Does your tumble dryer have delay start? (how to check)

Before hunting through menus, check for these physical clues:

If none of those are present, check your manual under "Delay Start" or "Timer Function." For machines bought since 2018, it is rare for a mid-range or premium dryer not to include the feature.

If your manual is missing, search "[brand] [model number] manual" and download the PDF from the manufacturer's website. Every major brand hosts manuals online for free.

Can't find confirmation? The smart plug workaround in the final section of this guide covers you regardless.

Once you know your cheapest overnight window from AgileAlert, the exact delay time to set is simply: hours from now until that window opens. If it is 10pm and your cheap window starts at 1am, set a 3-hour delay.

Bosch / Siemens / Neff heat pump dryers: delay start guide

Bosch, Siemens, and Neff share virtually identical control interfaces across their heat pump dryer ranges. The method applies to most models from the Series 4 upward.

Step 1: Load the drum. Select your drying programme using the programme selector dial.

Step 2: Press the "Time Delay" button (usually positioned near the Start button, marked with a clock icon). The display shows the current delay in hours, starting at 0 or 1.

Step 3: Press the Time Delay button repeatedly to increase the delay. Each press adds one hour. Most Bosch heat pump dryers allow up to 19 hours of delay.

Step 4: Once the correct delay is showing, press and hold the Start button for approximately 3 seconds. The door locks and the countdown begins.

Note for Series 8 models: Some newer models use a touch display. The delay function appears as a menu option after you select a programme. Tap the clock icon, set the hours using + and -, then confirm with Start.

If your Bosch dryer has a Home Connect app, you can set the delay remotely from your phone, including setting a specific start time rather than a delay duration.

Hotpoint / Indesit: delay start guide

Hotpoint and Indesit dryers (both owned by Whirlpool) use a simple button-press delay system on most models.

Step 1: Load the drum and select your programme.

Step 2: Press the "Delay" button once. The LED indicator shows "1H" (one hour of delay).

Step 3: Press the Delay button again to add more hours. Press repeatedly until you reach the desired delay (typically up to 12 or 20 hours depending on model).

Step 4: Press the Start/Pause button to confirm. The machine enters standby mode and counts down.

On newer Hotpoint models with a digital display, the process is the same but the display shows the full countdown in hours and minutes rather than an LED indicator.

One important note for Hotpoint and Indesit condenser dryers: empty the water collection tank before setting the overnight delay. A full tank causes the machine to pause mid-cycle and display a "Tank Full" error, which defeats the overnight system entirely.

Samsung: delay end equivalent

Samsung takes a different approach. Their dryers use a "Delay End" function rather than a Delay Start. The difference is practical: you tell the machine what time you want the cycle to finish, and it calculates when to start.

Step 1: Load the drum and select your drying programme.

Step 2: Press the "Delay End" button. The display shows the number of hours until completion.

Step 3: Press the + and - buttons to adjust. If your cycle takes 90 minutes and you want it finished by 5am, and it is currently 11pm, set the Delay End to 6 hours (adds a ~4.5 hour delay before the cycle starts).

Step 4: Press Start to confirm.

Samsung's SmartThings app also supports remote scheduling on app-connected models. This lets you check AgileAlert for tonight's cheapest window and set the exact finish time from your phone without going back to the machine.

The Delay End approach is arguably more useful than Delay Start: you specify the output (dry clothes ready at a certain time) rather than the input (when the machine begins). For school mornings or work days, this is the more practical framing.

AEG / Electrolux: delay start guide

AEG and Electrolux heat pump dryers use a clear digital interface with dedicated delay controls on most models sold since 2016.

Step 1: Close the door, load the drum, and select your programme.

Step 2: Press the "Delay" button or the clock icon button. The display changes to show a delay time, usually starting at 1 hour.

Step 3: Use the + button to increase the delay in 1-hour increments. Maximum delay is typically 20 hours.

Step 4: Press and hold the Start button for 2-3 seconds to lock in the delay. The display counts down.

AEG's ProSense technology (present on Series 7000 and higher) automatically adjusts the cycle duration based on load size and moisture level. This means the actual finish time may vary slightly from what the programme indicator suggests. Build in a small buffer when stacking a dryer after a washing machine to avoid overlap.

Beko: delay start guide

Beko dryers cover a wide price range and the delay start feature is present on most mid-range and above models.

Step 1: Load the drum and select your programme.

Step 2: Press the "Delayed Start" button. An LED indicator or digital display shows the selected delay starting at 3 hours on many Beko models (not 1 hour, so check the display before confirming).

Step 3: Press the Delayed Start button repeatedly to cycle through available delay times. Beko typically offers 3, 6, 9, and 12 hour increments rather than 1-hour steps. This is less flexible than other brands, so plan your timing accordingly.

Step 4: Press the Start/Pause button to activate the delay.

For budget Beko models without delay start built in, the smart plug solution below achieves the same result.

Candy / Hoover: delay start guide

Candy and Hoover (the same parent company) include delay start on their Rapido and Bianca ranges, and on many mid-range heat pump models.

Step 1: Load and select programme. Close the door fully until it clicks.

Step 2: Press the "Delay" or "Timer" button. The display shows available delay options, often 1 through 24 hours.

Step 3: Scroll to your desired delay using + or - buttons.

Step 4: Press Start/On to activate. The display shows a countdown.

Candy's Simply-Fi app (available on select models) supports remote start scheduling. If you have a supported model, you can set the delay from your phone after checking AgileAlert.

What to do if your dryer does not have delay start (smart plug solution)

If your tumble dryer predates the delay start era (pre-2012 for most brands), or if it is a budget model without the feature, a smart plug with timer scheduling is the practical alternative.

The setup:

  1. Buy a smart plug with timer functionality. The Tapo P110 (around £12) and the Meross MSS310 (around £14) both work well. Both also monitor energy consumption so you can see your actual per-cycle costs.
  2. Load the drum and select your programme before bed. Do not press Start.
  3. Plug the dryer into the smart plug. In the app, set the smart plug to switch on at your target overnight start time (from AgileAlert) and switch off 3-4 hours later as a safety cutoff.
  4. When the smart plug switches on, it powers the dryer. On most tumble dryers, cutting and restoring power while a programme is selected causes the machine to start automatically. Test this in the daytime first to confirm your specific model behaves this way.

Important caveat: heat pump tumble dryers often do not auto-start when power is restored. They typically require a button press to begin. On these models, a smart plug alone is not sufficient. The built-in delay start function is the only option, or an upgrade to a model with delay start built in.

For vented and condenser dryers, the smart plug approach works reliably in most cases. Test it once during the day before relying on it overnight.

Frequently asked questions

Does my tumble dryer have delay start?
Look for a button labelled "Delay," "Timer," "Delay Start," or a clock icon on the control panel. If the machine has a digital display showing hours, it almost certainly has delay start. Check the user manual under "Delayed Start" or "Timer" if unsure. Dryers manufactured since 2015 by Bosch, AEG, Samsung, Hotpoint, and Beko typically include the feature on mid-range and above models.
Can I use a smart plug to simulate delay start on a tumble dryer?
Yes, on most vented and condenser tumble dryers. Load the drum, select the programme, and plug the machine into a timer-scheduled smart plug. When the plug activates overnight, the dryer starts. Heat pump dryers typically do not auto-start on power restore and require a button press, so this method does not work for them. Test the approach in daylight before using it overnight.
How far ahead can I set tumble dryer delay start?
Most modern tumble dryers allow up to 12-24 hours of delay. Bosch and AEG models typically allow up to 19-20 hours. Beko models often offer fewer options (3, 6, 9, 12 hours). Samsung's Delay End function typically allows up to 19 hours from now. For overnight use, a maximum delay of 8-12 hours is always sufficient if you set it in the early evening.
What is the difference between Delay Start and Delay End?
Delay Start sets when the machine begins its cycle. Delay End sets when the machine finishes. Both achieve the same outcome (overnight running) but Delay End is more practical if you care about having dry clothes ready by a specific time, such as 6am for school. Samsung uses Delay End. Most other brands use Delay Start. Neither approach is superior, just different framing of the same function.
Why should I bother setting the delay at all?
Because the difference between running your condenser dryer at 6pm (95p per cycle) versus 2am (10p per cycle) is 85p per load. For a household drying four loads a week, that is over £175 saved annually. Checking AgileAlert for tonight's cheapest window and setting the delay takes under two minutes. The return on those two minutes is around £175 per year.