Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could dry our clothes outside every time? Unfortunately, the British weather has other plans in mind, and thus you’ll have trouble finding many homes without a tumble dryer in this country!
That’s why we’ve created a guide to the most energy efficient tumble dryer in 2022, so you can get your clothes perfectly dry without costing the planet and your holiday savings when the energy bill arrives.
Below you’ll find our list of 7 low energy tumble dryers (by type), plus a helpful buying guide and FAQ section.
Note: despite the energy efficiency rating changing to a simple ‘A to G’ model, most tumble dryers still use the old ‘A+++ to D’ model online. Only the newest dryers have been converted over. So, a better way to compare the new and old tumble dryers is to look at the kWh energy consumption – this is what we’ve used to create our list!
Our Selection of the Best Energy Efficient Tumble Dryers in the UK
🏆 – Best Energy Efficient Tumble Dryer Overall | Jump to review |
Best Energy Efficient Tumble Dryer Heat Pump | Jump to review |
Best 10kg Tumble Dryer | Jump to review |
Most Energy Efficient Condenser Tumble Dryer | Jump to review |
Most Energy Efficient Vented Tumble Dryer | Jump to review |
Best Tumble Dryer for Garage Spaces | Jump to review |
Best Condenser Dryer Under £300 | Jump to review |
If this is the first time you’ve considered energy efficiency when selecting a tumble dryer for your home, make sure you read our Buying Guide below.
Best Energy Efficient Tumble Dryer Overall – Miele TSF763 WP
If you’re looking for the best A-rated energy efficient tumble dryer, this Miele model is our best pick. The Miele TSF763 WP has an A+++ rating and you’ll notice a huge difference in performance compared to a B rated tumble dryer. This is mostly thanks to the heat pump design, which is the most energy efficient of all tumble dryer types.
It’s not budget-friendly, but it’s still a few thousand pounds cheaper than the top-of-the-range models.
Type | Heat Pump |
Capacity | 8kg |
Energy Consumption | 163 kWh/annum |
Energy Rating | A+++ |
Noise Level | 66dB |
We love: it has an EcoSpeed feature to dry quickly while maintaining maximum energy efficiency.
We don’t love: connecting the app to your smartphone is a lot of hassle when the standard button controls work fine.
Best Energy Efficient Tumble Dryer Heat Pump – Bosch Serie 6 WTR88T81GB
If our top pick is out of your budget, this Bosch (a brand that also makes some outstanding energy efficient fridge freezers) model with a spacious 8 kg capacity could be the compromise you are looking for. Its energy consumption is slightly higher but it still manages to earn an A+++ rating. It’s also built with added insulation which makes it the quietest tumble dryer on our list!
Type | Heat Pump |
Capacity | 8kg |
Energy Consumption | 176 kWh/annum |
Energy Rating | A+++ |
Noise Level | 64dB |
We love: the lower temperature, gentle wool cycle is very energy efficient.
We don’t love: to operate efficiently, it’s best placed in a warm room (not your garage).
Best 10kg Tumble Dryer – Candy ROEH10A2TCE
If you need a very large tumble dryer so you can get all your clothes in one load, this is a decent option. It’s an A++ rated tumble dryer from Candy that can connect to your WiFi and be controlled via your smartphone. As with most highly efficient tumble dryers, this model uses a heat pump. Yes, its energy consumption is higher than with smaller models, but if you need to dry a lot of clothes, it’s definitely more efficient to do it in one load.
Type | Heat Pump |
Capacity | 10kg |
Energy Consumption | 282 kWh/annum |
Energy Rating | A++ |
Noise Level | 66dB |
We love: it’s one of the cheaper heat pump models and is great for large families.
We don’t love: the drying sensor can be temperamental, so you may need to run the full cycle each time.
Most Energy Efficient Condenser Tumble Dryer – Hotpoint H2D71WUK
The best energy efficient tumble dryer in the condenser category doesn’t even score higher than a B rating – which shows just how much better heat pump models are.
Nonetheless, this Hotpoint 7kg tumble dryer is decent for energy efficiency. The real selling point, however, is the price. If you’re on a tight budget and our other budget option (scroll down) is out of stock, this will do the trick.
Type | Condenser |
Capacity | 7kg |
Energy Consumption | 503 kWh/annum |
Energy Rating | B |
Noise Level | 69dB |
We love: it’s proudly made in the United Kingdom, supporting our economy.
We don’t love: high energy consumption!!! If you use your dryer frequently, this is not for you.
Most Energy Efficient Vented Tumble Dryer – Zanussi ZTE7101PZ
If you want the most energy efficient tumble dryer in the UK… don’t get a vented one! Although cheap, the best available is this Zanussi model with a middling C energy efficiency rating.
But if you already have the ventilation set up for a vented tumble dryer and don’t have much upfront cash to spare, it is a viable option.
Type | Vented |
Capacity | 7kg |
Energy Consumption | 512 kWh/annum |
Energy Rating | C |
Noise Level | 64dB |
We love: it has 14 different drying programs and two different hose attachment locations.
We don’t love: outdated design and technology. This model was first available in 2015.
Best Tumble Dryer for Garage Spaces – Montpellier MTD30P
This is one very small energy efficient tumble dryer! The Montpellier model is very compact, measuring 64cm by 52cm by 43.5cm and is a ventilated design, which shouldn’t be a problem for a garage or outbuilding anyway.
As an energy saving tumble dryer, it earns a C rating. It’s difficult for the small models to be as efficient – the more clothes you can dry at once, the more efficient a tumble dryer is.
Type | Vented |
Capacity | 3kg |
Energy Consumption | 252 kWh/annum |
Energy Rating | C |
Noise Level | 65dB |
We love: the small space fits on top of counters and tucked away in corners.
We don’t love: despite being significantly smaller than other models, it’s still producing the same decibels!
Best Condenser Dryer Under £300 – Indesit 12D81WUK
Our best budget condenser tumble dryer is the 8kg Indesit model. It’s sold for under £300 in the UK (at the time of writing) and still has a respectable B energy efficiency rating. Not bad!
If you’re looking for the cheapest tumble dryer to run, scroll back to the first model in our list (Bosch Serie 6) as this one will cost twice as much to run – remember to compare the kWh figure on the energy label!
Type | Condenser |
Capacity | 8kg |
Energy Consumption | 561 kWh/annum |
Energy Rating | B |
Noise Level | 69dB |
We love: it’s a simple budget dryer that works reliably.
We don’t love: performance can be a little slow. Not great for drying clothes in a rush.
Energy Efficient Tumble Dryer – Buying Guide
Whether you’ve got your heart set on British made tumble dryers only, or you’re not fussy so long as it’s cheap, here’s everything you need to know when shopping for a tumble dryer.
Types of Tumble Dryers
There are three main types of tumble dryer to choose from:
Vented Tumble Dryer
The dryer blasts hot air at your clothes and expels damp air through a tube out of your home. They’re cheap, but require a vent or hole leading outside to remove the moisture.
Condenser Tumble Dryer
Just like the vented dryer, the drying cycle pumps hot air around your clothes. However, the air isn’t pumped away after. Instead, the water is allowed to condense and is collected in a tray that you need to empty regularly.
Heat-Pump Tumble Dryer
A heat pump uses the same process as a condenser – it condenses the water out of the air and collects it in a tray to be removed. However, the heat pump then reuses that air over and over rather than drawing in more air. Comparing heat pump vs condenser dryer shows that this is by far the best type for efficiency… but it’s not going to be cheap.
Besides these 3 main types, there are also some more obscure types. A gas tumble dryer runs on gas and a smart tumble dryer is operated by an app – both are uncommon.
Note: any type of tumble dryer can be integrated (inside a kitchen cupboard), but this usually refers to condenser types that can be located anywhere in the home.
Tumble Dryer Power Consumption
At the time of writing (May 2022) the UK is going through something of an energy crisis, with bills spiraling out of control for many homes. That’s why checking the tumble dryer power consumption figures is so important.
“Which” found that condenser and vented tumble dryers added around £100 to your annual energy bill, while heat-pump tumble dryer running costs were closer to £30. Those prices will be rising this year, obviously, but the fact that heat-pumps are best for tumble dryer energy consumption remains.
To keep energy consumption low:
- Choose one of our energy efficient tumble dryers,
- Buy the right size drum (see below),
- Keep it clean and well-maintained,
- Only fill 70% of the drum space – this allows air to circulate and is optimum for efficiency,
- Only use it when there’s no other way to dry your clothes.
Other Factors
Other factors besides the type and energy consumption that you’ll want to consider include:
Drum Size
Choose a drum size that’s most appropriate for your household. A very large 10kg tumble dryer can handle up to 30 t-shirts, while a 4kg drum will only dry around 10 t-shirts. Heavier items, like jeans will reduce this number.
Sensory/Manual
A sensory tumble dryer senses when the clothes are dry and all the moisture is gone, stopping the program early. A manual dryer will run for a set period of time or only stop when you tell it to. Thankfully, manual dryers are rarely made anymore.
Upfront Cost
Unfortunately, the most energy efficient models tend to be more expensive upfront. The cheapest tumble dryer type is usually the vented style. The more features your tumble dryer has, the more it tends to cost too.
Energy Efficient Tumble Dryer – FAQs
Vented and condenser tumble dryers are pretty evenly matched, with condensers being slightly more efficient on average. Both are less energy efficient than a heat pump tumble dryer.
Running costs depend on the type of dryer as well as how often you use it – and don’t forget the rising energy bill rates in the UK. Based on the average per pence/kWh of electricity rate as of November 2021, a single cycle would cost you 90p. One cycle per week leaves you at around £50 per year, according to Metro.
With rising energy bill costs and taking into consideration multiple uses per week, an inefficient tumble dryer can easily cost you over £100 per year.
Yes! They are the most energy efficient tumble dryer type. You will need to pay more upfront and empty the condenser tray regularly, however you will save money in the long run.
Modern new tumble dryers are rigorously tested and are safe! To ensure your safety, install the machine according to the manufacturer’s directions (or hire a pro to do it), and maintain it carefully. Removing the lint is important to avoid a fire hazard, for example.
It depends on your climate, how often you use the machine, and how much clothing you have to dry in it. A 4kg dryer can manage approximately 10 t-shirts (or equivalent).
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