The best tumble dryer to leave your clothes feeling soft and fresh

Best tumble dryers at a glance

• Best energy efficient tumble dryer: Grungig ExpressDry FT76824EW 8kg Heated Pump Tumble Dryer, £599
• Best tumble dryer for large loads: Hoover H-Dry 300 HLE C10DCER NFC 10kg Condenser Tumble Dryer, £349
• Best budget tumble dryer: Logik LVD7W18 7kg Vented Tumble Dryer, £229
• Best tumble dryer for small spaces: Montpellier MTD3OP 3kg Vented Tumble Dryer, £199
• Best smart tumble dryer: Samsung Series 6 OptimalDry DV90T5240AN/S1 Wi-Fi Enabled 9kg Heat Pump Tumble Dryer, £749
• Best attractive tumble dryer: Sharp KD-NCB8S7PB9-EN 8kg Condenser Tumble Dryer, £295
• Best tumble dryer for no shrinkage: AEG 8000 AbsoluteCare Heat Pump 9kg Tumble Dryer, £1,099
• Best tumble dryer for no creases: Beko Pro B3T4911DW 9kg Condenser Tumble Dryer, £349
• Best tumble dryer for allergies: Hotpoint H8D93WBUK 9kg Load Heat Pump Tumble Dryer, £609
• Best tumble dryer for quiet drying: John Lewis JLTDH25 Heat Pump Freestanding Tumble Dryer 9kg, £699

To help you spend your money wisely and get the best tumble dryer to suit you and your needs, we spoke to Energy Helpline expert Ava Kelly, who gave some great advice to help you save money and energy when purchasing a tumble dryer.

To make sure you know everything you need to before investing in a tumble dryer we also asked Ben Peach, cleaning and laundry expert from Haier Europe, all about tumble dryers, how they work and the different types available.

For delicate items that may not be suitable for tumble drying, take a look at our guide on the best way to dry your clothes indoors. Or, if the weather allows you to dry your clothes outside, take a look at our pick of the best rotary washing lines and retractable washing lines. If you're looking for useful storing ideas for your clothes, take a look at the best vacuum storage bags.

• Jump to our pick of the best tumble dryers
• Find out all about the different types of tumble dryers
• Compare how much each tumble dryer costs to run

What to consider when buying a tumble dryer

Type – There are 3 types of tumble dryers; heat pump, condenser and vented. Condenser dryers convert hot air into water, ready to be removed by the user. Vented dryers expel hot air through an external vent and heat pump tumble dryers reuse the hot air which means they keep energy consumption to a minimum, according to Ben Peach, cleaning and laundry expert from Haier Europe.

Size/capacity – Tumble dryers vary in size/capacity from as little as 3kg to 10kg+. The average size for a tumble dryer is 7kg to 8kg, this is medium capacity and is ideal for a family. The large sizes are 9kg to 10kg and are only needed if you have a large family or want to dry big items.

Energy rating – A tumble dryer's energy rating informs you how energy efficient the appliance is, and they range from A+++ to G, with A+++ being the most efficient. Ideally you don't want a tumble dryer any lower than C, so we've not included any lower than this in our list. However, it would be even better to aim for tumble dryers with an A energy rating.It's worth noting that these ratings will soon be simplified, with only A-G on offer, but as the older ratings are still shown on products, we have listed them here.

Ease of use – Some tumble dryers are easier to use than others, especially if you can schedule cycles or control it with your phone. But if you don't need all the bells and whistles that come with smart dryers, you may prefer to opt for one with only a few buttons, programs and controls to avoid confusion.

Settings – In many ways, this goes hand in hand with ease of use. If you want a tumble dryer which offers different times, temperatures and settings for different fabrics or garments, then a smart dryer might be best for you. Simple operation usually means more limited settings and functionality.

Phone connectivity – Some tumble dryers are so advanced that they're Wi-Fi enabled, so you can monitor and control your tumble dryer from your phone. However, this does usually only come with the slightly more expensive options, and you'll still need to be at home to add or remove the clothes, so the need for this is limited.

Appearance – Some people are fortunate and can hide their tumble dryer in a utility room or have it integrated into their kitchen cupboards. However, if you're not so fortunate and have to have it on show in your kitchen or bathroom then you may want one that's subtle or at least not terrible looking, so we've selected one especially for this (number 6 on the list).

Sensor drying – Most tumble dryers nowadays come with sensor drying, but some of the cheaper options don't. It's a really useful feature that protects your clothes from being over-dried, and helps save energy. It uses temperature and moisture sensors to detect when the garments are dry, and automatically stops rather than just continuing until the time you set.

Technology – As with the phone connectivity, tumble dryers are becoming more and more advanced when it comes to functions and features. Sometimes it's hard to understand whether they're worth it, but one piece of technology we do think is helpful is an anti-crease function. You can reduce your ironing pile if you get a tumble dryer that spins periodically if you don't unload it straight away. Another useful function is the hygiene/refresh option (it's called something different on every tumble dryer). This feature is great for if you want to freshen up your clothes that perhaps don't need a full wash and dry. Finally, another feature to look out for is a quick dry option. If you need something dry almost instantly then some tumble dryers offer drying speeds from 12 minutes for 1 shirt, or 30 mins for a whole load.

Child lock – Children can be incredibly inquisitive and end up fiddling with things they perhaps shouldn't. Child locks can be very useful to stop children being able to adjust your set program and settings, as well as keeping them safe by not being able to open up the door.

Our pick of the best tumble dryers

1. Grundig ExpressDry GT76824EW 8kg Heated Pump Tumble Dryer, £599

– Best for energy efficiency

Type: Heat pump | Energy rating: A+++ | Size: 8kg | Sensor drying: Yes | Phone connectivity: No | Dimensions: H84.6cm x W59.8cm x D60.7cm | Child lock: Yes

We all know tumble dryers use a lot of what some may consider unnecessary energy. However, out of all the tumble dryers on the market, this is one of the most energy efficient with an A+++ energy rating and a youreko gold star efficiency award.

It's a heat pump dryer which automatically makes it more energy efficient as it dries at lower temperatures thanks to its improved drum movement. It has sensor drying too, which detects moisture levels and automatically stops when it's reached optimal dryness.

If you want clothes dried quickly, its express dry function can dry up to 5kg of clothes in just an hour. This tumble dryer also has a handy hygienic refresh function which is great for garments that don't need a wash but could do with a little freshening up.

Not only is this tumble dryer energy efficient and quick-drying but you also won't have trouble loading and unloading it with its large porthole and an internal light inside the drum to make sure you don't leave a stray sock inside. The door of the dryer can be moved and reversed to suit your room layout and make loading and unloading as easy as possible for you.

If you have children running about, there's no need to worry because this machine has a child lock so they can't disrupt or change the program you've set.

Pros: A+++ energy rating, youreko gold efficiency award, sensor drying, express dry, hygienic refresh function, large porthole, internal light, door can be reversed, child lock
Cons: Cannot control via your phone

Available from: Currys

2. Hoover H-Dry 300 HLE C10DCER NFC 10kg Condenser Tumble Dryer, £349

– Best for large loads

Type: Condenser | Energy rating: B | Size: 10kg | Sensor drying: Yes | Phone connectivity: Yes | Dimensions: H85cm x W59.6cm x D58.5cm | Child lock: No

If you have a big family or want to be able to dry large items such as duvets and bedding then you may need a bigger tumble dryer. This 10kg condenser tumble dryer is one of the biggest on the market and is also competitively priced.

Other than the size, another great thing about this tumble dryer is you can handily control it through the Hoover Wizard app. The app lets you check on the cycle, see how much energy you're running and run diagnostic checks to ensure your machine is healthy. You can also download new cycles and create ones customised to you and your clothes.

Much like the Grundig tumble dryer this one also has sensor drying and automatically stops when your clothes are dry. There are 4 drying levels to choose from, depending on how dry you want your clothes to be, it will stop when it reaches that level of dryness. The options are, ready to iron, hanger dry, wardrobe dry or extra dry.

Another handy feature is its aquavision. Its integrated water reservoir makes it easy for you to see when the water needs emptying.

For your delicates it has gentle programs with sophisticated temperature management. Although you can put a lot in this tumble dryer and it's quite an affordable price, you do need to consider how as it has an energy rating of B it will cost more to use in the long run.

Pros: Large drum size, affordable, can control through phone, sensor drying, aquavision
Cons: Energy rating B will cost more to run, no child lock

Available from: Very and Currys

3. Logik LVD7W18 7kg Vented Tumble Dryer, £229

– Best budget buy

Type: Vented | Energy rating: C | Size: 7kg | Sensor drying: Yes | Phone connectivity: No | Dimensions: H84cm x W59.5cm x D55cm | Child lock: Yes

If you're after a budget tumble dryer and are only going to use it occasionally, then this is a great option. However, although it's only £199, if you plan on using it often then it may actually not be as cost-efficient as you think due to its C energy rating.

This simple tumble dryer has 4 programs to choose from and can dry clothes in 1 hour when you're in a rush. It also has a handy delay timer, with 3,6, or 9 hour delay options, this is especially helpful if you have a cheaper tariff at night, you can set it to run automatically after a certain time.

Also, even with the affordable price, it still has sensor drying.

It also has a useful child lock to keep little hands from disrupting your drying cycle.

Pros: Affordable, delay timer, child lock, sensory drying, quick drying feature
Cons: C energy rating, cannot control via your phone

Available from: Currys

4. Montpellier MTD3OP 3kg Vented Tumble Dryer, £199

– Best for small spaces

Type: Vented | Energy rating: C | Size: 3kg | Sensor drying: No | Phone connectivity: No | Dimensions: H65.5cm x W52cm x D43.5cm | Child lock: No

If you've always thought you don't really have the room for a tumble dryer but would love one then this compact 3kg one is for you. It's the ideal option for small homes, small enough to sit on a counter top or it can even be mounted to the wall (kit sold separately).

However, you should note that due to the size of this tumble dryer, you can't fit large items inside. The door has a 180° opening to help you load all your clothes inside.

Due to the size of this tumble dryer it is quite simplistic and doesn't have sensor drying but it does have an LED control panel where you choose from 5 different programs as well as handy functions such as anti-crease and refresh to give your laundry an extra touch of freshness.

Pros: Small and compact, wide opening, anti-crease, refresh feature
Cons: C energy rating, small drum, no sensor drying, cannot control via phone, no child lock

Available from: Currys and Robert Dyas

5. Samsung Series 6 OptimalDry DV90T5240AN/S1 WiFi-Enabled 9kg Heat Pump Tumble Dryer, £749

– Best smart tumble dryer

Type: Heat pump | Energy rating: A+++ | Size: 9kg | Sensor drying: Yes | Phone connectivity: Yes | Dimensions: H90cm x W65cm x D65cm | Child lock: No

We think this is one of the smartest tumble dryers on the list. This Samsung heat pump tumble dryer has an excellent energy rating and extremely smart features to make drying your clothes easier.

Some of the clever features include its OptimalDry function which uses smart technology to adjust drying time based on the temperature and moisture sensors. The best feature is its smart control. This tumble dryer remembers your family's laundry habits to suggest to you the most appropriate cycles. You can also track every cycle's progress and once the drying is all done you will receive a notification straight to your phone.

The app also allows you to schedule your drying and recommends the optimal settings.

Loading is easy too thanks to its reversible door, you can choose whether it opens left or right.

It's quick dry feature is super speedy with a 35 minute quick dry cycle. It also has an air wash cycle to give your clothes a quick refresh and an anti-wrinkle feature.

Parent tester Daria has a Samsung tumble dryer and loves that it has "great programs and is super easy to use".

Pros: Smart control and features, excellent energy rating, can control via phone, quick dry in 35 mins, OptimalDry function, remembers laundry habits, reversible door, refresh cycle, anti wrinkle feature
Cons: More expensive option, no child lock

Available from: Samsung, Very and Currys

6. Sharp KD-NCB8S7PB9-EN 8kg Condenser Tumble Dryer, £295

– Best for appearance

Type: Condenser | Energy rating: B | Size: 8kg | Sensor drying: Yes | Phone connectivity: No | Dimensions: H84.5cm x W59.6cm x D60.9cm | Child lock: No

Although tumble dryers aren't the most attractive looking appliance, if it's going to be on display, you want one that's subtle and blends in. This plain all black one means you can't see inside the drum and helps hide the tumble dryer from sight.

It also has lots of great practical drying features too. With its shirts 12 program you can dry small items, such as a shirt (the clue is in the name!) in just 12 minutes. If you want to wash a whole load quickly then you can use express mode which aims to have your clothes dry in just 29 minutes.

The drum rotates both ways ensuring a 2-way tumble dry which stops your clothes getting knotted and tangled up making it easier to sort when you take it out. It can also save on ironing time too. The internal light inside the drum also helps when unloading.

The dryer has a bubble drum which allows for a more consistent dry and prevents clothes from snagging or getting caught and stuck to the drum.

Much like most of the other tumble dryers on the list this has sensor drying too so will stop as soon as your clothes are dry.

For all the features and it's appearance, this tumble dryer is super affordable as well.

Pros: Aesthetically pleasing, super fast 12 minute dry option, 2-way tumble, internal light, bubble drum, sensor drying, affordable
Cons: Cannot control via phone, not the best energy rating, no child lock

Available from: Marks Electrical

7. AEG 8000 AbsoluteCare Heat Pump 9kg Tumble Dryer, £1,099

– Best for no shrinkage

Type: Heat pump | Energy rating: A++ | Size: 9kg | Sensor drying: Yes | Phone connectivity: No | Dimensions: H85 x W59.6 x D63.8 | Child lock: No

If you've ever pulled a top out of the tumble dryer only to see that it's shrunk, then a tumble dryer like this one – which has a fast drum speed – may be right up your street. It keeps clothing flat onto the drum walls to stop shrinkage from occurring.

This tumble dryer also has a good energy efficiency rating, with AEG SensiDry technology to enable drying at very low temperatures to protect your garments and save you from high energy bills.

It also has sensor drying so it won't over dry your clothes. Using advanced humidity and temperature sensors, the dryer will adjust its drying time and energy consumption accordingly.

There are many fabric tailored cycles to choose from, including delicate and wool, which allows you to dry items that are hand wash only.

Pros: Protects your clothes, can dry hand wash only woollen garments, good energy rating, sensory drying, tailored cycles, can schedule dry cycles
Cons: Cannot control via your phone, no child lock

Available from: AEG

8. Beko Pro B3T4911DW 9kg Condenser Tumble Dryer, £349

– Best for no creases

Type: Condenser | Energy rating: B | Size: 9kg | Sensor drying: Yes | Phone connectivity: No | Dimensions: H84.6cm x W59.8cm x D60.9cm | Child lock: Yes

If you hate ironing this is the ideal tumble dryer. Although other tumble dryers on this list have an anti-crease function this has it on automatically. If you can't get the clothes out of the dryer as soon as they're done, you don't have to worry because the dryer will automatically spin the drum periodically for up to 2 hours after a cycle has finished to prevent creasing and tangling.

That's not the only handy feature this tumble dryer has. It also has sensor drying and a large reversible porthole door with an internal light inside to make loading and unloading super easy.

It also has a child lock which is handy if your children like to fiddle as well as an auto cooldown phase so your clothes come out just the right temperature.

If you want to dry later, you can pre-set when you want your drying cycle to run – brilliant if you have a cheaper night tariff.

As it's a condenser dryer you usually have to manually empty the water tank but this dryer can be connected to your drain pipe which will do it automatically, saving you time and hassle.

Parent tester Chloe has the Beko condenser tumble dryer and said she's had "no issues and uses it daily".

Pros: Anti-creases automatically, sensor drying, cooldown phase, internal light, large reversible door, scheduled drying, can connect to drain pipe, child lock
Cons: Not great energy rating, cannot control through via phone

Available from: Amazon, Curys, AO and John Lewis

9. Hotpoint H8D93WBUK 9kg Load Heat Pump Tumble Dryer, £609

– Best for allergies

Type: Condenser | Energy rating: A++ | Size: 9kg | Sensor drying: Yes | Phone connectivity: No | Dimensions: H 85, W 59.5, D 61 cm | Child lock: No

This tumble dryer is excellent for people who suffer from allergies thanks to an anti-allergy program which Hotpoint claims removes allergens such as pet hair, dust mites etc from your clothes.

Other great features of this tumble dryer are its GentlePower mode which uses heat pump technology to reduce energy consumption and protect your clothes.

The dryers motor and side panels help minimise noise and vibrations, not to mention the re-circulation system that uses condenser to keep the machine clean.

Pros: Great program for allergies, great energy rating, sensitive drying to protect your clothes, anti-vibration device
Cons: Cannot control via phone, no child lock feature

Available from: Very

10. John Lewis JLTDH25 Heat Pump Freestanding Tumble Dryer 9kg, £699

– Best for quiet drying

Type: Heat pump | Energy rating: A++ | Size: 9kg | Sensor drying: Yes | Phone connectivity: No | Dimensions: H85cm x W59.6cm x D63.8cm | Child lock: Yes

If you want to be able to tumble dry whilst working from home or your baby is having a nap then you may want a quiet drying tumble dryer. This John Lewis tumble dryer operates with just 65 dB of noise, which is around the same as a normal laugh, so it won't be too disruptive for you.

It's a heat pump tumble dryer so is a lot more energy efficient than some of the other options and like most of the others on this list it also has sensor drying to protect your clothes and prevent energy wastage.

The dryer has a digital display where you can programme your cycle and it is very user-intuitive and easy to use. There's a child lock to stop the program being changed too.

It also aims to replicate flat drying to reduce chance of shrinkages. Your dry cycle can be delayed for up to 20 hours.

Pros: Quite non-disruptive drying, energy efficient, sensor drying, delay start, child lock, replicated dry flat
Cons: Cannot control via phone, quite an expensive options

Available from: John Lewis

Pic credits: Product website

What are the 3 types of tumble dryers?

We asked Ben Peach, cleaning and laundry expert from Haier Europe to tell us all about the different types of tumble dryers available to buy:

Vented

Vented tumble dryers draw in and heat air, the warm air is then blown around the drum and then expelled out of an external vent. Due to this, vented tumble dryers need to have access to an external wall to allow the release of the hot air.

Condenser

Condenser tumble dryers covert hot air into water. They can be plugged in anywhere in the home but you do have to empty the collected water yourself.

Heat-Pump

Heat pump tumble dryers reuse the hot air and keep energy consumption to a minimum. Like a condenser tumble dryer, heat pump tumble dryers can be plugged in anywhere.

Which type of tumble dryer is most economical?

"Heat pump tumble dryers are more energy efficient (but have longer cycles) than condensers, which is why heat pump tumble dryer have an energy rating of A+ and condensers tend to have a rating of B," says Ava, an energy saving expert at Energy Helpline.

She went on to say, "A very simple and effective way of controlling the energy usage of your tumble dryer is to look and understand its energy rating. Buying a new tumble dryer with the most energy efficient label can save you up to £145 a year compared to running an older model. While buying a new appliance can be expensive, that initial cost will save you money in the long run, as the £145 saving a year will soon mean the appliance has paid for itself."

Hair Europe laundry and cleaning expert, Ben went on to explain just how economical a heat pump tumble dryer is: "Comparing heat pumps vs condensers, they are over 50% more efficient. This translates to significant energy bill savings (circa £1000 over 4 years based on 34p kWh and 264 uses). We are seeing major growth in the heat pump segment whilst the overall tumble dryer market has declined in 2022 vs 2021.

Tumble dryer running cost comparison

To help you decide which tumble dryer you think will be most cost and energy efficient for you, we have created a comparison table with the average cost per cycle. The running cost has been calculated based on an average of 34p per kWh based on information from Gov.uk. You may also find it interesting to compare this with the running costs of heated airers.

How to use a tumble dryer energy and cost efficiently

Our energy saving expert, Ava discussed ways you can save money when using a tumble dryer: "For a further saving, you can cut your electricity bill by as much as half by running devices during an off-peak tariff. Appliances can be used during this time to save money including washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and even devices such as game consoles can cost much less to run if you wait until off-peak hours. Look into off-peak tariffs your supplier offers to start making savings now".

We also asked Gemma Bird, also known as Money Mum on Instagram who gives her followers lots of amazing money saving tips and she agreed with Ava and advises investigating your current energy plan to see if it covers off-peak usage for cheaper tumble drying. She also suggests opting for an tumble dryer with an eco-button and a high energy efficiency rating to drive the usage costs down.

How long do tumble dryers last?

How long a machine will last can depend on many things, including how well you care for it. Cleaning out filters and remembering to always empty the drawer of your condenser machine can make a big difference.

It’s also worth checking the warranty provided by the manufacturer when you buy the machine, as one which is guaranteed for longer gives you more protection if anything does go wrong.

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