Best heat pump tumble dryers: Which? Best Buys and expert buying advice

Heat pump tumble dryers are often a couple of hundred pounds more expensive than vented or condenser dryers, but prices are coming down, and they are the cheapest type of tumble dryer to run. 

If you’re considering a heat pump tumble dryer, read on for what else you need to know before you buy.

Or head to this page to find out the best tumble dryers on test and expert buying advice such as which type tumble dryer you should buy.

Best heat pump tumble dryers

Our rigorous testing has revealed that these three heat pump tumble dryers are the best of the bunch when it comes to drying clothes.

Only logged-in Which? members can view our recommendations in the table below. If you're not yet a member, you can get instant access by joining Which?.

All recommendations, scores and prices correct as of March 2024. 

Take a look at our tumble dryer reviews to find out how other models handled the Which? expert testing programme.

What is a heat pump tumble dryer?

Heat pump tumble dryers have a condenser that separates water from the warm air that passes over the wet clothes and puts it in a water tank. The remaining dry warm air is then pumped back through the drum, re-using it to help the clothes dry faster.

This makes them by far the most energy-efficient of all the tumble dryer types available.

How heat pump tumble dryers work

Although this could go a long way to save money on your bills over time, you may have to pay much more up front than if you were to buy another type of tumble dryer. Heat pump tumble dryers are generally much more expensive to buy than condenser tumble dryers.

Compare our tumble dryer reviews to see how various dryers have fared in our expert testing programme.

Pros and cons of heat pump tumble dryers

Pros:

• Energy costs can be half or even less compared with other dryer types.
• No vent or hose is needed to remove damp air.

Cons:

• They can be expensive to buy, although prices are coming down.
• They can often take longer to dry clothes than other dryer types, though this is not the case with the best ones.
• Like condenser tumble dryers, the water tank will need emptying from time to time unless you plumb it in.

Are heat pump tumble dryers better than vented dryers?

Vented tumble dryers are generally much cheaper to buy than heat pump dryers. The running costs are however much higher. The amount the vented dryers we've tested will add to your yearly bills is around £139, which is more than twice the cost of the heat pump dryers we've tested, which is £51. So over time you'll find yourself paying more through your bills for a vented dryer than if you’d paid more up front for a heat pump dryer.

Vented dryers are also trickier to install, as they have hoses that need a route outside to vent the damp air they produce. Heat pump dryers have no hoses or vents, as they deposit moisture into a water tank, which will need emptying every now and again unless you plumb it in.

Are heat pump dryers better than condenser dryers?

Condenser dryers also deposit moisture into a water tank rather than through a vent hose. The key difference is that condensers don’t re-use hot air using heat pump technology, so they use much more energy when running. The condenser dryers we've tested have an average yearly running cost of roughly £127 a year to run, whereas heat pump dryers can cost on average £51 a year.

Can’t decide which type is the one for you? Our best tumble dryer guide can help you pick your dream dryer.

How much do heat pump dryers cost?

Tumble dryer type and price

Although heat pump dryers are generally much more expensive, it’s important to remember how much less they cost to run. An energy-efficient heat pump dryer might cost more up front but as the energy bills are cheaper you'll be quids in just a few years after buying.

More expensive heat pump tumble dryers will more than likely come with some extra features. If you’re keen on controlling your dryer with your smartphone, having handy lights in the drum for when you’re loading and unloading, or even plugging in capsules that make your clothes smell extra fresh, then expect to pay at least around £600 for your dryer.

Have you considered a heated clothes airer? Read our guide to find out if it's a good alternative to a tumble dryer

How much money will a heat-pump dryer save in running costs?

On average, the heat-pump dryers on our site will cost around £51 per year to run, based on drying three loads per week every week for a year. 

In contrast, vented dryers cost around £139 per year to run and condenser dryers cost on average £127 a year to run, with the most energy-hungry of each type costing more.

So owning a heat-pump dryer will save you on average around £76 a year compared to a condenser dryer and £139 compared to a vented machine.

When will a heat-pump dryer pay for itself in saved energy costs?

With the average price of a heat-pump dryer much more than that of a condenser dryer, it will take some time for those energy savings to add up. But using these average prices you’ll see your extra investment start to pay off in around three years.

Where to buy a heat pump tumble dryer

Our expert tumble dryer reviews show that you need to spend close to £500 to get a decent heat pump tumble dryer. However, we've uncovered several cheaper Best Buys, too.

Some popular online retailers that sell heat pump tumble dryers include:

• Currys has heat pump tumble dryers from brands including AEG, Beko, Bosch and Hotpoint. You should expect to spend anywhere between £300 and £1,900.
• Argos stocks around 30 heat pump tumble dryers at the time of writing, the majority of which are built by Samsung. Prices start at around £350 and rise beyond £1,000 for high-end LG machines.  
• AO.com has heat pump tumble dryers at various capacities: 4-7kg, 8-9kg or 10kg and above. Listed brands include Samsung, Beko, Miele and Bosch.
• John Lewis offers a selection of heat pump tumble dryers under £500 from Beko, Hoover and Hotpoint. If you have more money to spend, prices can fly past £1,000 for high-tech machines from AEG, LG and Miele.

To see which retailers are rated highly by Which? members, check in with our expert guide on the best and worst shops.

Does a heat pump tumble dryer need to be plumbed in?

No. You can connect a waste pipe to most heat-pump or condenser dryers to let the water drain away.

All heat-pump dryers also come with a water tank, which collects water and will need to be emptied regularly, unless you set your machine up to drain water away.

Can you get small heat pump tumble dryers?

Not yet. The smallest heat pump dryers currently available are medium-sized with 7kg capacity. The smallest capacity tumble dryers we have tested, which have a capacity of 4kg, are all vented dryers.

Can you get integrated heat pump tumble dryers?

There are only a handful of integrated heat pump tumble dryers out there. 

If an integrated machine is a must-have for you, check out our integrated tumble dryers guide.