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Best tumble dryers 2024: Which? Best Buys and expert buying advice

Heat pump, condenser or vented dryer? Automatic or manual? 6kg, 8kg or 10kg drum? Our guide will help you choose the best tumble dryer for you
Which?Editorial team
Woman carrying clothes to a tumble dryer  468437

We can help you find a tumble dryer that's right for your home - and does a great job of drying clothes.

Our guide is here to help you to decide whether to buy a heat pump, vented or a condenser dryer and to explain how much they cost to buy. We also run through drum capacities, smart tumble dryers and the features you get when you pay more. We also show how much they cost to run over time through energy use and how quickly they dry clothes.

Filter and compare all our tumble dryer reviews, or skip straight to the Best Buy tumble dryers.


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Best tumble dryers on test

We put more than 120 tumble dryers through our rigourous tests each year - these are the best tumble dryers right now. Only members can view our expert review and test score.

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  • Not found the right one for you? Browse and compare tumble dryer reviews from our independent lab tests.
  • On a tight budget? Keep reading for the best cheap tumble dryers.
  • Scroll down for the best heat pump, condenser and vented tumble dryers.

Best cheap tumble dryers

You'll find more 100+ tumble dryer reviews on our site for machines we've put through our rigourous lab tests - here's our up to date pick of the best cheap tumble dryers we've tested.

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Browse all of our 100+ heat pump, vented and condenser tumble dryer reviews.


Best heat pump tumble dryers

There are more than 100 reviews for heat pump tumble dryers on our site - these are the best we've tested that you can buy right now.

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Still looking for the right machine for you? Browse our 100+ heat pump tumble dryer reviews.


Best condenser tumble dryers

Here are the three best condenser tumble dryers from the 20+ we've tested.

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Browse all of our condenser tumble dryer reviews.


Best vented tumble dryers

Here are the best three best vented tumble dryers that you can buy today.

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Need more choice? Head over to our vented tumble dryer reviews.


All prices, recommendations and test scores correct as of March 2024.

Video: how to buy the best tumble dryer

Watch our video to help you decide which type is right for you.

Should I buy a  heat pump, vented or condenser tumble dryer?

There are a few different types of tumble dryers – heat pump, condenser and vented. Upfront costs and energy use vary depending on the type.

Heat pump tumble dryers

The stand-out feature of a heat pump tumble dryer is how little energy they use to dry clothes. Typically, this is less than half that needed by a vented or a condenser machine. They do this by heating air efficiently and reusing warm air as it leaves the drum. They tend to cost more to buy and they dry at cooler temperatures than other types of tumble dryer, meaning they can take longer to dry clothes.

  • Pros Their energy-efficient heat pump technology makes them the cheapest and most sustainable type of dryer to run, water is captured in a tank or run away, so there's no need for a vent or hose. 
  • Cons They tend to be more expensive than the other types of tumble dryer, although prices are coming down.

They have much lower running costs than vented or condenser dryers, but cost significantly more to buy, reducing the potential savings. We have seen a good heat pump dryer that costs around £350, but a more likely cost is £500+. That said, prices are coming down and the huge energy savings will pay for the increased purchase price in just a few years in most cases.

Heat pump dryers tend to do well in our tests, not because of speedy drying, but because of how well they dry clothes and their very low annual running costs, typically around £51.

Find out our top picks of the best heat pump tumble dryers plus expert buying advice.

Condenser tumble dryers

Condenser dryers collect moisture from wet clothes into a water reservoir, which you must empty when it's full. They're usually seen as more convenient as you don't have to place them near a wall vent or hang a hose out of a window. However, they're more expensive to buy than vented machines and use more electricity.

Check out the condensation efficiency rating in the test results section of our reviews to avoid a model that will steam up your home.

  • Pros As a container collects the water, there's no need for a hose out of the window or a vent in the wall, so there's more choice in where it's installed (although you'll need to make sure it's placed somewhere well ventilated with an ambient temperature).
  • Cons You'll need to remember to empty the container, they tend to be more expensive to buy with higher running costs, and poor condensers run the risk of leaking damp air into your home.

Prices start at around £220, but you'll need to pay slightly more for a good model. Average yearly energy running costs are around £127. 

Find out our top picks of the best condenser tumble dryers plus expert buying advice, or go straight to our condenser tumble dryer reviews.

Vented tumble dryers

You can identify a vented dryer by its hose. It uses this to expel the damp air created in the drying process, but the hose must be vented outside your property.

  • Pros They're usually the cheapest type of tumble dryer to buy.
  • Cons High running costs and they use a hose to pump out damp air, so you'll need to feed it through a window or install a vent by drilling a hole through an external wall.

They can cost as little as £240, but you'll need to spend double that to get a decent dryer – and even more than that to get one of the best. 

Typically, this kind of dryer will add around £139 to your annual electricity bills, but that figure will vary with the size of the drum.

Read our vented tumble dryer reviews to compare models.

Integrated tumble dryers

  • Pros Integrated or built-in tumble dryers are built into a kitchen cabinet and hidden from view behind a unit door. 
  • Cons Not many integrated tumble dryers are available to buy, installation is more fiddly than a freestanding dryer and usually more costly. We are also yet to find a Best Buy integrated dryer.

Read our guide to buying the best integrated tumble dryer or see all our integrated tumble dryer reviews.

Smart tumble dryers

You’ll need to download an app to take advantage of smart tumble dryer functions. Manufacturers each have their own and each one has a variety of features depending on the product.

You’ll likely be able to choose programs, keep tabs on running times and monitor energy usage.

  • Pros Can keep track of energy usage and how long your dryer has left to run, plus you can operate your tumble dryer from the app.
  • Cons They're typically pricier than other tumble dryers.

A smart tumble dryer costs around £100 more, on average, compared with a standard non-smart dryer. 

Take a look at our smart tumble dryer reviews to see how they fare in our tests.

What happened to gas tumble dryers?

Until relatively recently, if you wanted to, you were able to buy a gas tumble dryer. With gas proving a cheaper heating alternative to electricity, they were cheap to run and gas dryers did well in our tests. But the last manufacturer of gas dryers in the UK has stopped making them, so if you're looking for one you'll need to buy a second-hand model.

If you buy a gas tumble dryer second-hand, remember that you’ll need to have it installed by a Gas Safe-registered engineer. And all owners of gas tumble dryers should have them serviced regularly.

How much does it cost to run a tumble dryer?

The most energy-hungry vented and condenser tumble dryers can cost more than £179 per year to run if you dry roughly three loads of washing a week. Choosing an energy-efficient heat pump model could make the cost closer to £51.

Heat pump tumble dryers tend to be both more energy efficient and pricier than cheaper condenser and vented models. But heat pump models can easily pay for themselves in energy savings in just a few years. In fact, choosing an inefficient dryer could actually end up costing hundreds, if not thousands, more over its lifetime.

Use our running cost tool below to find the tumble dryer that will cost the most and least over its life, and use the search bar to find a specific model or brand. We now give information about running costs in our tumble dryer reviews, too.


10 ways to cut the cost of tumble drying to get more for less from your tumble dryer.


Can you buy an eco-friendly tumble dryer?

Eco Buy Logo

The most sustainable way of drying your clothes is always going to be hanging them on a washing line or on a static airer. But some tumble dryers are much more sustainable than others and will reduce the impact drying clothes in a machine has on the environment. 

To help you find the most sustainable model, we’ve started recommending Eco Buys. 

To be an Eco Buy, a tumble dryer must be among the most energy efficient we’ve tested, do a good job of drying clothes and be long-lasting. And all Eco Buy dryers are heat pump machines, the most energy-efficient type. 

Head to our reviews to see all Eco Buys, or see our round-up of the best energy efficient tumble dryers.

How much should I spend on a tumble dryer?

Vented dryers tend to be the cheapest type. On average, they cost considerably less than a condenser or heat pump tumble dryer

However, vented dryers can be tricky to install as they need a window or wall vent nearby for the hose to dispose of hot air.  

There are a few condenser tumble dryers available for less than £250, although they will likely be lacking some of the programs and functionality you’ll find in pricier models.

Spending a little more is likely to get you sensors in the drum, which automatically adjust program times depending on the size and dampness of the load, and a display that tells you how long your program has left to run. 

Spending at least £500 will give you the best chance of buying a good condenser tumble dryer. More than two thirds of the tumble dryers we’ve reviewed that cost more than £500 score highly for how well they dry clothes and how well their condenser unit works. 

But as vented and condenser dryers use so much energy to get the job done, they rarely become Best Buys.

If you have the money to spend, heat pump tumble dryers are much cheaper to run than typical vented or condenser tumble dryers.

The most expensive tumble dryers all use heat pump technology, which makes them more energy efficient. Paying a little more upfront for a heat pump dryer will save you around £51 a year, on average, on energy costs.

Our testing shows that, in general, the more you spend on a tumble dryer, the more likely it is to be a top performer. However, that doesn't mean you can't pick up a bargain Best Buy – we've found Best Buy heat pump dryers for around £495.

Tumble dryer type and price


Vented tumble dryerCondenser tumble dryerHeat pump tumble dryer
Lowest price£200£239£349
Average price£276£333£730
Highest price£395£713£1,499

Consider a heated clothes airer if you're looking for a cheaper way to dry your clothes.


Sensor or manual tumble dryer?

Sensor tumble dryers, also known as automatic dryers, use humidity sensors inside the drum to detect when your laundry is dry and stop the machine accordingly.

This means you don’t need to set the program time on your tumble dryer – you just pop your clothes in the machine and let it run for however long it needs.

A good sensor reduces the risk of opening the drum to find your clothes still wet, but should also prevent your tumble dryer from running for longer than necessary, which is good news for your energy bills.

However, our tests have found several sensor dryers that stop programs too early, leaving clothes wet. Manual tumble dryers don't have sensors and rely on you to set the time.

Just under one in five of the dryers we’ve tested are manual, as sensor drying is quickly becoming the norm. Guide times on manual dryers are often found on the control panel, but there is still some guesswork involved in programming the time.

You can help your sensor to work better by separating your washing so you're drying similar fabrics together. Mixed loads – for example thick denim jeans with thin cotton pillowcases – can confuse the sensor.

What size tumble dryer do I need?

Tumble dryers come with different capacities, ranging from compact models that can dry 3kg of laundry up to very large 11kg capacity. 

Usually, 4kg capacity can dry up to 10 shirts and 9 kg capacity can dry up to 26 shirts. 

However, when shopping for a tumble dryer, it's worth keeping in mind that capacities differ for different programs.

Our examples in the image above, of how much you can fit in each capacity of machine, are based on using the cottons program. 

They're also based on filling the machine to 70% of its capacity, as this would allow air to circulate around the clothes, making drying more efficient.

Should you buy a large tumble dryer?

As capacity goes up, generally so will the costs to buy and run, although this also depends on the model. 

Pros of large tumble dryers

  • Can make for an energy-efficient way of drying your laundry, as long as you're able to fill the drum to the program's capacity every time.
  • Per kilo of laundry, bigger machines will take less time to dry clothes than smaller or compact dryers.

Cons of large tumble dryers

  • Buy a dryer you struggle to fill and you'll risk using more energy than you need.
  • They're more expensive to buy, so it’s worth thinking about whether you really need a large dryer.

Should you buy a compact or mini tumble dryer?

Just because a small tumble dryer usually costs less to buy, it doesn't mean it will cost less to run. 

We look at mini tumble dryer running costs in more detail further below.  

Pros of compact or mini tumble dryers

  • The price tends to be quite low – around £140.
  • Due to the smaller size they're easier to fit into cupboards, making them less of an eyesore.

Cons of compact or mini tumble dryers

  • Mini or compact tumble dryers are slower and less efficient than bigger tumble dryers.
  • Nearly all of the models available are vented.
  • There aren't many of them around, so choice is limited.
  • Almost all use an old-fashioned timer control rather than a sensor.
  • Drying is often uneven and some can be prone to over-drying clothes.

Which tumble dryer dries clothes fastest?

Our tumble dryer tests have uncovered massive differences between the fastest and the slowest machines.

The slowest tumble dryers take nearly 35 minutes per kilo of clothes – that’s more than twice as long as the quickest tumble dryers, which can take as little as 14 minutes per kilo.

What to check before buying a tumble dryer

A tumble dryer that's complicated and fiddly to use is a headache. Our checklist can help you consider everything that's necessary before you buy. 

  • Door A good door is easy to open, won't swing back by itself and will ideally open flat against the machine.
  • Control panel It should be easy to read without having to bend down.
  • Lint filter Ideally, clean the lint filter before or after every cycle, otherwise it can get clogged with fluff causing your dryer to become less energy efficient. Check the filter in the shop when you buy, and make sure it's easy to remove and replace. Some filters are double-sided with tricky hinges and catches, making them hard to clean.
  • Micro filter Heat pump dryers also have a micro filter to clean, so make sure it's easy to get to.
  • Water container If you're buying a condenser tumble dryer, check the water container is easy to access and remove. Some dryers have the container at the bottom of the machine, which can make it difficult to remove when it's full of water.
  • Features and programs Watch our video at the top of the page to find out more about the different programs that could make your life easier.
  • Smart features and support If you're buying a smart tumble dryer, check the brand offers a good security support policy (see below).

Dimensions

The standard dimensions of a tumble dryer is 85cm x 60cm x 60cm (height x width x depth). Make sure you compare how much space you have to the dimensions of the dryer as depths can vary. If you choose a vented dryer, allow extra space for the vent hose.

Which tumble dryer brands offer the best security support policies?

Smart tumble dryers connect to wi-fi or Bluetooth, allowing you to operate some of their functions from your smartphone or other device via an app. As with any internet-connected device, it’s important that these apps receive regular security updates to guard against security and privacy threats.

We reached out to the biggest brands to find out more about support policies and, as you can see, some are far better than others.

  • Miele plans to release security updates for approximately 10 years after it stops making an appliance, and longer if it finds critical vulnerabilities.
  • BSH (the company that owns Bosch, Neff and Siemens) told us it will provide the security updates for at least 10 years after purchase.
  • Samsung said it'll support smart appliances for a minimum of five years from launch.
  • LG will only guarantee updates for a minimum of two years

Other big brands, including AEG, Hoover and Candy, did not specify a minimum update period. 

You may not be at immediate risk if you're using a smart product that's unsupported, but if you’re buying a new one, look for one that will receive update support for as long as possible. For more information, read our guide to smart devices and security.

Where to buy a tumble dryer

Make sure you're handing your money over to a reputable seller – check the retailer's returns policy, and pay attention to customer feedback and reviews. For more information, see our advice on shopping online

AO, Argos, Currys and John Lewis are some of the most searched-for tumble dryer retailers at the time of writing. We’ve included links to these retailers handpicked because of their stock availability, best value price or warranty options. 

  • John Lewis sells a mixture of condenser, vented and heat pump tumble dryers. Prices start at less than £200 for basic models and go up to around £1,300. John Lewis offers a two-year warranty at no extra cost and you'll get free home delivery for orders over £50. The well-known department store also scores highly in our annual retailer survey for home appliances.
  • AO stocks a wide range of tumble dryers, all of which can be delivered for free and returned within 100 days if you're not happy with it. It promises to price match other UK retailers and you can decide to opt for a finance plan rather than buying outright. Like John Lewis, AO.com also impresses in our annual survey of home appliances retailers. 
  • Argos offers a sizeable selection of budget-friendly tumble dryers from brands including Beko, Bosch and Indesit. You can get same-day in-store collection at selected Sainsbury's stores. 
  • Currys has more than a hundred tumble dryers in stock, all from a wide variety of different brands. You'll get free delivery on all orders and if you find the tumble dryer priced cheaper elsewhere, Currys promises to match or beat the price of all other retailers. 

How to get the best deal on a tumble dryer

Getting a cheap tumble dryer isn’t just a case of picking the right model. Use our top tips to keep costs down.

Wait for the sales

Most of us buy a tumble dryer in a rush to replace a broken machine or to kit out a new home. If, however, you want to upgrade and can afford to wait, you may find a cheaper deal at another time of year. The January sales and around spring is the best time to keep an eye out for a deal, as these are the times most brands discontinue older models and look to sell them through at reduced prices.

It pays to shop around

Once you’ve selected one, search for the model number online. Retailers often have different prices for exactly the same machine, so compare stores to make sure that you’re not missing out on a promotion or deal price.

Check for additional costs

Your new bargain tumble dryer might come with some nasty surprises on the bottom of the receipt if you’re not careful. You should consider delivery charges and installation fees if you’re not setting up the dryer yourself. Manufacturers may have deals with different retailers, so make sure that everything you expect is included in the price. It's a good idea to check the warranty and the returns policy, too, in case of a fault.

Consider repairing your current tumble dryer before buying a new one

If yours stops working this shouldn’t automatically mean you rush out to buy a new one. Repairing it yourself can save you money and reduce the environmental impact of both recycling the old one and the effect buying a new machine would have.

Tumble dryers are simple machines, especially vented and condenser models, and often problems can be fixed quickly, cheaply and without the need to call in a professional.

Head over to our tumble dryer tips and maintenance guide to find out why your tumble dryer might not be working and how to fix it.

If, after troubleshooting the problem, the repair means that you need to take your tumble dryer apart to be able to fix it, make sure the work is carried out by a professional.

Choose a Which? Trusted Trader to find a local appliance engineer you can trust.

How to dispose of a tumble dryer

If you’re replacing your old dryer, you’ll need to decide how to get rid of it. The good news is that every product with a plug, charger, batteries or carrying the crossed-out wheelie bin logo can be recycled.

If your tumble dryer is still in good working order, selling it second-hand is an environmentally friendly option.

Electrical retailers such as AO, Currys, John Lewis and independents will offer to remove your tumble dryer when you buy from them. There will be a fee for this - expect to pay around £20. 

But you can avoid this charge if you’re able to take your dryer to your local recycling centre. 

Tumble dryers are lighter than washing machines as they’re not weighed down by concrete, or in some cases iron, to keep them stable when spinning. This means that, while they’re still bulky and will take up just as much room, a dryer will be easier to load into the back of a car.

Councils across the UK can also collect them and other appliances from outside your home. The cost of collections will vary based on where in the UK you live – sometimes it will be free. 

For example, Westminster council in London charges £31 to collect up to six items, Belfast City Council and Cardiff council will collect white goods free of charge and Edinburgh council charges £5 to pick up a tumble dryer.

Find your closest recycling centre using the Recycle Now electrical recycling locator

Buying and selling second-hand tumble dryers

It’s useful to know the difference between the terms used to describe second-hand tumble dryers.

  • A used dryer means it’s just come from someone’s home and hasn’t been refurbished. 
  • Those badged as ex-display or graded will have come from a shop and if they've been used at all it’s likely to be very minimal. 
  • Refurbished dryers are likely to have been checked and repaired where necessary to make them feel like new.

We recommend buying new, rather than second-hand, as this is likely to give you fewer safety concerns. But if you do buy second-hand, ask whether a portable appliance test (PAT test) has been carried out to make sure it’s safe. 

If you’re buying through an online marketplace, such as Amazon or eBay, ask whether the seller offers a guarantee should the product become faulty or unsafe.

How to avoid unsafe second-hand tumble dryers

Be careful when buying second-hand dryers from certain brands. 

If the second-hand model you’re interested in is from Hotpoint, Indesit, Creda, Swan or Proline (brands owned by Whirlpool), check our list of recalled fire-risk dryers.

If it is, you’ll need to check whether it was made before October 2015. You can do this by using the recall section of the Hotpoint website.

A number of Beko models have also been recalled in recent years. Go to the Beko site to find out which are the dangerous dryers to avoid. 

The Electrical Safety First website also has more information about recalled tumble dryers and other unsafe appliances.

Which tumble dryer is best for a garage?

Washing-Machine-in-use

If you need to have your tumble dryer in a garage or another outbuilding where the temperature isn't controlled, bear in mind that some dryers don't work as efficiently and can develop faults in extreme conditions due to the cold. Condenser and heat pump dryers are usually more susceptible to issues as they need the right temperature of air around them to extract water from the air leaving the drum. 

But, condenser and heat pump dryers are the easiest to install in a garage as they recycle the heat and steam within the machine, so you won’t need a hose for the water to escape through. 

You'll need to ensure there's space around the machine and that the room is well-ventilated. And if you go for a vented machine, you'll need to vent the warm and damp air away through a vent in the wall or through a window.

Make sure you read the manual for the manufacturer's advice on installing in a garage.

How do I install a vented tumble dryer?

It’s best to have a vented dryer professionally installed, so check with your retailer to see if they offer the service or call in an engineer.

For those more at home with DIY, it’s possible to install it yourself with a tumble dryer vent kit. 

  • First, choose a good place to put it. If you’re happy to vent out of the window, then place it close to one, otherwise you’ll need a spot along an external wall.
  • Then you'll need to trace a circle on your wall the same size as the hose.
  • Make small holes in this area with a drill and then join them up.
  • Mount your vent grille over the holes, screw the plate on the wall and push the vent tube through the hole. 
  • Connect the end of the hose to your dryer. Make sure that your vent is as short as possible, as any kinks in the hose can stop the dryer from working properly.

Who makes integrated vented tumble dryers?

If you don’t have a utility room to hide your appliances away, an integrated tumble dryer that sits behind a kitchen counter could be the answer.

You might expect to pay more for this aesthetic, but cheaper brands such as Baumatic, Hoover, Montpellier and White Knight all have an integrated tumble dryer in their line-up.

The models we've tested start from around £500. Read our guide to integrated tumble dryers to see if they're the best option for your home.

Who makes black, grey or silver vented tumble dryers?

Black and silver vented models are rare – we haven't tested one for a while and there are currently no reviews on our site for them. 

There's more colour choice if you go for a heat pump tumble dryer. So, head over to reviews to find the best black, grey and silver heat pump tumble dryers we've tested.

Tumble dryer symbols

The image shows four commonly used tumble dryer symbols showing when you can dry clothes in a tumble dryer, when you can't and the symbols for low and m=normal tumble dryer heat.

These symbols help you to understand what you can put in your dryer.

  • A clear circle means it's suitable for tumble drying.
  • One dot in the circle means you should tumble dry on a low heat setting.
  • Two dots in the circle means it's suitable for a high heat program. 
  • A cross through the circle indicates that you shouldn't tumble dry the garment.

Tumble dryer jargon: what does it all mean?

Anti-crease, heat exchanger, lint filter, micro filters, sensor drying... find out what key tumble dryer terms like these actually mean.

  • Anti-crease Some dryers will make the drum move occasionally after the end of a drying cycle to stop creases from forming in the clothes.
  • Child lock There are two kinds of child lock found on tumble dryers. The first and the most common enables you to lock the control panel to stop children from playing with the controls and settings while you’re not looking. A small number of machines also come with a manual door lock, too, but they are thin on the ground.
  • Cool setting/cold air program Clothes will be cooled at the end of the program so they're easier to handle. You can also use the cool setting to refresh clothes that haven’t been washed – tumbling with cool air knocks the smells and lived-in feel out of clothes, which is ideal if you've been in a smoky atmosphere, for example.
  • Cupboard dry Clothes dried on this setting should come out of the drum dry enough to put straight into the cupboard, but some manufacturers have different definitions of cupboard dry. It's worth checking the instructions manual first.
  • Easy care/synthetics/manmade fibres Programs for drying synthetics (clothes made from polyester, for example) will typically allow you to dry about half the amount of clothing you would put in a cottons load. The drying capacities for synthetic programs are normally lower than the overall capacity of the machine (see synthetics capacity below).
  • Easy iron Useful for clothing that is already dry, this program usually involves a few minutes of heat followed by a short, cool tumble to relax the fibres of creased fabrics and make them easier to iron.
  • Extra dry A longer program for multi-layered or thick fabrics, such as bed sheets, towelling bathrobes or blankets.
  • Heat exchanger Condenser dryers have a heat exchanger that cools warm, moist air to condense the water from your laundry, which is how it ends up in the water container. The heat exchanger will need to be cleaned regularly to stay effective.
A tumble dryer heat exchanger from a condenser tumble dryer being partially removed from the bottom of the machine on the left hand side.

  • Iron dry Slightly wet clothes are easier to iron than clothes that are completely dry, so an iron dry program should leave clothes damp to the touch.
  • Lint filter/fluff filter Fluff from your laundry is caught by the lint filter. This must be emptied after every use to reduce the risk of fires and to keep your dryer running as efficiently as possible. 
  • Micro filter Heat pump dryers have a micro filter that will have to be cleaned regularly. It’s a good idea to make sure the micro filter is easy to get to before you buy. And you will need to clean this regularly to keep your dryer drying efficiently. Two parts of the filter will need to be cleaned, the sponge filter can be removed and rinsed free of dust and fluff under the tap. The fins of the evaporator will also need to be gently brushed clean regularly to keep your machine working efficiently. Some heat pump dryers come with self-cleaning microfilters.
  • Program stage LEDs These indicate the different stages that the load of laundry goes through, or whether it's in the cooling or anti-crease phases.
The image shows the control panel of a tumble dryer with illuminated LEDS showing the stage the drying has reached, the level of dryness and the drying program being used.

  • Reversible door Unlike most washing machines, some tumble dryers will allow you to swap the direction in which the door opens, which gives you more options when installing it in your home.
  • Sensor drying This means the tumble dryer will automatically detect how wet your laundry is and stop when it's dry. We've found that these sensors don't always work as they should. A bad sensor may stop the drum when the clothes are still damp and need more drying – or alternatively it might over-dry the clothes, which will also add more to your energy bills. But many do a great job of drying accurately.
  • Steam drying program The steam program can be used on damp clothes to help take creases out of them, or to freshen dry clothes that haven't been washed by blasting smells out of them with bursts of steam.
  • Synthetics/easy care Programs for drying synthetics (clothes made from polyester, for example) will typically allow you to dry about half the amount of clothing you would put in a cottons load. The drying capacities for synthetic programs are normally lower that the overall capacity of the machine (see synthetics capacity below).
  • Synthetics capacity The amount you can dry on certain programs, such as the synthetics setting, is usually less than the tumble dryer's overall capacity. In fact, it's often as much as half the capacity. For example, most 7kg capacity dryers will let you dry either 3kg or 3.5kg of synthetic clothing in one go.
  • Warning LEDs (empty water tank, clean filter) These light up to remind you to empty the water container, clean the lint filter or in the case of heat pump dryers, to clean the micro filter and evaporator to keep your machine running at peak efficiency.
  • Wool/delicates This is for tumble drying woollens or delicate fabrics with gentle heat and minimal tumbling. By working like this, tumble dryers will be doing their best to not damage or shrink your favourite jumpers. But make sure you only dry woollens in a tumble dryer if they carry the tumble dryer safe symbol.

Can you ever tumble dry woollen jumpers without shrinking them? Find out what happened when we tested a Woolmark-approved, no-shrinkage guarantee tumble dryer (spoiler alert – it wasn't good)