Best Budget Tumble Dryers

Guide to cheap tumble dryers

How do cheap tumble dryers differ from more expensive models? Do they use more electricity and which tumble dryers are the cheapest? You can find out the answers to these questions in our guide.

We have defined a tumble dryer as cheap if it costs less than £500.

The main differences between budget tumble dryers and more expensive tumble dryers typically lie in the features, performance, and build quality. Here are some of the key differences:

• Capacity: More expensive dryers generally have a larger drum capacity than budget models, allowing them to dry more clothes at once.
• Energy efficiency: Higher-end models often have more advanced features to save energy, such as moisture sensors that detect when clothes are dry and automatically stop the dryer. More expensive tumble dryers also tend to use heat pump technology, which makes them more energy efficient.
• Drying programs: Premium tumble dryers typically offer a greater range of drying programs and more customization options, allowing you to tailor the drying process to your specific needs.
• Build quality: More expensive tumble dryers may be constructed using sturdier materials and better construction quality, resulting in a longer lifespan and better durability.
• Noise level: High-end models are often quieter than budget models, which can be a significant advantage in small spaces or busy households.
• Extra features: Expensive dryers may come with additional features, such as steam drying, smart connectivity, and self-cleaning filters, which can be convenient and time-saving.

Tip: Don’t focus on the price alone when choosing a tumble dryer. Energy consumption is also a very important factor to consider because it can vary greatly from model to model. In many cases, a more expensive model might be cheaper in the long run due to its lower energy consumption. You can find the most energy-efficient tumble dryers here.

With the following tool, you can compare the specifications of cheap tumble dryers with more expensive tumble dryers:

The cheapest tumble dryer is the Indesit I1D80WUK, priced at £239.

You can find the 5 cheapest tumble dryers in the following table:

The price for tumble dryers can vary significantly. In our comparison, the cheapest tumble dryer is priced at £239, while the most expensive model costs £1399.

The following chart shows the price distribution across the 38 tumble dryers represented in our tumble dryer comparison:

We typically distinguish between three types of dryers:

• Vented air dryer
• Condenser tumble dryer
• Heat pump tumble dryer

Whereas vented air dryers are the cheapest type, they also consume the most energy. Meanwhile, heat pump tumble dryers are the most advanced and expensive but also the most energy-efficient.

The average yearly energy consumption among cheap tumble dryers is 430 kWh, whereas the average across all models is 360 kWh.

The following chart compares the energy consumption of cheap tumble dryers to all other models:

The cheap tumble dryer with the lowest energy consumption is the Samsung DV80T5220AW, with an energy consumption of 176 kWh.

These are the 5 cheapest tumble dryers with the lowest energy consumption:

Cheap tumble dryers tend to be noisier than high-end models. The following chart compares the noise emission of cheap tumble dryers with all tumble dryers:

The quietest model among the cheap tumble dryers is the Samsung DV80T5220AW, with a noise emission of 63 dB.

You can learn more in our article about the quietest tumble dryers.

The following chart shows the average price of tumble dryers from various tumble dryer brands: