The best heated clothes airers
Dry the washing indoors this winter, without the tumble dryer or damp towels on every radiator.
A heated airer is a clothes horse with warm rails, and it’s one of autumn’s big buys for anyone without a tumble dryer, or anyone trying to use theirs less. It won’t match a dryer for speed, but it takes the edge off the wait.
Size matters most: a three-tier airer handles a full family wash, while a winged or single-level one suits a flat. A covered pod traps the warmth and dries faster still.
What matters
- Three tiers for a full family wash.
- A cover traps heat and speeds drying.
- Check it folds flat for storage.
- A dehumidifier alongside helps in damp homes.
Best overall
#1 of 5
9.0/10
Lakeland Dry:Soon 3-Tier Heated Airer
£££ Over £40
Lakeland began with Alan Rayner selling polythene bags to Lake District farmers from his garage in Windermere. Its three-tier Dry:Soon takes roughly two full wash loads on low-energy heated rails.
- 21m of drying space over 3 tiers
- Holds up to 15kg
- 300W heated aluminium bars
- Shelves fold flat for woollens
- Folds to 8cm deep
What owners say: Owners find it easy to put up and useful, and say it makes the room feel warmer, though views on drying speed vary.
Heads up: Big towels can be awkward to hang, and some find it less sturdy than hoped.
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A closer look: Lay jumpers flat on the shelves and hang shirts and towels on the rails, turning thick items halfway through. Running a dehumidifier in the same room cuts drying time noticeably. Folded, it slides behind a door or down the side of a wardrobe.
Best for: Family-sized washes
- Style
- 3 tiers
- Drying space
- 21m
- Load
- 15kg
- Power
- 300W
- Folds flat
- 8cm deep
- Extras
- Fold-down shelves
Best value 3-tier
#2 of 5
8.7/10
BLACK+DECKER 3-Tier Heated Clothes Airer
£155.00 RRP
The same 21 metres of heated rail over three tiers as the Lakeland, for less, and it arrives ready assembled.
- 21m of drying space over 3 tiers
- Holds up to 15kg
- Arrives assembled
- Folds flat
- Around 8.4p an hour to run (maker’s figure)
What owners say: Owners say it dries even thick joggers in hours, holds a huge amount and warms a small room, though some question the build quality for the price.
Heads up: Sturdiness gets mixed reports, with a few owners saying theirs broke early.
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A closer look: Unfold it, plug it in and switch on: there’s nothing to build. Hang heavy items evenly on both sides so it stays balanced. At 5.5kg it’s easy to move to a spare room or utility space while it works.
Best for: Big loads for less
- Style
- 3 tiers
- Drying space
- 21m
- Load
- 15kg
- Power
- –
- Folds flat
- Yes
- Extras
- Arrives assembled
Best for shirts and delicates
#3 of 5
8.6/10
Dry:Soon Heated Drying Pod
£££ Over £40
Clothes hang on hangers inside a cover while warm air circulates, so shirts and dresses dry with fewer creases and nothing gets tumbled.
- 1000W warm-air fan
- Up to 12 items on hangers
- Holds up to 10kg
- Gentle on woollens and delicates
- Collapses for storage
What owners say: Owners say it dries clothes in under two hours, is easy to put together and store, and warms the room too.
Heads up: It isn’t very sturdy on its legs.
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A closer look: Hang shirts straight from the machine on plastic hangers, spaced out so the air can move between them, and many will need less ironing. It uses more power than a heated-rail airer but dries much faster. Handy midweek for work shirts and school uniforms.
Best for: Shirts and uniforms
- Style
- Pod with cover
- Drying space
- –
- Load
- 10kg (12 hangers)
- Power
- 1000W
- Folds flat
- –
- Extras
- Warm-air fan, collapsible
Best for small flats
#4 of 5
7.9/10
Harbour Housewares 18-Rail Heated Airer
££ £15–£40
A low, single-level heated airer that folds completely flat to slide under a bed, and runs on just 220W.
- 18 heated rails
- 220W
- Aluminium frame
- Folds flat
- 144 × 93cm open
What owners say: Owners find it light, easy to use and a handy size for small rooms, though some say it broke quickly.
Heads up: Durability gets mixed reports.
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A closer look: At 52cm high it suits smaller items and towels rather than long trousers or dresses. It snaps together without tools and folds flat enough to go under most beds. The low wattage makes it easy to leave on for a few hours while clothes finish off.
Best for: Small flats
- Style
- Single level
- Drying space
- 18 rails
- Load
- –
- Power
- 220W
- Folds flat
- Yes
- Extras
- No tools needed
Best budget
#5 of 5
7.8/10
Oypla Heated Airer with Extendable Wings
££ £15–£40
A classic heated clothes horse with wings that fold out for extra space on bigger wash days.
- Heated rails
- Extendable wings
- Folds for storage
- 146cm wide when open
- 3.8kg
What owners say: Owners find it easy to set up and say it heats quickly and works well for finishing off clothes, though quality and value get mixed views.
Heads up: Build quality is hit and miss: some owners say theirs fell apart.
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A closer look: It’s at its best finishing off washing that’s been spun hard, rather than drying a soaking-wet load from scratch. Keep the wings folded for small loads so the warmth stays concentrated. A good cheap stopgap for a student house or a short-term rental.
Best for: Finishing off washing
- Style
- Winged clothes horse
- Drying space
- –
- Load
- –
- Power
- –
- Folds flat
- Yes
- Extras
- Extendable wings
How they compare
| Feature | #1Lakeland Dry:SoonBest overall | #2Black+Decker 3-tierBest value 3-tier | #3Dry:Soon podBest for shirts and delicates | #4Harbour 18-railBest for small flats | #5Oypla wingedBest budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picked Rating | 9.0 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 7.9 | 7.8 |
| Price | £££ Over £40 | £155.00 RRP | £££ Over £40 | ££ £15–£40 | ££ £15–£40 |
| Style | 3 tiers | 3 tiers | Pod with cover | Single level | Winged clothes horse |
| Drying space | 21m | 21m | – | 18 rails | – |
| Load | 15kg | 15kg | 10kg (12 hangers) | – | – |
| Power | 300W | – | 1000W | 220W | – |
| Folds flat | 8cm deep | Yes | – | Yes | Yes |
| Extras | Fold-down shelves | Arrives assembled | Warm-air fan, collapsible | No tools needed | Extendable wings |
| Best for | Family-sized washes | Big loads for less | Shirts and uniforms | Small flats | Finishing off washing |
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