If you regularly dry full loads and have room for a second appliance, a heat pump tumble dryer is worth considering. If you only have space for one appliance, compare washer-dryers by their drying capacity, which is often lower than their washing capacity. A drying cabinet is better suited to a few garments than a full load of laundry.
If you can’t leave laundry drying in your living space, a separate tumble dryer is worth considering if you have somewhere to put it. If you only have one space available, a washer-dryer means you won’t need to install two appliances, but you’ll need to factor in its drying capacity.
A washer-dryer combines both functions in one appliance. If you want to wash and dry one after the other, check that your usual load doesn’t exceed the stated drying capacity; otherwise, you’ll need to split it.
A drying cabinet could suit a routine involving just a few garments on hangers. Check its height and how many garments it can hold before choosing one to replace a drum tumble dryer.
Start with the space you actually have and the amount of laundry you need to dry. Then compare the installation requirements and the energy information for the cycle you plan to use.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Space | Measure the space available and the clearances specified in the manual. If stacking the appliances, check the model numbers of both appliances and the stacking kit. For a drying cabinet, measure the height too. | I can’t leave a clothes airer in my living space. Do I have room for two appliances, possibly stacked, or only for a washer-dryer? |
| Laundry load | Compare the drying capacity in kg with your usual loads. For a washer-dryer, check the washing and drying capacities separately: Whirlpool lists 12/8 kg for the WPD2836WADSFR, while LG lists 9/6 kg for the F964R35WR. | If I wash a full load, I want to know whether it can be dried in one go or whether I’ll need to split it. |
| Energy use and cycle time | Compare energy use and cycle times for similar reference cycles and loads. For a washer-dryer, look at the complete wash-and-dry cycle rather than the wash cycle alone. | I want to assess energy use without basing my choice solely on the energy label. The time a load takes also matters when planning my day. |
| Installation and maintenance | UFC-Que Choisir explains that a condenser tumble dryer, with or without a heat pump, doesn’t need to be connected to an external vent. Still, check the manual for clearances, water handling and the maintenance required for your chosen model. | Without an outlet to the outside, I need to be able to install the appliance and access the parts that need maintenance. |
| Garments to dry | For a drying cabinet, check how many garments it can hold and which fabrics it is designed for. LG lists 3 hangers for the Styler S3MFC, while Haier says its cabinet can hold up to 5 hanging garments. | I mainly dry a few garments on hangers, or I need to dry towels and full loads. These uses don’t require the same capacity. |
A washer-dryer may be able to wash more laundry than it can dry in one cycle. A full load of washing may therefore need to be dried in two batches.
Compare both capacities and plan your laundry around the drying capacity if you want to run the cycles one after the other.
Whether appliances can be stacked depends on the models and the accessory. Bosch, for example, says its 00717524 kit is designed for a washing machine more than 55 cm deep.
Check the exact model numbers and dimensions of both appliances, then follow the manufacturer’s compatibility and fitting instructions.
The Haier and LG drying cabinets mentioned here are described by their manufacturers as holding a limited number of garments or hangers, rather than a laundry load comparable to one in a drum dryer.
Count the garments you want to dry each time and measure the space before choosing one as your main drying appliance.
A brand to consider for a separate tumble dryer and a potential stacked installation.
The WPD2836WADSFR is an example of a washer-dryer for homes with space for just one appliance.
The range mentioned here includes two different formats: a washer-dryer and a cabinet for a few garments.
Its Couture Care Collection 11 CCE L02LU1 cabinet is designed for routines involving a limited number of garments.
The TCA520WP is an example of a separate heat pump tumble dryer.
This selection includes washer-dryers for homes with space for one appliance, as well as separate tumble dryers for homes that can accommodate an additional appliance. For the model described as a “condenser dryer”, check its exact technology before comparing it with heat pump models.
Image unavailable
For a single space for washing and drying, this model has a stated capacity of 11 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. If you wash a full load, plan to split it before drying, and check the clearances and connections required.
Image unavailable
This separate tumble dryer has a stated capacity of 8 kg for loads you’d rather not dry on an airer at home. Check its dimensions, installation clearances and the details for the cycle you plan to use before choosing a spot for it.
Image unavailable
The stated 8 kg capacity gives you a point of comparison with your usual loads. The “condenser” description doesn’t, on its own, tell you which technology the model uses. Check the product details and energy label, then refer to the manual for clearances and water handling.
Image unavailable
With a stated capacity of 10 kg, this separate tumble dryer is worth comparing with the size of your loads and the space you have available. Check its dimensions, clearances, energy use and the cycle time for the programme you plan to use.
Image unavailable
This separate tumble dryer has a stated drying capacity of 8 kg. Before choosing it for regular loads, check its dimensions and clearances, as well as the energy use and cycle time for the programme you plan to use.
No. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a condenser tumble dryer with a heat pump can be installed without being connected to an external vent. However, follow the model’s instructions on where to place it, the required clearances and how to handle condensed water.
No. Check that a stacking kit is suitable for the model numbers of both appliances, and follow its instructions. For example, Bosch says its 00717524 kit is designed for a washing machine more than 55 cm deep.
Because it may be lower than its washing capacity. Whirlpool lists a 12 kg washing capacity and an 8 kg drying capacity for the WPD2836WADSFR, while LG lists 9/6 kg for the F964R35WR. Any washed load that exceeds the drying capacity will need to be split.
Not necessarily. Haier lists a capacity of up to 5 hanging garments for the cabinet mentioned here, while LG lists 3 hangers for the Styler S3MFC. Compare these capacities with the number of garments you need to dry, then check which fabrics and accessories are suitable.