If you regularly dry your household’s laundry and have room for a separate appliance, start by comparing heat pump tumble dryers. UFC-Que Choisir reports that they use less electricity, but their cycles are generally longer and they require maintenance. If you only have space for one appliance, a washer-dryer avoids the need for a second machine. However, its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity.
If you dry several loads a week, compare the energy use and duration of the Eco programme with your usual routine. The capacity of this programme is more useful for planning your loads than the figure simply included in the appliance’s name.
A heat pump or condenser tumble dryer doesn’t need the external duct required by a vented model, as Darty explains. Even so, check the ventilation guidance, the space needed to open the door and how to manage the condensed water.
If you can safely stack two compatible appliances, separate machines let you keep a drying capacity suited to regular laundry. Otherwise, a washer-dryer combines both functions in one place. However, UFC-Que Choisir points out that its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity, and drying takes longer.
Start with the space available and the amount of laundry you need to dry. Then compare the Eco programme’s duration and energy use with how often you do your laundry.
Worth considering: if you have room for a separate appliance and often dry laundry.
The trade-off: UFC-Que Choisir reports lower electricity use, but generally longer cycles and a condenser that needs maintenance in line with the instructions.
Worth considering: if you’re assessing an appliance you already own or a model launched before the new EU requirements came into force.
The trade-off: UFC-Que Choisir says these appliances generally dry faster than heat pump models, but use more electricity. Since 1 July 2025, the European Commission has restricted the placing of new tumble dryers on the EU market to the most efficient heat pump technologies.
Worth considering: if your home really only has room for one appliance.
The trade-off: according to UFC-Que Choisir, the drying capacity is lower than the washing capacity, and drying takes longer than with a separate tumble dryer.
| What to compare | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use | Compare the current A–G labels and the kWh per 100 Eco cycles. Gifam explains that this figure applies to the Eco programme, not every programme. | If I dry laundry often, I want to compare appliances’ energy use on a like-for-like basis. |
| Time and capacity | Check the Eco programme’s maximum capacity in kg and its duration in hours and minutes. With a washer-dryer, distinguish between washing and drying capacity. | I often do several loads in a row, so I need to know how much laundry can be dried per load and how long the appliance will be in use. |
| Installation | Measure the width, the depth with the door open and the clearance required. If stacking the appliances, check that both models are compatible with the manufacturer’s stacking kit. | I want to be able to open the door fully and reach the filters without blocking the way. |
| Water and ventilation | Check the ventilation guidance, the water tank and whether the model can be connected to a condensate drain. | Without an external vent, I want an installation that suits my room and a convenient way to manage the collected water. |
| Fabrics and maintenance | Check that the programmes suit your fabrics, read the care symbols on your clothes and make sure the filters and condenser are accessible. In its tests, UFC-Que Choisir also assesses residual moisture, drying evenness and creasing. | I sometimes dry delicate fabrics or clothes that produce lots of lint, so the programmes and maintenance need to suit how I use the appliance. |
The letters come from different scales, so they aren’t enough to compare two appliances. The new tumble dryer label has applied since 1 July 2025, according to the European Commission and Gifam.
For the models you’re considering, compare the current label, kWh per 100 Eco cycles, and the capacity and duration of that programme.
A washer-dryer may be able to wash a load that it can’t dry in one go. UFC-Que Choisir reminds shoppers that its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity.
Compare your usual laundry load with the stated drying capacity. For a separate tumble dryer, check the Eco programme capacity too.
You may need to split a load and run a second cycle, meaning you’ll wait longer for all your laundry to dry.
The dimensions of a closed appliance don’t tell you everything about the space you’ll need. For example, Bosch’s WQG2451SFR product information gives a depth of 109,6 cm with the door open; the manual we consulted requires a suitable stacking kit.
Measure the space in front of the appliance and check the manuals for a kit compatible with both exact models.
A fabric programme or self-cleaning condenser doesn’t replace the care instructions for the appliance and your clothes. Electrolux Support recommends checking the care details, particularly if laundry comes out damp.
Follow the manual’s instructions for the filters and condenser, and check that the garment’s care label allows tumble drying before choosing a programme.
The features mentioned apply to the models named, not to each brand’s entire range.
The French range includes heat pump tumble dryers in different capacities, with features that vary by model.
The range includes heat pump tumble dryers with fabric programmes and features that depend on the model.
The French range includes heat pump tumble dryers with programmes for different fabrics, depending on the model.
The French range includes heat pump tumble dryers whose dimensions and features vary by model.
These two separate appliances suit households with room for a heat pump tumble dryer. To compare their 8 kg models, check the Eco programme’s capacity and duration, as well as the space you have at home.
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A separate tumble dryer worth considering if you have a dedicated space for one. The product name indicates an 8 kg capacity and a C rating; check the current label for the Eco programme’s actual capacity, duration and energy use. Also measure the space needed with the door open.
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Another separate 8 kg appliance to compare if you do laundry regularly. Its name indicates a D rating and an LED display. To see whether it suits your routine, check the label for the Eco programme’s capacity and duration, as well as its kWh per 100 cycles. Also check the dimensions and maintenance instructions before installation.
No. The letters come from different scales. To compare tumble dryers using the current label, look at the Eco programme’s kWh per 100 cycles, capacity and duration, in line with Gifam’s guidance on the new label.
No, it doesn’t need the external duct required by a vented tumble dryer, as Darty explains. However, you should follow the model’s installation and ventilation guidance, and empty its condensate tank or use a suitable drain connection.
No. The Bosch manual we consulted requires a suitable stacking kit and rules out some combinations of appliances from different manufacturers or with different dimensions. Check the manuals for both models and make sure the kit is explicitly listed as compatible before planning a stacked installation.
Start by checking the load, the programme you selected and the maintenance steps in the manual. Electrolux Support recommends checking the filters, the condenser (depending on the type of appliance) and airflow. With a vented model, check the hose too.
Not necessarily. UFC-Que Choisir says washer-dryers have a lower drying capacity than washing capacity. For example, Bosch lists a 9 kg washing capacity but a 6 kg drying capacity for the WNG24402FR. With this model, you’ll need to reduce a 9 kg washed load before drying it.