Tumble dryers: How to buy the best tumble dryer Tumble dryer features and energy
When you're looking for the best tumble dryer, make sure the model you buy has the features you need – whether it's an automatic drying sensor, a delay timer for drying through the night or a digital display showing how much drying time remains.
Some tumble dryers have a delay timer
Tumble dryer features to look out for
Delay timers
A delay timer on your tumble dryer will mean that you can set it to dry your clothes at a time convenient to you.
Tumble dryer program buttons
Some tumble dryers allow you to take extra care of delicate fabrics, dry more quickly, delay the start time or have an anti-crease phase at the end.
Sensor drying
Sensors in the drum detect how wet the load is and stop the tumbler when it's dry. Wipe the drum every few months or the sensors won't work effectively.
Remaining time display
Some tumble dryers have a display showing when the clothes will be dry, so you can plan to fold or hang them as soon as the load finishes.
The dial lets you select a program or drying time
Tumble dryer program or timer dial
This lets you choose the drying program on sensor tumble dryers, or the specific drying time for manual machines. You can read the remaining program time from the dial on most timer dryers.
Buzzer button
Selecting the buzzer lets you hear when the program is over.
Warning indicators
Most tumble dryers have warning indicators that light up to remind you to empty the water container or clean the lint filter.
Tumble dryer program stage indicators
Indicators show whether the tumble dryer is drying, cooling or running an anti-crease program.
Temperature selector
Select 'high' for drying cottons and 'low' for heat-sensitive fabrics. Check the icons on your clothes' washing labels to find out which to use.
Tumble dryers are given an energy-efficiency rating
Cheapest to run tumble dryers
Tumble dryers are rated A to F for energy use, with A being the most energy efficient and cheapest to run.
A-rated heat-pump dryers use about half of the energy of a B-rated machine, and are cheaper to run – it will cost about 25p to dry a full load. Most tumble dryers are C-rated.
Watch our video guide to energy-efficient tumble drying for tips on saving energy and money. To see the cheapest and most expensive-to-run tumble dryers - and find out how much they'll cost you - check out our tumble dryer energy costs calculator.
Tumble dryers reviewed by Which?
Which? has tested and reviewed over 100 tumble dryers from manufacturers including AEG, Baumatic, Beko, Bosch, Candy, CDA, Creda, Electrolux, Hoover, Hotpoint, Indesit, John Lewis, Kenwood, LG, Maytag, Miele, Siemens, Whirlpool, White Knight or Zanussi.
Check out the Which? tumble dryer reviews for the latest Which? Best Buys.