Our review compares clothes dryers on customer satisfaction, so you can find out what other Aussies think about the compared brands before you go ahead with a purchase. Think of it as like asking hundreds of your closest mates which clothes dryer they think is best!
Canstar Blue surveyed 554 Australians for their feedback on the clothes dryer(s) they’ve purchased in the last five years.
The winning brand is the one that receives the highest Overall satisfaction rating once all the scores from the Overall satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.
Find more detailed information on our Most Satisfied Customer methodology.
Not sure which clothes dryer to buy? Check out our buying guide below.
LG was rated five stars for performance, features & functionality, ease of use, design and overall satisfaction, with four stars for value for money.
While only offering heat pump dryers, LG may be the option for larger households to consider, with many of its models boasting a minimum 8kg drying capacity, allowing you to tackle the laundry basket regardless of how busy everyone’s week has been. If you’re looking to jazz up the laundry a bit as well, select LG models come in black or steel finishes, helping to create a sleek aesthetic.
You can expect a number of drying programs for wools, delicate fabrics and bulky cycles. Some LG clothes dryers also come with a few accessories, such as a stacking kit, to stack your dryer on top of your washer and a drying rack for items you don’t want to tumble dry, like backpacks and shoes. Other features include an Allergy Care cycle, sensor dry functionality and even a 9-star energy rating on select models.
Fisher & Paykel was rated five stars for ease of use and performance, with four stars for design, value for money, features & functionality and overall satisfaction.
Fisher & Paykel offers one of the largest ranges of vented, condenser and heat pump dryers, along with washer dryer combos, in Australia. You’ll find dryer capacities of between 4.5kg and 9kg, suiting a variety of household sizes.
Many Fisher & Paykel dryers feature 10 or more programs, with a delay start system that allows you to set a start time most convenient for you. Additionally, you’ll find an automatic cool-down function as part of the cycle for added safety. Its heat pump dryers come with additional design features such as a drying rack, for items that can’t be tumble dried, as well as an interior light, so that you don’t miss that sock hiding at the back of the drum. This range also features automatic sensing, plus a key lock and restart switch for safety.
Haier was rated five stars for value for money, with four stars for ease of use, features & functionality, performance and overall satisfaction, with three stars for design.
Haier offers condensing heat pumps and vented clothes dryers, with ranges from 4kg to 9kg in drying capacity available, allowing you to find something that fits into your laundry and your lifestyle. Select Haier dryers can also be stacked on certain Haier washing machines, allowing you to maximise your laundry space further.
Featuring traditional dial controls, the Haier dryers aim to get the job done without any extra and costly features. Haier vented dryers are designed with reverse tumble action, and generally come with two temperature settings of warm and cool for the 4kg capacity unit, while the larger units have additional settings and programs.
Westinghouse was rated five stars for performance, four stars for value for money and overall satisfaction, and three stars for features & functionality, ease of use and design.
Known for a range of household appliances, Westinghouse’s range of dryers includes heat pumps and vented dryers, although it may not offer the range of some other brands. However, it makes up for the lack of range with a diverse capacity, with dryers ranging from 4.5kg to 8kg, allowing for various household sizes and laundry needs.
Common features among the Westinghouse dryer range include Sensor dry to help ensure that fabrics are properly dried, front lint filter, reverse tumbling action, multiple drying programs, such as eco, cotton, delicate and quick dry, with multiple degrees of dryness. Select models can also be wall mounted or stacked on compatible washing machines, allowing you to customise your laundry set-up.
Samsung was rated four stars for design, features & functionality and overall satisfaction, with three stars for performance, value for money and ease of use.
South Korean electronics giant Samsung sits offers a range of heat pump dryers and washer dryer combos, each coming with larger capacities. Most Samsung dryer models feature multiple cycles and settings, including hygiene care, along with AI personalised suggestions for your regular washes and cycles. Some models also come equipped with SmartThings compatibility to help you control settings via your phone, with some of Samsung’s line-up also coming with a 9-star energy rating.
The brand has also released its AirDresser clothing care system which dries clothes in a wardrobe setup – an asthma and allergy-friendly option approved by the Sensitive Choice Program. It can also self-clean, and has a dehumidification function to help keep your clothes fresher.
Electrolux was rated four stars for value for money, performance and overall satisfaction, with three stars for features & functionality, ease of use and design.
Electrolux offers a broad range of heat pump, condenser, and vented dryers at relatively modest prices, with the brand a particularly big player when it comes to larger capacity dryers, especially if you’re concerned about efficiency, with its 8-9kg models generally displaying a five and above energy star rating.
In terms of features, you can expect Advanced Sensor Dry technology that activates moisture sensors during the cycle to prevent over-drying and damage to your clothes and power bill. Many Electrolux dryers also use Reverse Tumbling Action to reduce tangling and bunching, and ensure all items dry evenly, as well as offer multiple drying programs to help you get the job done.
Bosch was rated four stars for performance, with three stars in all remaining categories, including features & functionality, value for money, ease of use, design and overall satisfaction.
While it may not have the range of some brands, Bosch offers a number of heat pumps for households to choose from, with capacities sitting around the 8kg to 9kg mark, making them a suitable option for larger households.
Some features you’ll find across the Bosch range include ActiveAir technology, which reuses heat to dry your load efficiently, plus moisture sensors that supposedly monitor the temperature and moisture of the items throughout the drying process in order to dry your clothes according to a selected setting. In addition, some Bosch dryers feature AntiVibration sidewalls, stated to reduce vibration, provide greater stability and in turn, reduce noise – even during the spin cycle.
Not all brands in the market qualify for our ratings (based on minimum survey sample size), but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth considering. Here are several more brands to check out before making a purchase decision.
Clothes dryers aren’t created to be ‘one-size fits all’ and have differences that impact their price, performance, energy efficiency, and overall suitability for your household. There are five different types of clothes dryers to choose from:
Condenser dryers cycle hot air throughout the drum to dry your clothes, and draw out moisture into a heat exchanger, which then gets converted into water (into a water tank). The water reservoir then gets emptied via a plumbing fixture that connects the machine to the sink, for example. Otherwise, the dryer may have a removable container that needs to be manually emptied.
Heat pump dryers use a refrigerant to heat up cool air, which then gets channeled as warm air through an evaporator to remove any moisture from your clothes. Once the moisture is gone, the dryer reuses the same air to repeat the process. Heat pump dryers are typically seen as easier to install than other types of dryers, more energy efficient, and gentler on loads. Although, they do tend to be pricier to buy.
A vented dryer heats up air inside the machine, before moving it into the drum that holds the clothes. Moisture is then funnelled through a vent or hose that’s attached to a wall or window, allowing it to escape outside. Whether or not your clothes dryer needs to be vented outside depends on the type of machine you have. Dryers that need venting include vented dryers and gas-powered dryers. Alternatively, heat pump dryers, condenser dryers and washer dryer combos are designed to turn the same moisture into water.
A gas-powered dryer works similarly to a condenser dryer but uses gas to heat the tumbler, rather than electricity, and must be vented outside. However, gas models are less readily available compared to other types of clothes dryers. Rinnai and Speed Queen are the main go-to brands if you want to save energy and switch to a gas dryer.
Washer dryer combos are great if you want both a washing machine and a clothes dryer in one to save space. They’re usually a hybrid between a front loader and condenser dryer. You can use a washer dryer combo like a normal washing machine, with the added option to also dry a load in one cycle.
Dryer capacity (the number of items that can fit in your dryer) is an important factor to consider – not just because of the inconvenience of having to use your dryer multiple times if it isn’t big enough to dry all of your clothes at once, but also due to the impact on your energy bills of having to do so! There is also a potential safety issue at hand here, because regularly overloading your dryer will force its motor to work extra hard, which could lead to overheating.
The capacity of clothes dryers is measured in weight (of dry clothes), with most models providing a capacity of between 5kg and 9kg. But since you’re unlikely to know how much your dry clothes weigh, here’s a general guide based on household size.
Dryer Capacity | Household Size |
---|---|
<5kg | 1-2 people |
5kg – 7kg | 3-4 people |
>7kg | >4 people |
General Guide Only
It’s probably wise to err on the side of bigger if you’re not sure what size capacity you will need, as it’s likely going to be cheaper to run a large dryer once than a smaller dryer twice. But be sure to keep in mind the allocated space in your laundry room though!
Clothes dryers range in costs depending on type of dryer, capacity, features and brand, but you can pick up a dryer for as little as $500, while some models can set you back well over $2,000. As a result, it’s best to look into how much you’ll likely use your clothes dryer, how much washing you need to get through, and what features might be useful or unnecessary to ensure you get the best option for your needs, and your budget.
Clothes and fabrics can shrink in the dryer if they are over-exposed to heat, with the fibres becoming overdried and changing shape, which causes shrinkage. As a result, it’s best to look at the fabric-care instructions on the tag of your clothing piece, along with knowing what settings your clothes dryer has to avoid any wardrobe malfunctions.
Learn more about how to get the most from your laundry with our expert guides:
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Site Editor, Dean Heckscher. He’s our resident expert on all things automotive, health & fitness, streaming and more. Dean is also one of Canstar Blue’s customer research report producers, helping to turn complicated subjects into easily-digestible information for our readers. He’s passionate about helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services.
Samantha Howse is Canstar Blue’s Consumer Research Specialist, coordinating the consumer research program behind our customer satisfaction awards across Canstar and Canstar Blue in Australia and New Zealand. Sam has earned a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from Griffith University and, with seven years in market research and 2 years in marketing, she is experienced in survey design, implementation and analysis, coupled with an understanding of marketing principles and best practice.
Here are the previous winners of Canstar Blue’s clothes dryers review:
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