Quick picks
- Best overallLakeland Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier21m of drying space, holds up to 15kg, and a 1 to 12-hour timer.
- Best value big airerLakeland Dry:Soon 3-Tier (Standard)The original: same 21m and 15kg, without the timer.
- Best for small homesLakeland Dry:Soon Mini 3-Tier13m of drying space on a smaller footprint.
- Best for less ironingLakeland Dry:Soon Drying PodClothes dry on hangers in warm air, so they come out with fewer creases.
- Best Amazon alternativeBLACK+DECKER 3-Tier Heated Airer21m, 15kg and arrives assembled.
Comparison table
Figures are from Lakeland's product pages and BLACK+DECKER's Amazon.co.uk listing. Running costs are the brands' own estimates at their stated electricity price, so treat them as a rough guide.
| Model | Type | Drying space | Max load | Power | Timer | Stand-out "do less" feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier | Heated bars, 3 tiers | 21m (36 heated bars) | 15kg | 300W | Yes, 1 to 12 hours | Switches itself off; front loading |
| Dry:Soon 3-Tier (Standard) | Heated bars, 3 tiers | 21m | 15kg | 300W | No | Folds to 8cm deep |
| Dry:Soon Mini 3-Tier | Heated bars, 3 tiers | 13m | 15kg | 198W | No | Smaller footprint, still folds to 8cm |
| Dry:Soon Drying Pod | Fan heater in a zip-up cover | Up to 12 hangers | Not published | Not listed on the product page | Yes, up to 3 hours | Hangs clothes straight, so fewer creases |
| BLACK+DECKER 3-Tier (63099) | Heated bars, 3 tiers | 21m | 15kg | 300W | Not listed | Arrives assembled; folds flat |
The picks in detail
Lakeland Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Clothes Airer
Lakeland's Dry:Soon range has been around since 2008, and the Deluxe is the one we'd pick if you want to think about the washing as little as possible. It has 21 metres of drying space across 36 heated bars and takes up to 15kg of wet washing, which Lakeland reckons is about two average loads. So one airer can handle a big wash day.
The upgrade that matters for lazy people is the built-in timer. Set it for anything from 1 to 12 hours and it switches itself off, so you don't have to remember to come back and do it. Lakeland also redesigned the front so you can hang things without a bar getting in the way, and there's a top handle plus optional castors for wheeling it about.
- 21m of drying space over 36 heated bars; holds up to 15kg
- Built-in timer from 1 to 12 hours with automatic switch-off
- 300W; Lakeland quotes 8p an hour to run (at 26.11p per kWh)
- 70 × 74 × 132.5cm when open; folds to 8cm deep
- Optional cover, mesh shelves and castors sold separately; Lakeland 3-year guarantee
Why it's lazy-approved
- The timer means no "did I leave the airer on?" moments
- Two loads at once means fewer drying sessions
- Folds flat when the sun finally comes out
Worth knowing
- The priciest airer here, and the cover costs extra
- Published reviews say the power cable is on the short side
Specs: Lakeland product page and Dry:Soon range page.
Lakeland Dry:Soon 3-Tier Heated Clothes Airer (Standard)
This is the original Dry:Soon, and on paper it dries as much as the Deluxe: 21 metres of drying space and up to 15kg of washing. The difference is that it has no timer, and the front isn't as easy to hang things on. If you're happy to switch it off yourself, it's the cheaper way to get the full-size Dry:Soon.
Like the rest of the range, it has a lightweight aluminium frame and fold-down shelves that collapse to 8cm deep, so it can live behind a door. Lakeland recommends its matching cover to trap the heat and speed things up. The cover doubles as a storage bag.
- 21m of drying space; holds up to 15kg
- 300W; Lakeland quotes 8p an hour to run (at 26.11p per kWh)
- 73 × 75 × 137cm when open; folds to 8cm deep
- Thermostatically controlled bars that won't overheat
- Lakeland 3-year guarantee
Why it's lazy-approved
- Same capacity as the Deluxe for less money
- Huge range of add-on accessories if you want them
Worth knowing
- No timer, so you switch it off yourself (or use a smart plug with a timer)
- Slightly taller and wider than the Deluxe
Specs: Lakeland product page and Dry:Soon range page.
Lakeland Dry:Soon Mini 3-Tier Heated Airer
If your flat doesn't have room for a full-size airer, the Mini is the one to look at. It offers 13 metres of drying space on a smaller footprint and stands a little shorter than the Standard. Lakeland says it still holds up to 15kg of wet washing.
The six shelves fold out separately, so you can open just one side for a small load or a narrow space. You can lay jumpers flat on top or drape a towel over it. It also folds to 8cm deep, so it slides down the side of a wardrobe when you're not using it.
- 13m of drying space; holds up to 15kg
- 198W
- 60 × 63 × 113.5cm when open; folds to 8cm deep
- Six fold-out shelves; side supports for stability
- Matching Mini cover sold separately
Why it's lazy-approved
- Fits where a full-size airer won't
- Lower wattage than the big models
Worth knowing
- Less drying space, so big family loads may need two goes
- No timer
Specs: Lakeland product page and Dry:Soon range page.
Lakeland Dry:Soon Heated Drying Pod
The Pod works differently from the airers above. You hang clothes on hangers inside a zip-up fabric cover, and a fan in the base blows air heated to 70°C up through them. Because everything hangs straight while it dries, Lakeland says you're left with few creases, and in some cases little or no ironing. That's the real "do less" win.
Lakeland's own trials found lightweight fabrics dried in under an hour and jeans in around two hours. It has room for a dozen hangers, a timer of up to three hours that switches off the fan, and Lakeland quotes less than 52 decibels when running. It's a better fit for shirts and work clothes than for a whole family wash.
- Holds up to 12 hangers inside a zip-fronted cover
- Fan heater in the base warms air to 70°C
- Optional timer up to 3 hours with automatic fan shut-off
- Lakeland quotes less than 52dB
- Tripod aluminium frame; folds flat
Why it's lazy-approved
- Fewer creases means less ironing
- Faster than heated bars, according to Lakeland's own trial
Worth knowing
- Smaller capacity than the 3-tier airers
- It has a fan, so it isn't silent
Specs: Lakeland product page.
BLACK+DECKER 3-Tier Heated Clothes Airer (63099)
If you'd rather buy through Amazon, BLACK+DECKER's 3-tier airer matches the full-size Dry:Soon models on headline numbers: up to 15kg of washing on 21 metres of drying space, spread over three tiers. You can use all three tiers or fold some away to dry longer items.
It arrives assembled: you fold it out, plug it in and switch it on. It folds flat afterwards. The listing quotes an average of 8.4p an hour to run, compared with an average of £1.50 for a tumble dryer cycle. As with every brand estimate, your own costs depend on your tariff.
- 21m of drying space over three tiers; holds up to 15kg
- 300W
- 140 × 73 × 68cm (H × W × D); 5.5kg
- Arrives assembled; folds flat for storage
- A version with a cover and wheels is also sold
Why it's lazy-approved
- No assembly
- Big capacity at a typically lower price than the Lakeland big airers
Worth knowing
- No timer is listed
- Taller than the Dry:Soon models, so check your ceiling height if it's going under a slope
Specs: BLACK+DECKER listing on Amazon.co.uk.
How to choose a heated airer
1. Match the airer to your wash
A typical 7 to 8kg wash spreads out more than you'd think. If you do big family loads, a 21m airer is the safe bet. If it's mostly one or two people, a mini airer or a drying pod will do and takes up less room.
2. Bars or pod?
Heated bars are simple and quiet, and they handle towels, bedding and mixed loads. A pod with a fan is quicker for shirts and lighter fabrics and leaves fewer creases, but holds less.
3. Get a cover
Lakeland's covers trap the warm air around the washing. Lakeland recommends them for faster drying, and they double as a storage bag. If you buy one add-on, make it this.
4. Mind the damp
The water has to go somewhere. Dry in a room with some ventilation, crack a window or run a dehumidifier, and check your windows for condensation. A window vac clears it in seconds.
5. Want a timer without paying for one?
Only some airers have timers. For the others, a smart plug with a schedule can switch the airer off for you. Check the airer's manual first, and don't leave any heater running unattended.
FAQ
Are heated airers cheaper to run than a tumble dryer?
Per hour, usually yes. Lakeland and BLACK+DECKER both quote around 8p an hour for their big airers at their stated electricity prices. But heated airers take hours rather than minutes, and Which? found that for large loads a heat pump tumble dryer can work out cheaper overall. They make the most sense for small to medium loads.
How long does a heated airer take to dry clothes?
Lakeland says its Dry:Soon range typically dries a full load in 4 to 12 hours, depending on fabrics and room temperature. A cover speeds things up. The Drying Pod is faster for lighter items: Lakeland found under an hour for lightweight fabrics in its own trials.
Can I leave a heated airer on overnight?
Lakeland doesn't recommend leaving any electrical appliance running unattended overnight. The Dry:Soon Deluxe has a built-in timer, so you can set it to switch off before bed.
Do heated airers cause damp?
Drying washing indoors releases moisture whatever method you use. Ventilate the room, keep doors open where you can, and consider a dehumidifier if your home is prone to condensation.
Do I need the cover?
It's optional, but Lakeland recommends a cover to trap heat and speed up drying, and it doubles as a storage bag for the folded airer.
Have you tested these heated airers?
No. These are research-based picks. We've read the manufacturers' and retailers' specs and published UK reviews so you don't have to. We don't publish made-up scores.