In today’s world, cost is an important consideration for businesses and public facilities. While hand dryers might seem like a more expensive option than paper towels, it’s important to consider the long-term financial benefits. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the cost-effectiveness of hand dryers, and help you make an informed decision.
At first glance, hand dryers might seem like a more expensive option. They require an initial investment, and some models can be more expensive than others. However, over the long term, the best hand dryers can save businesses and public facilities a significant amount of money.
Examples of cost savings: Hand Dryers vs Paper Towels
The below tables show the number of dries possible per £1 spent on electricity of certain hand dryers, compared to using £1 worth of paper towels.
Dyson Airblade V HU02
Initial cost (at time of writing): £589.95 ex vat
| £1 spent hand dryer electricity |
£1 spent paper towels |
Annual cost hand dryers use |
Annual cost paper towel use |
Annual savings |
| 1500 dries | 143 dries | £69 | £727 | £658 |
Mitsubishi Jet Towel Smart Wave u02
Initial cost (at time of writing): £317.21 ex vat
| £1 spent hand dryer electricity |
£1 spent paper towels |
Annual cost hand dryers use |
Annual cost paper towel use |
Annual savings |
| 2739 dries | 143 dries | £38 | £727 | £689 |
Dryflow EcoSlim
Initial cost (at time of writing): £319 ex vat
| £1 spent hand dryer electricity |
£1 spent paper towels |
Annual cost hand dryers use |
Annual cost paper towel use |
Annual savings |
| 4347 dries | 143 dries | £24 | £727 | £703 |
Dryflow G-Force Eco
Initial cost (at time of writing): £199 ex vat
| £1 spent hand dryer electricity |
£1 spent paper towels |
Annual cost hand dryers use |
Annual cost paper towel use |
Annual savings |
| 2000 dries | 143 dries | £52 | £727 | £675 |
Dryflow JetDri Mark II
Initial cost (at time of writing): £149 ex vat
| £1 spent hand dryer electricity |
£1 spent paper towels |
Annual cost hand dryers use |
Annual cost paper towel use |
Annual savings |
| 2727 dries | 143 dries | £38 | £727 | £689 |
*The above is based on 1 paper towel used for the cheapest option; in reality 2 or more towels are used, therefore the savings become even more significant.
- All values are ex vat
- Based on average business rate of £0.20 per kWh (2022)
- Based on average cost of paper towels using a google search at time of writing
- Based on using 1 paper towel per dry for cheapest scenario
- Based on hand dryer at most economical setting
- Annual cost based on a medium sized office of 100 people using the bathroom 260 times a year, 4 times a day (104,000 dries a year)
The benefits of hand dryers over paper towels
One of the biggest benefits of hand dryers is that they are reusable, with some models lasting for years or even decades. This reduces the need for constant replacement, as well as the need to continually purchase paper towels. Additionally, hand dryers use less energy than it takes to make paper towels. The paper and pulp industry are the fourth largest contributor to the emission of greenhouse gases and the industry consumes 4% of the world’s energy !
Whilst traditional warm air hand dryers have a higher energy use, the best energy efficient hand dryers use minimal. It’s often forgotten that huge amounts of energy are used on a continuous loop in sourcing the raw material, transportation, manufacturing and end-of-life disposal of paper towels, including any recycling process.
In conclusion, while hand dryers might seem like a more expensive option initially, they are a cost-effective choice over the long term. With their ability to reduce waste, save energy, and last for years, hand dryers are a smart investment for any business or public facility looking to save money.
