Lendus.

Kiln Drying Finance

Spread the cost of a timber drying kiln from £10,000 to £150,000 with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance, compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a kiln drying?

Yes, kiln dryings are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £10,000 to £150,000, and most deals are written over 24–84 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

200+ UK lenders
2-minute application
No credit check to apply
FCA-regulated brokers

Typical Cost

£10k – £150k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Full review for > £80k

Rates From

4.9% APR

What would a kiln drying cost per month?

£45,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical kiln drying price. Indicative only, not a quote.

Compare kiln drying finance rates from 200+ lenders

Check Eligibility

Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
From 5.4% APR
Term
24–84 months
Deposit
10–20%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Sawmills and timber businesses wanting to own the kiln outright

Finance Lease

Rate
From 4.9% APR
Term
24–84 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Tax-efficient, claim 100% of payments against profit

Operating Lease

Rate
From 5.6% APR
Term
36–60 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return at end
Best for
Add drying capacity without a large upfront outlay. Off balance sheet.

Representative example

On a purchase price of £45,000: a 10% deposit of £4,500, then 48 monthly payments of £949 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £50,052, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification Guide price Type
Small dehumidification kiln (Wood-Mizer class, up to ~1,000 board ft) £10,000 – £22,000 Small Workshop Dehumidification Kiln
Mid-size dehumidification kiln (Wood-Mizer class) £22,000 – £45,000 Mid-Capacity Dehumidification Kiln
Traditional steam-heated kiln (De Nardi class) £45,000 – £90,000 Traditional Timber Drying Kiln
High-capacity production kiln (De Nardi/Valutec class) £90,000 – £150,000 Production Timber Drying Kiln

Ready to compare kiln drying finance? 2 minutes, no credit check.

Check Eligibility

Tax benefits

Timber drying kilns qualify for Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), letting you deduct the full cost from taxable profits in year one, up to £1,000,000. HP agreements allow capital allowances. Lease payments are fully deductible.

Market context

Drying kilns are bought by sawmills, timber merchants and furniture makers who need to bring green or air-dried timber down to a controlled moisture content before it can be machined or sold as kiln-dried stock, rather than relying on slow and less predictable air drying alone. Because a kiln is often the point at which a sawmilling business moves from selling green or air-dried boards to a higher-value kiln-dried product, finance lets that step happen without holding back the cash needed to keep buying and stockpiling logs. Replacement or expansion is typically driven by wanting more chamber capacity, better moisture and humidity control, or lower running costs from a dehumidification system rather than steam heat, rather than the kiln failing outright; a well-built kiln chamber has a long structural life even as the internal fans and controls are upgraded. Smaller dehumidification kilns are more commonly bought new to match a specific workshop's timber volume, while a modest used market exists for traditional steam-heated chambers. Kiln buildings need adequate ventilation and, for larger heat pump or steam systems, a three-phase electricity or a dedicated boiler supply.

Bad credit?

Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

Compare rates from 200+ lenders, takes 2 minutes.

Check Eligibility

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a dehumidification kiln and a traditional steam kiln for finance purposes?
A dehumidification kiln uses a heat pump to extract moisture from the air within an insulated chamber and generally costs less to install and run, suiting smaller sawmills and workshops. A traditional steam or direct-fired kiln heats a larger chamber and suits higher-volume production. Both are financed the same way through hire purchase or lease, with the choice driven by drying volume and running cost rather than by what a lender will fund.
Can I finance a used timber drying kiln?
It is possible for traditional steam-heated chambers, which appear occasionally on the used timber machinery market, though the kiln building and controls need surveying carefully given the specialist nature of the equipment. Smaller dehumidification kilns are more commonly bought new to match a specific chamber size and timber volume, so new equipment finance is the more typical route in this category.
Does the kiln building itself get included in the finance?
That depends on the supplier's invoice. Where a kiln is supplied as a complete insulated chamber with the drying equipment fitted, the whole package can usually be financed together. Where a business is fitting drying equipment into an existing building it already owns, the finance typically covers the kiln plant itself rather than the structure it sits in. It is worth clarifying this point with the supplier at quotation stage, since it affects both the total finance amount and how the agreement should be structured.
What deposit is typical for kiln drying finance?
For hire purchase, most lenders ask for a 10–20% deposit. Finance leases can often be arranged with no deposit at all. Given the wide range of investment in this category, from a small workshop dehumidification kiln to a large production chamber, the deposit and term are usually tailored to the specific project's value and the business's cash flow. Given the wide range of investment in this category, some lenders will look at the deposit alongside the business's timber supply arrangements and order book before confirming terms.
How quickly can I get kiln drying finance?
Straightforward small dehumidification kiln deals are often approved within 24–48 hours. Larger production kilns, particularly where the finance covers both the chamber build and the drying equipment, typically take longer to assess as the lender reviews the full installation specification and, for higher-value deals, the business's trading history and timber supply arrangements. Having a clear specification and supplier quote ready in advance helps keep even a larger project moving efficiently through the approval process.

Related equipment finance

More woodworking finance

See how lenders treat woodworking assets

Guides and resources

Ready to finance your kiln drying?

Compare rates from 200+ lenders. No credit check.

Check Eligibility →
Check Eligibility, 2 min, no credit check