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Haier clothes dryers received the best scores for value of money and placed second for quietness, performance and reliability. It also received high scores for drying time.
Clothes dryers operate by circulating heated air through your wet laundry to take out moisture. There's a large variety of clothes dryers on the market that offer varying functions, technology environmental impact and price. While some dryers are more expensive to buy, they can be cheaper to run and more gentle on your clothes.
Read on to understand the differences between the four main types of clothes dryers so you can make an informed decision about which type suits your needs the best.
Gas and electric dryers each have their pros and cons. When deciding on a clothes dryer, consider the needs of your household, the cost efficiency and the features that are most important to you.
Gas dryers cost less to operate over their lifetime and dry clothes faster. However, they're more expensive to buy and you'll probably need to have a gas line installed into your laundry. On the other hand, electric dryers are cheaper to buy and easier to get up and running, but they're usually less energy-efficient and more expensive to run.
Both electric and gas dryers use electricity to spin the drum the clothes are placed in. However, in a gas dryer, gas is used to heat the air and power the fan that blows hot air onto the clothes. A standard gas dryer uses approximately 50% less power per load than an electric dryer.
To decide whether your home needs a clothes dryer and which type meets your needs best, you'll need to consider how frequently you'll use the clothes dryer, available laundry space and ventilation facilities, running costs and environmental concerns. Also, check out our roundup of the best clothes dryers available right now.
Before deciding which clothes dryer is right for your household, consider the following key features:
Measure your laundry room space before purchasing a dryer. You'll need to have about 2.5cm clearance on all sides of the dryer in order for air to circulate properly. Also check you have an additional 15cm of depth so you've got enough room to open the dryer door and account for the dryer vent, wires and hose connections at the back. If you're short on space, consider picking a dryer model that can be stacked on top of your washer.
The size of the dryer's drum can significantly affect how efficient your machine is. A bigger drum size will provide faster washes but will also use up more energy. As a rough guide, you should allocate about 1kg for one complete outfit set (top, bottom and underwear). It's recommended that individuals or couples opt for a 3-4kg dryer, and from there, add about 1-2kg per additional household member.
Options include extended tumble and steam cycle settings to help get rid of creases, delicate settings that protect fine fabrics of these garments, a sanitation cycle that can help kill harmful bacteria and an eco-cycle to reduce the energy used per cycle. Also, look out for a cool air setting if you want to aerate fabrics that have been stored away so that they will smell and feel fresh.
As a clothes dryer uses a lot of energy, you'll want to pick an energy-efficient model to save you money in the long run. Check out the energy star rating of your chosen model and ensure you spin-dry your laundry in the washer before loading it into the dryer to avoid unnecessarily straining your dryer.
There are various types to choose from depending on the size and layout of your laundry room. If you have enough room, opt for a side-by-side configuration which will make it easier to transfer laundry from one machine to the other. To save space, stack your dryer on top of your front-loading washer or consider wall mounting.
You'll need to vent your dryer near an open window or via an exhaust fan to avoid moisture build up and potential mould growth. If this isn't possible, be sure to check whether your model is vent-kit compatible, front-vented or if it can be ducted instead.
It's important to match the size or load capacity of your dryer to your washing machine, as you're likely to want to dump your full load of laundry into your dryer straight after it's been washed.
Dryers tend to be quite noisy so if you live in an apartment or your dryer is located near sleeping or living areas you may want to get a tumble dryer with a dampener system that can decrease noise operating levels.
Sensor dryers can detect when your laundry has been adequately dried and will automatically turn off the cycle, saving you energy and costs.
| Total Score | Overall rating | Value for Money | Drying time | Performance & Reliability | Quietness | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haier | 8.2 | 4.5 | 4.53 | 4.23 | 4.47 | 4.33 |
| Bosch | 8.09 | 4.42 | 4.26 | 4.26 | 4.48 | 4.35 |
| Fisher & Paykel | 8 | 4.4 | 4.32 | 4.3 | 4.38 | 3.92 |
| Samsung | 7.88 | 4.33 | 4.13 | 4.12 | 4.35 | 4.04 |
| Electrolux | 7.74 | 4.2 | 4.28 | 4.16 | 4.26 | 4.16 |
| LG | 7.7 | 4.16 | 4.12 | 4.2 | 4.22 | 3.98 |
| Simpson | 7.69 | 4.2 | 4.22 | 4.22 | 4.34 | 3.86 |
| Whirlpool | 7.55 | 4.25 | 3.92 | 3.79 | 4.08 | 3.67 |
| Other | 7.38 | 4 | 3.96 | 3.78 | 4.07 | 3.67 |
Discover the online electronics and department stores with a variety of clothes dryers to suit your needs.
We’ve read thousands of customer and expert reviews to find the 11 best clothes dryers for all your laundry needs.
