Best tumble dryers UK 2026: heat pump, condenser and vented, with running costs
Eight freestanding tumble dryers from Hisense, Hoover, Bosch, Samsung, AEG and Candy: five heat pump, one condenser and two vented, with what each costs to run a year at the current price cap, how loud it is and where it can go.
Quick picks
- Best overallHoover H-DRY 350 HRE H9A3TBE-80/N 9kg heat pump tumble dryer, whiteCheck price
- Cheapest to runHisense 3S Series DH3S802BW3 8kg heat pump tumble dryer, whiteCheck price
- QuietestBosch Series 4 WTH85225GB 8kg heat pump tumble dryer, whiteCheck price
- Best smart featuresSamsung Series 5 OptimalDry 8kg heat pump tumble dryer, black (DV80CGC0B0ABEU)Check price
- Best for delicatesAEG 7000 Series SensiDry TR718L4B 8kg heat pump tumble dryer, whiteCheck price
- Best condenserHoover H-DRY 350 HRE C9TBE-80 9kg condenser tumble dryer, whiteCheck price
- Best large ventedHoover HLV10LG 10kg vented tumble dryer, whiteCheck price
- Best budget ventedCandy CSEV9DF (CSE V9DF-80) 9kg vented tumble dryer, whiteCheck price
How we chose: I shortlisted freestanding 60cm tumble dryers from the brands most UK households buy, covering all three types: heat pump, condenser and vented, with capacities from 8kg to 10kg. For each one I checked the manufacturer's UK product page or product fiche for the energy class, the yearly energy figure on the label, the energy used per full load where published, the noise level and the dimensions. On 24 October 2026 I reopened every Amazon.co.uk listing with a UK delivery postcode to check it was the same model, in stock, with an add-to-basket button, and noted who sells it. I don't show prices, because they change daily. Running costs use the Ofgem price cap for October to December 2026. I haven't tested these dryers myself. These products have not been tested hands-on; this is a research-based roundup. How the research works.
The type of dryer matters far more than the brand. A heat pump dryer reuses its own warm air, so it uses roughly a third of the electricity of a condenser or vented dryer. Across the eight dryers below, the yearly energy figure on the label ranges from 172kWh for the most efficient heat pump to 697kWh for a big vented machine. At today's price cap that's about £45 a year against £183.
Heat pump dryers cost more to buy and take longer per load, but they're gentler on clothes and don't need a vent. Condenser dryers are cheaper to buy, quicker, and also don't need a vent, but cost much more to run. Vented dryers are the simplest and cheapest to buy, but need a hose out of a window or wall and cost the most to run.
Replacing your washer too? Our best washing machines guide compares running costs the same way, and our Black Friday appliance deals page lists dryers worth watching in the sales.
Who this guide is for: Anyone replacing a tumble dryer, drying clothes indoors through the winter or choosing a dryer for a new home. These are standard 60cm-wide freestanding dryers. If you dry only a few loads a month, a heated airer or dehumidifier may be cheaper overall.
Black Friday tip: Tumble dryers are heavily promoted in November, but the same models are often just as cheap at other times. Note today's price, match the full model code and check the price history before you buy. A heat pump dryer that costs more up front can still work out cheaper within a few years. Our Black Friday appliance deals page explains how to check a deal.
Comparison table
| Pick | Type & capacity | Energy (label) | Running cost a year* | Noise | Size (H × W × D) | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoover H-DRY 350 HRE H9A3TBE-80/NBest overall | Heat pump, 9kg | A+++, 194kWh a year | about £51 | 64dB | 85 × 59.6 × 58.5cm | Check price |
| Hisense 3S DH3S802BW3Cheapest to run | Heat pump, 8kg | A+++, 172kWh a year | about £45 | 64dB | 84.5 × 59.5 × 55cm | Check price |
| Bosch Series 4 WTH85225GBQuietest | Heat pump, 8kg | A++, 235kWh a year | about £62 | 63dB | 84.2 × 59.8 × 61.3cm | Check price |
| Samsung Series 5 DV80CGC0B0ABEUBest smart features | Heat pump, 8kg | A++, 235kWh a year | about £62 | 65dB | 85 × 60 × 60cm | Check price |
| AEG 7000 SensiDry TR718L4BBest for delicates | Heat pump, 8kg | A++, 235kWh a year | about £62 | 66dB | 85 × 59.6 × 66.3cm (max) | Check price |
| Hoover H-DRY 350 HRE C9TBE-80Best condenser | Condenser, 9kg | B, 616kWh a year | about £162 | 68dB | 85 × 59.6 × 60.4cm | Check price |
| Hoover HLV10LGBest large vented | Vented, 10kg | C, 697kWh a year | about £183 | 67dB | 85 × 60 × 58.5cm | Check price |
| Candy CSEV9DFBest budget vented | Vented, 9kg | C, 636kWh a year | about £167 | 67dB | 85 × 59.6 × 58.5cm | Check price |
Specs are from manufacturer listings as of 24 October 2026; claimed figures (running costs, runtimes) are the maker’s, not ours. Check the Amazon page for the current price and exact variant before you buy.
The picks in detail
Hoover H-DRY 350 HRE H9A3TBE-80/N 9kg heat pump tumble dryer, white
Best for: Families who want a big drum and low running costs
- Type & capacity
- Heat pump, 9kg
- Energy (label)
- A+++, 194kWh a year
- Running cost a year*
- about £51
- Noise
- 64dB
- Size (H × W × D)
- 85 × 59.6 × 58.5cm
Hoover's UK page lists this 9kg heat pump dryer as A+++, using 194kWh a year on the label and 1.59kWh for a full load, which is about 42p a full load at today's price cap. It has 15 programmes, a 64dB noise level, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for the hOn app, which can suggest programmes and show the cycle on your phone. It's sold by Amazon.
A 9kg drum handles a full 9kg wash in one go, and A+++ is the top class on the UK dryer label. It's a good balance of capacity, efficiency and features.
What owners and reviewers like
- A+++ with a 9kg drum
- About 42p a full load
- hOn app control
Watch-outs
- Slower than a condenser, as all heat pumps are
- App features need an account
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Hisense 3S Series DH3S802BW3 8kg heat pump tumble dryer, white
Best for: Keeping running costs as low as possible
- Type & capacity
- Heat pump, 8kg
- Energy (label)
- A+++, 172kWh a year
- Running cost a year*
- about £45
- Noise
- 64dB
- Size (H × W × D)
- 84.5 × 59.5 × 55cm
The most efficient dryer on our list. Hisense UK lists it as A+++, using 172kWh a year, with a 64dB noise level, 16 programmes and ConnectLife Wi-Fi so you can start and check it from your phone. At 55cm deep it's slightly shallower than most dryers here. It's sold by Amazon.
8kg suits most couples and small families. If you regularly wash 9kg or more, the Hoover above is the better fit.
What owners and reviewers like
- Lowest yearly energy use here
- Shallow 55cm body
- Wi-Fi app
Watch-outs
- 8kg rather than 9kg
- Slower than a condenser
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Bosch Series 4 WTH85225GB 8kg heat pump tumble dryer, white
Best for: Open-plan kitchens and flats
- Type & capacity
- Heat pump, 8kg
- Energy (label)
- A++, 235kWh a year
- Running cost a year*
- about £62
- Noise
- 63dB
- Size (H × W × D)
- 84.2 × 59.8 × 61.3cm
Bosch's UK page lists the WTH85225GB at 63dB, the lowest noise figure of the eight, with AutoDry sensors that stop the cycle when clothes are dry, a Super Quick 40 programme, an EasyClean filter and a 24-hour delay timer. The product fiche gives 235kWh a year and 1.87kWh for a full load, about 49p at today's price cap.
It's A++ rather than A+++, so it costs a little more to run than the Hisense and Hoover. It's sold by Amazon, but showed only one left when I checked, so stock may come and go.
What owners and reviewers like
- Lowest noise figure here
- EasyClean filter
- Super Quick 40 programme
Watch-outs
- A++ rather than A+++
- Low stock when checked
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Samsung Series 5 OptimalDry 8kg heat pump tumble dryer, black (DV80CGC0B0ABEU)
Best for: SmartThings homes and a black finish
- Type & capacity
- Heat pump, 8kg
- Energy (label)
- A++, 235kWh a year
- Running cost a year*
- about £62
- Noise
- 65dB
- Size (H × W × D)
- 85 × 60 × 60cm
Samsung's product fiche lists this 8kg heat pump dryer as A++, using 235kWh a year and 1.85kWh for a full load, about 49p at today's price cap, with a 65dB noise level. OptimalDry uses sensors to adjust drying time, and SmartThings Wi-Fi lets you control it from your phone and pair it with a Samsung washer. It's sold by Amazon.
The Amazon title gives the code as DV80CGC0A0ABEU, but the listing's model field says DV80CGC0B0ABEU, the black version. Check the colour and full code on the listing before you order.
What owners and reviewers like
- SmartThings app
- OptimalDry sensors
- Black finish
Watch-outs
- Model code differs between title and details
- A++ rather than A+++
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AEG 7000 Series SensiDry TR718L4B 8kg heat pump tumble dryer, white
Best for: Wool, sportswear and mixed loads
- Type & capacity
- Heat pump, 8kg
- Energy (label)
- A++, 235kWh a year
- Running cost a year*
- about £62
- Noise
- 66dB
- Size (H × W × D)
- 85 × 59.6 × 66.3cm (max)
AEG's SensiDry technology dries at lower temperatures, which AEG says helps protect fabrics. AEG's UK page lists the TR718L4B as A++ with 235kWh a year, a 66dB noise level, ProSense+ sensors, a MixDry programme for mixed fabrics, an anti-crease phase and a 118-litre drum. It's sold by Amazon.
It's the deepest dryer here at up to 66.3cm, so measure your space, including room to open the door.
What owners and reviewers like
- Gentle low-temperature drying
- MixDry for mixed loads
- Large 118-litre drum
Watch-outs
- Deepest dryer here
- No app
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Hoover H-DRY 350 HRE C9TBE-80 9kg condenser tumble dryer, white
Best for: A cheaper dryer that doesn't need a vent
- Type & capacity
- Condenser, 9kg
- Energy (label)
- B, 616kWh a year
- Running cost a year*
- about £162
- Noise
- 68dB
- Size (H × W × D)
- 85 × 59.6 × 60.4cm
Condenser dryers cost less to buy than heat pumps and dry faster, but use much more electricity. Hoover's UK page lists this 9kg model as B, using 616kWh a year and 5.18kWh for a full load, which is about 136p a full load at today's price cap. It has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for the hOn app, a Woolmark-approved wool programme, a 24-hour delay, an Aquavision window to show when the water tank needs emptying, and a 68dB noise level. It's sold by Amazon.
If you dry several loads a week, a heat pump dryer will usually save the difference in purchase price within a few years. If you dry occasionally, a condenser can make sense.
What owners and reviewers like
- Cheaper to buy than a heat pump
- No vent needed
- Wi-Fi and tank-level window
Watch-outs
- About three times the running cost of the Hoover heat pump
- Warms and humidifies the room more
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Hoover HLV10LG 10kg vented tumble dryer, white
Best for: Big families with a window or wall vent
- Type & capacity
- Vented, 10kg
- Energy (label)
- C, 697kWh a year
- Running cost a year*
- about £183
- Noise
- 67dB
- Size (H × W × D)
- 85 × 60 × 58.5cm
Vented dryers blow damp air out through a hose, so they need to sit near a window or a wall vent. This 10kg Hoover is the largest dryer here, with sensor drying and 14 programmes. Its label gives class C and 697kWh a year, about £183 a year at today's price cap, the highest of the eight. It's sold by Crampton and Moore and dispatched by Amazon.
It's a sensible choice if you already have a vent and want to replace like for like, or if you're drying bulky bedding. For daily use, a heat pump dryer costs far less to run.
What owners and reviewers like
- Largest 10kg drum
- Simple and cheap to buy
- Sensor drying
Watch-outs
- Highest running cost here
- Needs a vent hose; third-party seller
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Candy CSEV9DF (CSE V9DF-80) 9kg vented tumble dryer, white
Best for: The lowest up-front cost
- Type & capacity
- Vented, 9kg
- Energy (label)
- C, 636kWh a year
- Running cost a year*
- about £167
- Noise
- 67dB
- Size (H × W × D)
- 85 × 59.6 × 58.5cm
A simple 9kg vented dryer with sensor drying. Candy's UK page lists it as class C, using 636kWh a year and 5.34kWh for a full load, which is about 141p a full load at today's price cap, with a 67dB noise level. It's sold by Crampton and Moore and dispatched by Amazon.
Vented dryers are usually the cheapest to buy, but the running cost adds up quickly if you use it every day.
What owners and reviewers like
- Low purchase cost
- 9kg drum
- Sensor drying
Watch-outs
- High running cost
- Needs a vent hose; third-party seller
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- Heat pump: warms and reuses the same air, collects water in a tank or drains it away. Uses the least electricity (A+++ to A++), dries at lower temperatures, but takes longer per load and costs the most to buy. No vent needed.
- Condenser: heats air with an element, cools it to collect water in a tank. Quicker and cheaper to buy, but uses about three times the electricity of a good heat pump and makes the room warmer and more humid. No vent needed.
- Vented: heats air and blows the damp air outside through a hose. Simplest and usually cheapest, but needs a window or wall vent and uses the most electricity.
If you dry more than a couple of loads a week, a heat pump dryer is almost always the cheapest option over the life of the machine.
The UK dryer label still uses the older A+++ to D scale and gives a yearly energy figure based on 160 drying cycles at full and partial load. Multiply by your unit rate to get a yearly cost. At the Ofgem price cap of 26.32p per kWh (October to December 2026, Direct Debit average):
- Hisense DH3S802BW3 (172kWh): about £45 a year.
- Hoover HRE H9A3TBE-80/N (194kWh): about £51 a year, about 42p a full load.
- Bosch WTH85225GB, Samsung DV80CGC0 and AEG TR718L4B (235kWh): about £62 a year, about 49p a full load for the Bosch and Samsung.
- Hoover HRE C9TBE-80 condenser (616kWh): about £162 a year, about 136p a full load.
- Candy CSEV9DF vented (636kWh): about £167 a year, about 141p a full load.
- Hoover HLV10LG vented (697kWh): about £183 a year.
*The yearly figures in the table use the label's 160 cycles a year (about three a week). If you dry more often, costs rise in proportion. Ofgem announces the January to March 2027 cap in late November, and I'll update these figures then.
- Spin at 1400rpm in the washer first: wetter clothes take much longer to dry.
- Use the sensor or Eco programmes rather than timed drying.
- Clean the lint filter after every load, and the heat pump's condenser filter as the manual says.
- Dry full loads, but don't overfill.
For lighter loads, a heated clothes airer or a dehumidifier for drying clothes can cost less to run than any tumble dryer.
Heat pump and condenser dryers can go anywhere with a socket and some airflow, including a cupboard if the maker allows it. Many can be plumbed into the waste pipe so you don't have to empty the tank. Vented dryers need to be within reach of a window or a wall vent, usually with a hose of about a metre or two. Most can be stacked on a washing machine with a stacking kit, which is sold separately.
Miele's heat pump dryers are often recommended for build quality. When I checked on 24 October 2026, new Miele tumble dryers weren't sold on Amazon.co.uk, so they're not in the list above. Miele sells them direct and through specialist appliance retailers.
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FAQs
What's the best tumble dryer in the UK?
For most families, the Hoover H-DRY 350 HRE H9A3TBE-80/N: a 9kg A+++ heat pump dryer that costs about £51 a year to run at the current price cap. The Hisense DH3S802BW3 is the cheapest to run here.
Is a heat pump tumble dryer worth it?
Usually, if you dry more than a couple of loads a week. The heat pump dryers here cost about £45 to £62 a year to run, against about £162 to £183 for the condenser and vented models, so the higher purchase price is often paid back within a few years.
How much does a tumble dryer cost to run?
At the October to December 2026 price cap of 26.32p per kWh, the dryers here cost from about £45 to £183 a year, based on the label's 160 cycles a year. A full load costs from about 42p in the Hoover heat pump to about 141p in the Candy vented dryer.
Do heat pump dryers take longer?
Yes. They dry at lower temperatures, so a full cotton load takes longer than in a condenser or vented dryer. Quick programmes help for small loads.
Do I need a vent for a tumble dryer?
Only for a vented dryer. Heat pump and condenser dryers collect the water in a tank or drain it away, so they can go anywhere with a socket.
Have you tested these tumble dryers?
No. This guide is based on manufacturers' UK specifications and energy data, retailer listings and independent advice. I don't own or test the products. See how we research.
Do you get commission?
Yes. If you buy through links on this page, Amazon may pay me a small commission at no extra cost to you. It doesn't affect which dryers are included. See the affiliate disclosure.
- Ofgem: energy price cap
- Hoover UK: H-DRY 350 HRE H9A3TBE-80/N
- Hoover UK: H-DRY 350 HRE C9TBE-80
- Hisense UK: DH3S802BW3
- Bosch UK: WTH85225GB
- Samsung: DV80CGC0B0ABEU product information sheet
- AEG UK: 7000 SensiDry TR718L4B
- Candy UK: CSE V9DF-80
- Hoover HLV10LG product data (Appliance World)
- Which?: most Black Friday deals the same price or cheaper at other times of the year
Prices change constantly, so we don’t list them here. Always check the current price, seller and delivery details on Amazon before buying. If anything on this page looks wrong or out of date, let me know.
