very little of the wet laundry actually touches the heated bars, so longer items can hang down below the heated elements and remain damp at the ends.

Drying space: All heated clothes airers will give you an estimate of how much drying space they offer, either in kg of washing, or metres of drying rack available. Some options, like the fan models in our round-up, tell you how many clothes on hangers you can dry at once instead. If you only tend to dry a small amount of washing at once, a smaller option will be more cost and energy-efficient. If you have larger laundry drying requirements, opt for one of the most generous airers you can find.

Physical size: Don't underestimate how large a heated clothes airer can be once unfolded. Before you choose one, think about where it will live when in operation. Remember this needs to be near a plug socket and away from children and pets. Consider what available floor space you have whilst still being able to open doors and manoeuvre around it safely.

Storage: Unless you have a super spacious utility room where you can leave your clothes airer up continuously, then storage is an important factor. The majority of airers are foldable, which makes them easier to store out of the way in a cupboard, or to slide underneath or behind furniture when they're not in use. Just make sure to check the folded measurements of the clothes airer you're considering to ensure it fits your storage space.

Energy use: If you compare the running costs of a heated airer to how much it costs to run a tumble drier then you should be pleasantly surprised. However, each model will use a different amount of energy – our guide to how much it costs to use a heated airer has more detail.

FAQs

Is it worth getting a heated clothes airer?

If you're looking to speed up how long it takes to dry wet laundry indoors, then yes, a heated airer can be well worth buying. 

In our tests, we found that a heated drying pod could dry wet washing – including thick garments like hoodies and jeans – in approximately three hours. A heated drying rack took on average six to ten hours to dry the same garments. However, the bonus of a tiered airer over a drying pod is that the lack of a fan means it's silent, a tiered airer can hold more washing, and will generally use less energy.

To speed up laundry drying times even more you might also want to consider investing in one of the best dehumidifiers for drying clothes. Our heated airer vs dehumidifier explainer details why these moisture-extracting appliances can make short work of indoor laundry drying.

Will a heated airer warm the room?

Yes, a heated airer warms the room up a little, especially if you're using it in a smaller room. However, we'd recommend trying to use your heated airer in the largest room possible as your washing will release moisture as it dries, and more space means the air has more room to circulate which will speed up drying times further.

How can I speed up the drying time of a heated clothes airer?

If you want to speed up the drying time of your heated clothes airer then it's worth considering adding a cover. Although most covers need to be bought separately, they work by trapping the warmth generated by your airer, making clothes toastier and so speeding up drying times a little.

If you've invested in one of the bestselling Dry:Soon heated clothes airers, the Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Airer Cover fits most models. Ideal Home's digital editor, Rebecca Knight, tested out using the cover with her Dry:Soon heated airer and says, 'Adding the cover to my heated clothes airer did cut down on drying time slightly. I found with the cover added I was able to dry a t-shirt in just two hours, and a heavier sweatshirt in around eight hours. This is a slight reduction on the time it would normally take without, and a bonus is that it covers up your drying if you don't want clothes on display when guests come over!'

How we test

You'll find full details of the Ideal Home review process on our how we test page.

Our team of reviewers tested a host of bestselling heated clothes airers to compile this guide. We compared assembly and set-up, design, ease of use, performance, capacity, energy efficiency, price point, and, of course, laundry drying times to find the best heated clothes airers for various needs and budgets.

All heated clothes airers were tested in the same enclosed room with an indoor temperature of 17°C. We ensured the same items of washing were included in each drying test, including lighter items such as t-shirts and underwear, and thicker items such as a hoodie and jeans. Where possible, we also tested the heated clothes airer's ability to dry towels and bedding. We monitored how many hours it took washing to go from wet to touch dry.

If there are any products that we haven't managed to test in person, or the product didn't achieve over 4 out of 5 stars, then they won't have an Ideal Home Approved badge. However, you can rest assured we've done thorough research on their technical specifications and read multiple happy – and not-so-happy! – customer reviews to narrow down our suggestions to only the best-in-class.