If you live in a flat and don’t have a garden that you can make use of then the process of drying your clothes can feel like an absolute chore. Airers are never quite as effective as being able to make use of an outdoor breeze, but even if you are lucky enough to have a bit of outdoor space, sometimes you need a speedier alternative if you have plenty of work outfits and school uniforms to take care of. In either case, having one of the best tumble dryers to hand can be a huge help.
Take it from us, we’ve tested countless tumble dryers and they are the best option for not only making sure that your favourite outfit is ready to wear for the following day, but also to have your clothes feeling and smelling their freshest. With each tumble dryer that we get in to review, we set it up in our professional-grade testing facility, so you can get the best idea of what it’s like to have a particular model in your home.
We run through a series of different clothes to see how proficient a tumble dryer is in what it sets out to do, and that also extends to the modes that are onboard. After all, if you’re thinking about picking up a tumble dryer mostly as a means of making sure that your shirts are looking their very best, then there’s nothing worse than buying a model that’s better suited to jumpers.
We also take into account any smart features that might be onboard, such as a companion app and whether or not a tumble dryer can be added to a particular smart home ecosystem. All of this information goes into our reviews so that nothing is left to chance and you make the right choice when it comes to picking out your next model.
This list also contains a variety of price points so if you are tied to a limited budget then fear not – there will be a tumble dryer to suit your needs. If you’re upgrading more than just your tumble dryer then we’ve also got you sorted with our guides to the best washing machines, the best fridge freezers and the best ovens.
Best tumble dryer at a glance
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Learn more about how we test tumble dryers
We put all of our tumble dryers through the same set of tests, so that we can work out which ones are good and which ones are bad. We use the same set of washing for each machine, weighing it when wet and when dry, to see which dryers do the best job.
We also measure how much energy each dryer uses, so we can tell you which ones are the most efficient. Finally, we work out yearly running costs to help you find the most cost effective dryer for your needs. You can find out more in our dedicated how we test tumble dryers guide.
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Extensive drying control
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Low running costs
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Eco schedule helps ruduce running costs further
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App has confusing icon usage
We hailed the Haier HD90-A3Q397U1 as the most flexible tumble dryer we’ve reviewed, thanks to its selection of fan speeds, heat options and target drying levels to choose from.
Although the Haier HD90-A3Q397U1 is a splurge, its A+++ rating means the tumble dryer boasts low running costs, plus its accompanying smart app makes it easy to schedule a cycle to begin when electricity is at its cheapest.
The Haier HD90-A3Q397U1 is fitted with heaps of options, such as more typical tumble drying modes including Eco, Cotton, Wool and Delicates alongside a selection of temperatures and an adjustable fan speed too.
The latter is especially clever as setting the fan to a lower speed helps prevent wrinkles on delicate items whereas higher speeds are designed for thicker materials.
There’s also Haier’s own i-Refresh Pro mode which uses ultrasonic atomisation module to remove odours and reduce wrinkles from musty clothes.
You may worry that all of these options may make the Haier HD90-A3Q397U1 confusing to use, however thanks to the compatible hOn smart app you can easily add all your favourite cycles to the on-device control panel and read more about each cycle too.
We were pleased to find that the Haier HD90-A3Q397U1 lives up to its A+++ energy rating as it is one of the cheapest and most efficient tumble dryers to run. While the Ready to Wear cycle cost just 20p each go, the i-Refresh Pro was just 8p.
Alternatively the smart AI mode, which takes the guesswork out of tumble drying by detecting the load type and choosing the best option available, costs just 22p.
Otherwise, the 9kg drum has been thoughtfully designed to ensure your clothes aren’t damaged in the tumble drying process. Not only does it sport pillow-shaped pads but for delicate items, such as trainers, you can use the clip-in rack for extra protection too.
Maintenance is refreshingly simple too, with both the main lint filter and secondary filter easy to clean. In fact, the Haier is only trumped by the Whirlpool W6 D94WR UK which automatically cleans its secondary filter.
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Low cost
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Clever steam mode
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Simple to use
With an RRP of £499, the Beko B5T49231I is an affordable tumble dryer that includes many features that are found in much more expensive alternatives.
Unlike appliances such as the Samsung DV90T6240LN, there isn’t an accompanying app for the Beko B5T49231I, instead sporting a typical interface with a rotary dial instead. Although a smart app is useful and can provide extra features, many will favour this straightforward approach.
You’ll find most of the expected drying modes alongside special cycles for bedding, towels and energy-efficient small loads. There’s also a nifty steam function which helps prevent items from getting wrinkled in the load, which uses water that’s been extracted from previous drying loads.
Otherwise, its 9kg capacity allows you to easily fit in a load of washing or larger items such as duvets. Once a load is selected, the machine will then use its moisture sensor to determine when it should stop providing heat.
We were impressed with the overall performance of the machine, however we did find the cupboard dry option slightly aggressive when drying clothes, as we noted clothes fibres were lost in the process. The hanging dry cycle is much gentler, removing 99.59% of water from the load and costs just 23p.
Maintenance is fairly straightforward too, with a lint filter that pulls out from the door which should be cleaned after each cycle and a secondary condenser filter that needs regular cleaning too, as per the instructions in the manual.
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Control panel neatly placed
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Large capacity washing and drying
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Excellent cleaning
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App a little finicky about wash cycle selection
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Slightly untidy pipes
If you’re someone who’s lucky enough to have a dedicated utility room but would like to maximise the space available, then the LG WT1210BBTN1 WashTower might be just the thing you’re after. Instead of having a washer and a dryer sitting side by side, this two-in-one unit has the dryer pre-stacked on top of the washing machine, making it wonderfully optimised for space saving, all without compromising on performance.
In terms of capacity, you’re looking at 12kg for the washer and 10kg for the dryer, which is more than enough room to ensure that all of the various items a family needs sorting, whether it be school uniforms, work outfits, casual wear and more, can get sorted in a timely fashion.
The washer is particularly effective, even when using the Eco 40-60 mode. During our testing, using this cycle cost roughly 25p to run which is very good given the capacity onboard. If you’re after something a bit more specific however then you can dive into the accompanying LG ThinQ app. Some of the cycles you can tap into here include Juice and Food Stain, which is great for when you’ve had a mid-dinner mishap.
The dryer is just as competent, and there’s a very helpful light inside the drum that makes the process of loading and unloading clothes just that bit easier. There’s also a flat rack included that’s perfect for items that shouldn’t be jostled around, like jumpers and shoes. Of course, running a non-tumble drying process can be a bit more expensive, but when you need a pair of your favourite running shoes ready to go quickly, this is a great option to have.
When you are going for more traditional drying modes however, like cupboard dry or iron dry, you’re getting much better value for money. For example, running the cupboard dry cycle costs just 31p in our estimates, and iron dry was even cheaper than that at 26p, so you won’t have to worry about racking up an excessive bill if you’re careful.
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Cost-effective to run
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Leaves clothes feeling refreshed
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Hygienically cleans using steam
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Quiet
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Expensive
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Limited space inside
The LG Styler is neither quite a tumble dryer nor washing machine, instead straddling between the two as a daily-use unit that extends the time between dry cleaning garments while keeping them in their best condition.
While the LG Styler doesn’t wash clothes or remove stains, it instead uses steam to refresh and eliminate germs from garments, leaving them cleaner and more hygienic. In fact, LG states the Styler is proven to kill germs and reduce dust mites and fungi too.
At 1850 x 445 x 585mm and weighing a mammoth 82kg, you will need to ensure that you have the space to keep this.
Inside there’s a trouser press, three hanging spaces (with space for three items) and a wire shelf at the bottom for folded delicate items, such as woollen jumpers.
The Styler has numerous modes including Refresh, Special Care for suits, activewear and wool, Sanitary with an extra sanitising function and Gentle Dry for drying clothes that can’t go into tumble dryers. You can also download programs for jeans and down-filled items too via the ThinQ smartphone app.
You can even run the Styler as a dehumidifier for your room too, just by leaving the glass-front door open and enabling the Dehumidfy program.
We found that the Styler worked well in refreshing and injecting new life into garments. To begin our tests, we enabled the Special Care suit cycle and found it took just 34 minutes and used 0.4kWh of power, which worked out to 6.5p.
We then put a winter coat through the Refresh Cycle which took 39 minutes and cost just 3.7p to run.
Finally, using the Gentle Dry Cycle on a rained-on coat, although the cycle lasted slightly longer at 51 minutes, the coat was completely dried and smelt fresh too. Plus, it only cost approximately 5.27p.
Of course, the LG Styler isn’t an appliance that’ll suit all households, but if you have lots of delicate clothes that are difficult to clean, then the Styler will get plenty of use.
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Low running costs
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Excellent drying performance
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Clever drying rack
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Slightly confusing drying settings
If you can’t live without your tumble dryer then the Samsung DV90T6240LN is the perfect cost-effective appliance as this model promises cheap running costs that will help offset the initial investment.
In our tests, we found a setting 3, 5kg load, cost just 27p per cycle. The setting 3 load on this Samsung is equivalent to a cupboard dry, meaning it is the highest drying setting and should make clothes dry enough to be put away as soon as the cycle is complete. We also found in our tests that this setting removed 99.6% of water.
A level 2 setting, which is the equivalent of a hanging dry, is as impressive, costing just 20p per cycle and removing 97.28% of water from a 5KG wash load.
As well as regular drying cycles, there are extra features and programs that help make this tumble dryer more versatile. There are programs specifically for wool, outdoor clothing and bedding. With its decent 9kg drum, this tumble dryer easily copes with average-sized washing loads.
There’s also manual drying that helps perk up items. You can either choose the warm air option, which sends gently heated air for slightly damp items, or the cool air option, which is for refreshing laundry.
With the included drying rack that plugs into the door, you can use your tumble dryer for items that should be treated more delicately, including shoes. The light inside makes it easier to load and empty the machine too.
To make its use even easier, the dryer is also SmartThings compatible. This is particularly useful as you can see which drying cycles are available and you’ll get a notification on your phone when a cycle is finished. In addition, if you have a Samsung washing machine, you can link the cycles together, so when the washing machine has finished, the tumble dryer can be set to the correct cycle option.
If you use your tumble dryer frequently enough, this is a worthwhile investment. However, as it’s not the cheapest dryer on our list, we’d only recommend this if you know you’ll use it frequently enough to offset the initial cost.
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Drying rack included
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Smart app
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Large drum
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Low running costs
With a 10kg drum, the Hisense DH5S102BW is one of the largest tumble dryers available, which makes it ideal for larger households that tend to do bigger loads of washing and drying.
The appliance is easy to load and unload too, thanks to its large door and incredibly useful light inside the drum which helps you to check whether you’ve missed an item when unloading.
The Hisense is fairly straightforward to use, however we did note that there were a few manual settings that could have been made clearer.
There’s a dial on the appliance to select the desired drying cycle, which includes all the options you’d expect from a tumble dryer. There are also some special programs for delicates, bedding and wool. There’s also a particularly useful Ion Refresh option, which is able to refresh clothes without using heat.
You can also connect the Hisense to the smart app, ConnectedLife, which can be used as a remote control for the appliance. If you also have a Hisense washing machine, you can use the WashDry Sync option to automatically set the tumble dryer based on the wash mode used.
The Hisense’s door filter needs to be cleaned at the end of each cycle, however as it is a double filter and traps lint inside, it is easy for you to clean.
In our tests, we found that on the cupboard dry cycle, the dryer removed 99.18% of the moisture in the load and cost 31p. With the iron dry setting, which is Hisense’s equivalent of the hanging dry option, the dryer removed 95.37% of moisture and cost just 20p to run.
Just like the Samsung DV90T6240LN, the Hisense also has a useful rack that clips over the door and allows you to safely dry items that shouldn’t be tumbled.
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Great value
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Heat pump
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Clever smart app
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A little cheap looking
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Not the cheapest heat pump dryer to run
The Hoover H-Dry 350 HRE H9A3TBE-80/N is one of the cheapest heat pump tumble dryers that we’ve ever reviewed, and combined with its fairly cheap-to-run cycles and smart features, the Hoover H-Dry is a brilliant entry-level choice.
Confusingly, there is a condenser version of this model with the same name which should be avoided as it’ll use more energy and cost more in the long run. We explain the difference between the two in our condenser vs heat pump tumble dryers guide.
While the Hoover H-Dry 350 isn’t the most stylish looking tumble dryer, it still sports some clever design features. Most notably, the water tank is mounted on the machine’s door which makes it easier to both see when it’s full and to physically empty.
Plus, the Hoover H-Dry 350 can be synced with the hON app which offers full details on each cycle, additional drying modes for specific items and can automatically schedule drying to take place when electricity is at its lowest.
Otherwise, the machine sports the usual cycles including Cottons Eco, Synthetics, Wool and Delicates and others. Although there aren’t more pro-level options like the steam mode found on the Beko B5T49231IW, there are selectable drying options including iron, hanging, cupboard and extra dry, plus an Anti-Odour cycle to refresh musty clothes.
In our tests we found that generally, the Hoover H-Dry performs well and, although isn’t as cheap to run as more expensive counterparts it’s considerably cheaper than the likes of the Indesit BDE 107436 WV UK.
To offer more insight, the Cottons Eco cycle removed around 96% of water and cost 27p, while Cupboard Dry removed over 98% of water at just 29p.
With an affordable price tag, low running costs and some smart features, the Hoover H-Dry 350 HRE H9A3TBE-80/N is a brilliant choice that’ll suit most households.
