When it comes to high-performance hand dryers, XLERATOR and Dyson stand out as leaders in the market. Both brands offer innovative solutions to meet the needs of public spaces, and both are very popular, but these hand dryers are very different.  In this blog, we’ll compare these two industry titans across a variety of factors to help you make an informed decision.

Key Features of XLERATOR Hand Dryers

XLERATOR hand dryers are known to have a powerful blast of air that dries hands efficiently and quickly. Printed on the nozzle is the invitation to “Feel the Power,” and Xlerator means it. 

When the Xlerator was introduced by Excel Dryer in 2001, it revolutionized the industry. Out went the jokes of drying your hands on your pants, and in came stories of jet-blasts of air physically moving the skin on your hands while it blew the water right off of them. Xlerator hand dryers are powerful and durable.

Excel offers many different options of the Xlerator, offering them with or without heat, with or without a HEPA filter, with or without a recess kit. The material and color options of the cover are numerous, and the motor is adjustable. So for comparison sake, we are going to talk about the base XL model, which comes with heat, and does not come with a HEPA filter. Even within that model, there are cover options that can significantly affect the price. 

The least expensive is the XL-BW with the white, thermoset polymer cover, and the most expensive is the XL-C model with a mirror chrome cover. In between are the white steel, graphite and stainless (our favorite) covers. Excel Dryer also offers any custom color or design that you desire for a little extra time and money. 

ADA rules say that if a hand dryer is in a passageway, it must protrude less than 4” off the wall. If you need to meet that requirement with an Xlerator, then you can purchase a recess kit, which is not necessary for the Dyson Airblade. Excel Dryer offers a different model hand dryer, the ThinAir. At less than 4” in width, the ThinAir is ADA-compliant without a kit. It is not as powerful as the Xlerator, however. 

Xlerator key features:

Fast Drying Times: XLERATOR boasts drying times as fast as 8 seconds, making them the fastest hand dryer around, and ideal for high-traffic restrooms.

Customizable Options: Users can choose from multiple finishes, functional options, and they can even personalize with custom covers.

Energy Efficiency: Patented technology uses 80% less energy than conventional hand dryers.

Adjustable Settings: Noise, heat, and speed can be fine-tuned to match the environment’s needs.

These features make XLERATOR a strong choice for venues prioritizing speed, durability, and energy savings.

Key Features of Dyson Hand Dryers

Dyson hand dryers, including the popular Airblade range, stand out for their cutting-edge technology and sleek design. Vacuum cleaner and marketing behemoth, Dyson, Ltd, introduced the Dyson Airblade hand dryer in 2013.

The latest model is the AB14, also known as the “dB”. This is a hands-in hand dryer that the user stands over and puts their hands down into. Two jets of air come off thin air blades on either side of the hands, then scrape the water off the hands. Like the Xlerator 10 years prior, this hand dryer was another leap forward in technology and was all the talk in the restroom! Dry times were comparable to the Xlerator, giving the edge to the pumped up Xlerator at 8 seconds vs about 10 seconds for the high-tech AB14. 

A key new feature for Dyson was the introduction of the HEPA filter, bringing hygiene to the fore for the first time. All Dyson Airblade hand dryers also carry HEPA filters. Excel Dryer has since introduced HEPA filters as an Xlerator option, available either in a new unit or as a retrofit.

Dyson has discontinued the original hands-in dB / AB14 version of their line. So when we are comparing the Dyson hand dryers, we are talking about the most popular model in their range, the model V, AKA the HU02. (“V” comes from the shape of the hand dryer and is not the number 5, and “HU” stands for Hands Under vs the original hands in dryers.) The HU02 continues with the Dyson tradition of using blades of air to scrape the water off of hands. This technology is different than traditional hand dryers, which try to evaporate the water, or the Xlerator, which blows the water off of hands in more of a concentrated fashion. 

There are two other models in the current Dyson range. The sleek 9kJ (HU03) is a lower energy-hand dryer that consumes as little as 9 Kilojoules of energy per dry. With its tubular stainless steel design, this is a wonderful dryer, but it is still not as popular as the HU02. And the Wash + Dry is both a hand dryer and a faucet, enabling the user to both wash and dry hands in the same sink so that the water is contained in one place. We also love this solution.

Dyson Airblade Key Features: 

HEPA Filtration: Dyson hand dryers come equipped with HEPA filters that capture 99.95% of bacteria and particles in the air.

Unique Airblade Technology: This ensures fast and efficient drying in about 10–14 seconds.

Modern Aesthetics: Dyson’s futuristic designs add a touch of sophistication to any restroom.

Low Environmental Impact: Designed to use less energy and produce lower carbon emissions compared to paper towels.

ADA Compliant: Dyson dryers are ADA compliant as-is, no recess kit needed.

Dyson’s hand dryers are a great fit for environments where hygiene and design are top priorities.

Drying Time: Which Brand Is Faster?

Both XLERATOR and the Dyson Airblade V (HU02) deliver quick drying times:

XLERATOR: 8–10 seconds

Dyson HU02: 10–14 seconds

However, real-world drying speeds may vary depending on the model and environmental conditions. Note that the XLERATOR can be adjusted downward to reduce noise, and this reduces the speed as well. 

Noise Levels: Considering Sound in Public Spaces

Noise is an important factor, especially in settings like offices or libraries. XLERATOR hand dryers can be louder due to their powerful motors, though adjustable settings allow for quieter operation. Dyson hand dryers, while not silent, are engineered to balance power and noise, offering a more subdued sound profile. To adjust the noise level of the XLERATOR, the cover must be removed so that a dial on the motor can be accessed and the motor speed changed. Additionally, the XLERATOR can be fitted with a 1.1 inch nozzle instead of the standard 0.8 in nozzle. 

The larger nozzle means less-concentrated air and, therefore, less noise and a bit slower dry time. In our opinion, this option is no longer relevant since the motor is now adjustable. We love the speed and excitement provided at the highest setting on the XLERATOR, so we recommend leaving it there. If that setting is too loud for a particular environment, then adjust it down. But otherwise, Feel the Power and enjoy your dry hands. 

Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings

Both brands prioritize energy efficiency. XLERATOR’s adjustable settings and low energy usage make it a cost-effective option. Dyson’s Airblade technology, combined with its low energy consumption, minimizes operational costs while delivering powerful performance. Both brands significantly outperform traditional dryers in terms of cost savings over time. 

The XLERATOR consumes 1,450 watts of energy at the highest settings. This, combined with the fast air-speed time, makes it much more efficient than the slower, traditional hand dryers. The Dyson Airblade HU02 uses only 1,000 watts. If we estimate that the Airblade is 2 seconds slower, however, this adds 2 seconds of energy usage. So to see which is actually more efficient, we need to consider both power and dry time. 

For the XLERATOR, we multiply 1,450 watts x 8 seconds = 11,600 joules of power use, or 11.6 kJ. The Dyson V / HU02 is 1,000 watts x 10 seconds = 10,000 J or 10 kJ, making the Dyson more efficient. This all depends on variables such as the speed an individual user takes to dry their hands, or which settings are selected on the XLERATOR. If the installer of the XLERATOR sets the motor at the lowest speed, for example, the energy consumption goes down to 1,245 watts, however, the dry time goes up accordingly. 

The XLERATOR does come in the ECO version as well. In the ECO model, there is no heating element, which drastically reduces the energy consumption. In the ECO version of the XLERATOR, the energy consumption goes down to just 425 to 500 watts, depending on the motor setting. In that case, the XLERATOR-ECO wins in the energy war. So why is the standard model of the XLERATOR still much more popular than the ECO? Since these hand dryers blow the water off of the hands, the heat does not help to dry them quicker. But having heat is more comfortable to the user. Not only does it feel better, but the hands feel drier sooner when there is heat. In a cold climate, or even a warm climate with cold air conditioning, heated units are always preferred. 

The difference in energy consumption as a percent is significant, but these dryers are used for such a short period of time that the overall energy use may be considered minimal anywhere in this range. It would cost $40-50 to run one heated XLERATOR hand dryer for a year in a restroom that gets about 200 uses per day. Try comparing that to the cost of paper towels!

Note that the Dyson Airblade also does not have a heating element, but heat is created by the friction of the motor ans the air blades. The XLERATOR-ECO can also generate some heat from its motor, which helps, but it is less noticeable due to the larger nozzle.

Hygiene and Air Quality

Dyson sets itself apart by providing built-in HEPA filters as standard with all of their units. This ensures that the air coming out of the dryer is clean, and in most cases, cleaner than the air in the rest of the restroom. The standard XLERATOR doesn’t include HEPA filtration; however, the XLERATOR is now available with pre-installed HEPA filters, and HEPA filters can also be retrofitted into older models. This does add an additional cost, of course. Both brands comply with hygiene standards and are suitable for health-conscious environments. 

Product Quality

The quality of both brands is excellent, and both companies stand behind their products in warranty situations. They are both durable, but the XLERATOR offers more cover options that are appropriate for vandalism, such as stainless steel. XLERATOR offers a 7-year warranty. Dyson offers a 5-year warranty and is the only hand dryer company to offer labor for the first year of the warranty.

Design and Installation Considerations

When it comes to design and installation, both XLERATOR and Dyson offer options to suit various restroom layouts. Dyson’s Airblade models are inherently ADA-compliant, with slim designs that protrude less than four inches from the wall, meeting accessibility standards without additional modifications. This makes them a straightforward choice for spaces prioritizing accessibility.

In contrast, XLERATOR hand dryers require a recess kit to achieve ADA compliance, as their models would otherwise extend 6 ¾” from the wall. While the recess kit is a practical solution, it does require cutting a space in the wall for installation. Excel Dryer also offers the ThinAir model that is less than 4” and therefore ADA-compliant, but at the cost of faster dry times. Both brands, however, offer compact and aesthetically appealing designs that blend well into modern restroom environments.

Cost Comparison: Initial Investment vs. Long-Term Value

The base XLERATOR hand dryers, such as the XL-BW, have a lower upfront cost compared to Dyson models. Additional options, such as a recess kit or a HEPA filter, will bring that cost up. However, Dyson’s edge on energy efficiency might offer better long-term savings for high-traffic environments, depending on the unit. Maintenance costs for both are minimal, adding to their overall value. HEPA filters need to be replaced about every 5 years, so that cost is also reasonable. 

Environmental Impact and Sustainability

Both brands are environmentally friendly, offering alternatives to paper towels and reducing waste. XLERATOR focuses on reducing energy consumption and material waste, while Dyson emphasizes low carbon emissions and eco-conscious manufacturing. Choosing either brand contributes to sustainability goals. 

As a comparison, it takes more energy to manufacture the two paper towels used to dry an individual’s hands than it does to operate the hand dryer itself, not including the trees, chemicals or landfills needed for paper towels.

Choosing Between XLERATOR and Dyson

Ultimately, the choice between XLERATOR and Dyson depends on your specific needs. If you value speed, customization, and a lower initial cost, XLERATOR might be the better fit. On the other hand, if hygiene, modern design, and advanced technology are your priorities, Dyson could be the way to go.

Both XLERATOR and Dyson excel in different areas, making them excellent options for public spaces. By weighing your priorities and budget, you can select the hand dryer that best meets your requirements.

If you’re unsure which hand dryer is the right fit for your space, the experts at Berl’s are here to help. With a wide selection of hand dryers from both XLERATOR and Dyson, we can guide you through the features, benefits, and installation options to find the perfect solution for your needs. Contact us today to get started!

*Note if the motor speed of the XLERATOR is adjusted down, this will lower the noise, energy consumption speed of dry. THe ECO version of the XLERATOR does not have heat and is less expensive and uses less energy.