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Best condenser tumble dryers: quick drying models that can go anywhere in your home
Looking for a fast and efficient tumble dryer that you can use anywhere in your home? Here are the best condenser tumble dryers you can buy today, as recommended by Mumsnet users.
By Lucy Cotterill | Last updated Apr 9, 2024
When choosing the best tumble dryer for your home, the first thing to consider is type. Unlike other purchases like washing machines and dehumidifiers, where you only really need to pick the right size for your needs, tumble dryers come in a number of distinct types, all disposing of steam in different ways.
While they may not be as energy efficient and cost more to run than heat pump tumble dryers, Condenser tumble dryers remain popular amongst Mumsnet users and consumers, with a number of benefits that fit around family life.
Unlike traditional vented tumble dryers, condenser tumble dryers can be installed anywhere in your home. They work by condensing the steam generated during the drying cycle back into water, collecting it in a chamber that needs emptying regularly.
Other benefits include the cycle times, which tend to be shorter than the more economical heat pump cycles. They can also be a more budget-friendly investment too, which will be appealing if you’re currently relying on a rotary dryer and the unpredictable British weather.
To help you find the best condenser tumble dryer for you, your family, and your budget, we've spent hours consulting our vast network of Mumsnet users (that's 8 million unique users each month), researching expert recommendations, product accolades and consumer reviews. We've made every effort to keep this guide up-to-date, cost-effective and honest, reflecting current availability and new releases.
If you’re still undecided on the right tumble dryer for you, check out our guides to the best vented tumble dryers and best heat pump tumble dryers to help you make your choice.
Best condenser tumble dryers - editor's pick
"Love our Bosch condenser."
Bosch WPG23108GB Series 6
Condenser Tumble Dryer
"Everything gets so dry and soft in it."
Beko DTLCE70051W 7KG
Condenser Tumble Dryer
"I've got a Candy and it's great, the larger load is very handy."
Candy CSEC9LF-80 9KG
Condenser Tumble Dryer
Wide range of programmes including cycles for down and sportswear
Anti-vibration side walls for quiet operating volumes
Curved drum panels prevent creases during drying
Quick 40-minute cycle for smaller loads
Auto dry sensors detect when the preferred drying level is reached
Good energy rating
More costly than some condenser models
Price on writing: £599 | Energy rating: B | Programmes: 15 | Dimensions: 61.3 x 59.8 x 84.2 cm | Capacity: 8kg
It may not be the cheapest condenser tumble dryer you can buy, but the Bosch Series 6 WPG23108GB takes our top spot for the best condenser tumble dryer thanks to its wide range of programmes, excellent performance and impressive B energy rating.
With an 8kg drum capacity, it makes a popular choice for medium households, with a unique curved drum that prevents creases during drying and reduces the amount of ironing required. With 15 different programmes to choose from, you can easily tailor the cycle (and temperatures) to your contents, including cooler options for down fabrics and hotter more hygienic options for sportswear.
We love the 40-minute quick dry cycle for smaller quantities but for larger loads, the intelligent auto sensors will stop the cycle automatically when the desired drying levels are reached. Overall, the Bosch is simple and stress-free to use, with the generated water quick and easy to empty from the tank when required.
Read next: The best steam generator irons for effortless ironing
15-minute quick dry
Freshen up cycle
Delayed start (up to 9 hours)
Large porthole door for easy loading
Anti-creasing function
Sensor drying programmes
Noisier than some models (65dB)
A little fiddly to clean
Price on writing: £249 | Energy rating: B | Programmes: 15 | Dimensions: H84.6, W59.7, D56.8cm | Capacity: 7kg
Tested by MNHQ: Read our full Beko DTLCE70051W 7kg Condenser Tumble Dryer review
The cost of living crisis has many of us carefully considering our purchases, so if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Beko DTLCE70051W is a great choice, retailing at less than £250.
Our tester Leanne, a mum of four, was impressed with how this efficiently dried the contents of her children’s laundry baskets, with auto sensors measuring the amount of moisture left during the cycle and stopping automatically when the clothes were dry.
With a large porthole door for easy loading, the 7kg drum even comes with a convenient anti-crease function, rotating the drum periodically after the cycle so that clothes don’t sit in one place for too long. There are 15 drying options to choose from, including a GentleCare cycle to protect your favourite blanket hoodies.
While our tester found it a little fiddly to clean, she loved the clear display and the ease of emptying the water tank, making this a great budget option for most households.
Related: The best steam irons, tried and tested
Beko B3T41011DW 10Kg Condenser Tumble Dryer
Large capacity drum
Eco cycle for reduced energy consumption
Automatic anti-creasing programme
Internal light in the drum
Sensors automatically stop the cycle when the optimal dryness level has been reached
Overall build quality could be better
Price on writing: £399 | Energy rating: B | Programmes: 15 | Dimensions: 84.6 x 59.8 x 60.9 cm | Capacity: 10kg
If you live in a large household, you’ll love the affordable Beko B3T41011DW condenser tumble dryer with a spacious 10kg drum that can accommodate the entire family’s laundry, no matter how overloaded your laundry basket. There’s even a handy Internal light inside the drum, so you won’t leave any socks behind.
Built-in sensors inside the drum will stop the cycle when the desired level of dryness has been reached, but if you’re keen to reduce your energy consumption, you can also opt for the longer ‘eco’ cycle when you’re a little less pressed for time.
Thanks to the auto cool-down feature, the Beko B3T31011DW is safe to empty as soon as the cycle has finished. If you aren’t able to unload straight away, however, the anti-crease functionality will rotate the drum for up to two hours after the cycle has finished - preventing creases and reducing the chore of your ironing board.
Related: The best washer dryers for families
Large 9kg capacity
Start Delay function (up to 24 hours)
“kg detector" sensors that adapt the drying cycle to the load
Wool programme
Four sensor dry options which will measure the moisture content of the load and will stop the cycle when the load is dry
Smart Touch Technology connects to your Android smartphone
Super easy iron feature
The location of the water tank makes it tricky to empty
Price on writing: £270 | Energy rating: B | Programmes: 14 | Dimensions: 85 x W60 x D60cm | Capacity: 9kg
This 9kg Candy condenser tumble dryer has a range of features to help save time and energy, preventing overdrying whilst being kind on your energy bills.
With an overall B energy rating, we love the ‘kg detector’ sensors that automatically adapt the drying cycle to the load - whether that’s a last-minute school uniform refresh or an entire load of your family’s laundry.
Using the four sensor dry options that assess the level of moisture in the load, the cycle will stop automatically once the clothes and ready for ironing or storage, while the super easy iron programme minimises folds to make ironing as simple as possible.
While reviewers love the smart functionality of this tumble dryer, the location of the water tank at the bottom of the appliance makes it a little more tricky to empty.
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Easy to use ‘Turn&Go technology”
Impressive range of 18 programmes
Filter removes fluff to make cleaning simple
Less energy-saving options
Price on writing: £319 | Energy rating: B | Programmes: 18 | Dimensions: 85 x 59.5 x 61cm | Capacity: 8kg
Retailing at under £500, this Indesit condenser tumble dryer isn’t just friendly on your finances, it’s also incredibly low maintenance and simple to use.
The simple ‘Turn&Go’ dial puts you in complete control of how long you want to run the drying cycle, allowing you to check the contents as you wish and stop once you’re happy to remove the contents.
We love the inbuilt purse filter which catches any fluff or lindt that can materialise during the cycle, making it easy to clean and maintain - no matter how often you use your dryer.
Read next: The best rotary washing lines for drying clothes
What is a condenser tumble dryer?
A condenser tumble dryer uses condensation to remove moisture from your wet clothes.
Unlike the older (and now less available) vented tumble dryers which require a hose running outside, condenser tumble dryers heat the air and cause moisture to evaporate, before passing through to the cooling condenser unit and collecting the moisture in a tank or drawer, which needs to be emptied regularly.
Why would you choose a condenser tumble dryer over a vented or heat pump model?
Condenser tumble dryers are a popular choice thanks to their affordable price tag and the fact they can be placed pretty much anywhere inside your home - without requiring external ventilation.
Most condenser tumble dryers use internal sensors, that will stop the cycle once the desired level of dryness has been reached. They can dry clothes quickly, however they are less energy efficient than heat pump tumble dryers. According to Which? They cost twice as much to run as some of the best heat pump tumble dryers.
Despite the higher running costs, many Mumsnet users find condenser tumble dryers easy and effective to use.
What’s the best condenser tumble dryer to buy?
The Bosch Serie 6 WPG23108GB 8Kg Condenser Tumble Dryer is our pick of the best condenser tumble dryer you can buy today. The 8kg capacity is well equipped to tackle most family's laundry piles, while the quick drying cycles, sensor drying capabilities and easy empty water tank make it quick and convenient to use.
How we chose our recommendations
Recommendations from real Mumsnet users
To begin our search for the best condenser tumble dryer, we turned to the Mumsnet forums to draw on the wealth of experience from our 10 million Mumsnetters. We know that laundry is a popular topic, so we sought out recommendations for condenser tumble dryers that Mumsnet users rated highly and would happily recommend to others. We also looked for any negative reviews, where Mumsnet users highlighted products that they felt were poor quality, overpriced, took an eternity to dry or dried unevenly. That way, we could exclude these from our list.
Expert opinions
Next up, we considered reviews and feedback from trusted industry experts. We always want to be confident that the products we recommend are fit for purpose, so we looked out for award-winning or well-regarded products, including any recommended by consumer champions such as Which?.
Verified customer reviews
Finally, we thoroughly investigated genuine customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon, AO.com and Currys to get a comprehensive picture of consumer experiences regarding the products on our shortlist.
Celebrated Tumble Dryers
Using our triple-check vetting process has allowed us to guarantee that every tumble dryer on this list has earned its right to be there, creating a guide to the best tumble dryers that is honest, balanced and up-to-date.
About the author
Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help people make confident purchases.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.
Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.