best small tumble dryer

Best Small Tumble Dryers of 2023

Last Updated on January 17, 2023

Top 6 Best Small Tumble Dryers

  1. Cookology CMVD25WH Mini Vented (Editor’s Choice)
  2. Montpellier MTD30P Freestanding (Luxury Choice)
  3. Montpellier MSD2800W Freestanding (Best Value)
  4. Russell Hobbs RH3VTD800B Compact (Best With 3 Heat Settings)
  5. Teknix TKDV25B (Best Compact)
  6. electriQ GYJ28-88 (Best Tabletop)

Tumble dryers can be lifesavers, especially over winter or if you live in a house or an apartment without an outdoor area for clothes drying. If your life would be easier with a tumble dryer, but you don’t have the space for one, getting a small tumble dryer is the answer!

Here’s how to find the best small tumble dryer for your home with our selection of top-rated small dryers and a buyer’s guide.

How We Compared Small Tumble Dryers

To find the best small tumble dryers, we focused on multiple factors, including the following:

  • Capacity 
  • Drying programs
  • Timer duration
  • Noise level
  • Ease of use

Our editorial team examined and analysed hundreds of appliances to select the best options suitable for all kinds of needs. After planning comparison points and evaluating customer reviews, we compiled the following list.

Have a look here to find out more about our process.

Small Tumble Dryer Reviews

Cookology CMVD25WH Mini Vented (Editor’s Choice)

The Cookology CMVD25WH is our overall favourite small tumble dryer and Editor’s Choice thanks to its range of placement and drying options and excellent all-around performance. 

Due to its 2.5kg rated capacity, this tumble dryer can take quite a few clothing items, which is ideal for one or two-person households. With four drying settings, it is very easy to use. Simply choose from Air-dry, Cool, Warm or Hot and set the 200-minute timer to dry your washing. What’s more, it has an anti-wrinkle feature that is quite handy if you have no time to iron clothes.

Ideal for homes that are short on space, this small dryer can be placed on your kitchen counter, beneath it, or wall-mounted, thanks to the included wall fixtures. Available in three colours – silver, black or white, this is also a really good looking model that runs quietly at just 57dB.

On the downside, the filter could be improved as it may be a little flimsy. Like most compact dryers, you may also find that it takes a while to dry several items at once. 

Pros:

  • 2.5kg rated capacity
  • Four drying settings with anti-wrinkle feature
  • Available in three colours
  • Install on a countertop or wall mount
  • 57dB noise level

Cons:

  • The filter could be improved
  • It may take some time to dry several items

Montpellier MTD30P Freestanding (Luxury Choice)

Our luxury choice tumble dryer is the highly popular Montpellier MTD30P, one of the best tumble dryers for flats on the market, and we think it’s well worth checking out. 

Thanks to its 3kg load capacity, this small dryer can dry a larger load than the other vented dryers in our small tumble dryer reviews. It can be installed on top of your washing machine, in a cupboard or even wall-mounted, making it one of the best tumble dryers for flats.

Easy to use, this small dryer by Montpellier features a clear digital display with four drying programs and a choice of high or low heat settings. This vented tumble dryer gets to work drying your clothes quickly and can also be used for your towels and bed linen. 

Bear in mind that this small tumble dryer can be a little noisy at 65dB compared to other models in our dryer reviews that are, for the main part, rated under 60dB. Also, at 120 minutes, the timer could be a bit longer, with most other models averaging around 200 minutes.

Pros:

  • Generous 3kg load capacity
  • High/low heat settings
  • Digital display
  • Choice of four programs
  • Wall mountable

Cons:

  • May be noisy
  • The timer could be longer

Montpellier MSD2800W Freestanding (Best Value)

Are you looking for a reliable and energy-efficient dryer for your household laundry? The Montpellier Gravity Spin Dryer MSD2800W doesn’t fully dry your clothes itself, but it does help them to dry a lot faster by removing excess water.

What’s more, as it does not create any heat, it is much more energy-efficient compared to other small models. Thanks to its one-handed safety switch, it is very secure and easy to operate. With a 3kg limit, it has more drying capacity than standard small models.

This small dryer can spin up to 2800 RPM, wringing all excess moisture from your laundry out into a container that you place at the front under the drainage spout. Lightweight at 9kg and easy to move, if you are looking for a reliable device to dry your clothes indoors, this space-saving dryer could be what you’re looking for. It’s also a great alternative to traditional small tumble dryers. 

Unfortunately, the drum on this model may be a little narrow for some bulky clothing items. Also, if you are looking for a model for cupboard-dry clothes, this machine will not fulfil your needs. You’ll still require a washing line or clothes horse to get your clothes fully dry.

Pros:

  • 3kg capacity
  • Significantly reduces drying time
  • Fast 2800rpm spin
  • Safety switch
  • Easy to move around

Cons:

  • The drum could be wider
  • It may be less suitable if you need your clothes fully dry

Russell Hobbs RH3VTD800B Compact (Best With 3 Heat Settings)

Take extra care of your clothes when drying them with the Russell Hobbs RH3VTD800B, our best tumble dryer with three heat settings choices.

This small vented tumble dryer has a sizeable 2.5kg capacity, with enough room to accommodate up to 12 T-shirts. Designed for small homes, this mini tumble dryer easily fits any kitchen worktop or can even be wall-mounted to save floor space. 

Choose from three heats settings, cool, warm or hot, to suit your clothes’ fabric and your load size. The 200-minute timer ensures that you can quickly and easily set your laundry to dry with plenty of time. Complete with an easy-to-clean lint filter, this space-saving tumble dryer by Russell Hobbs is a great choice for any home or accommodation that does not have enough space for a regular-sized dryer.

On the downside, if you are not planning on leaving this small dryer machine in one place, bear in mind that it can be a little tricky to move out and put it back as the handles are not very deep. Also, the usage instructions could be improved. 

Pros:

  • 2.5kg capacity
  • Three heat settings
  • 200-minute timer
  • Easy-to-clean filter
  • Wall mountable

Cons:

  • Handles could be deeper
  • Instructions could be improved

Teknix TKDV25B (Best Compact)

If you have next to no free space but need a good tumble dryer, make sure that you take a look at the Teknix TKDV25B. It is our best compact design pick that’s specially made for small spaces. Measuring just 49cm wide, you can also mount this narrow tumble dryer on your kitchen wall to save even more space.

Despite its miniature tumble dryer appearance, this model has a standard 2.5kg capacity, putting it on a par with slightly larger models. This vented tumble dryer features three programs and two heat settings, making it quick and easy to use.

Thanks to its 200-minute timer, you can run it for longer on a lower heat to safely dry more delicate fabrics. You can also leave larger loads on for longer at high heat to ensure your clothes are dry and wrinkle-free. With a low 57dB noise level, this compact tumble dryer also makes a good choice for shared accommodation and use in apartment buildings

Unfortunately, this compact tumble dryer may be a little underpowered for heavy-duty laundry, which may take quite a while to get a full load of clothes completely dry. However, its overall performance is comparable with most similar dryers. 

Pros:

  • 2.5kg capacity
  • Three programs
  • 200-minute timer
  • Two heat settings
  • 57dB noise level

Cons:

  • It may be a little underpowered
  • It could take a while for a full load to dry

electriQ GYJ28-88 (Best Tabletop)

If you are looking for the best tabletop dryer for small spaces, we recommend taking a closer look at the GYJ28-88 by electriQ – our best tabletop pick. 

Ideal for small kitchens in homes without laundry rooms, this vented dryer can be installed on top of your worktop, underneath it, or even wall mounted. It has a relatively good 2.5kg load capacity, putting it on par with most other mini dryers. 

Complete with four drying programs – cool, air-dry, warm or hot, and a 200-minute timer with easy dial control, this mini dryer has all the features you need to quickly and easily dry your laundry. With a partial load drying time of just 88 minutes, a maximum noise level of 57dB and a weight of 17kg, this handy little vented dryer will fulfil your needs. 

Just bear in mind that full loads can take quite a while to dry fully in this compact dryer. Also, the dimensions given may not have been correctly updated. So if your available space is very short, you may want to double-check the exact measurements of this small size tumble dryer directly with the manufacturer.

Pros:

  • 2.5kg rated drum capacity
  • Easy dial control
  • Four drying programs
  • Wall mountable
  • 57dB noise level

Cons:

  • It may take a while for full loads
  • Dimensions may not be correct

What Are the Different Types of Tumble Dryers?

Wondering which type of tumble dryer to choose? Here’s our guide to the different types of tumble dryers you can find on the market.

Condenser Tumble Dryers

A compact condenser tumble dryer removes moisture from your clothes and laundry, storing it in a removable tank. This means you don’t need to vent your condenser tumble dryer to outdoors, but you will have to empty the tank after use. This makes condenser dryers a good choice if your laundry room doesn’t have an exterior wall.

Some energy-saving condenser tumble dryers feature sensor technology, switching off automatically when your clothes are dry to save you money on your electricity bills. 

Heat Pump Tumble Dryers

A heat pump tumble dryer is a highly energy-efficient type of tumble dryer that recycles the heat used to dry your laundry. However, this type of tumble dryer takes much longer than other types of dryers, even if it is cheaper to run for a comparable amount of time. 

Vented Tumble Dryers

Vented tumble dryers are the most popular but the least energy-efficient of tumble dryers. You should enlist the help of a professional to install your vented tumble dryer to ensure that it is correctly vented to the exterior of your home. Otherwise, you can purchase an indoor tumble dryer venting kit for vented dryers or a condenser box. Alternatively, you could vent your machine out of your utility room window with a simple vent hose.  

Small Tumble Dryers Buying Guide

Whether you’re settling for the smallest condenser tumble dryer or a compact vented dryer, here’s what you should be looking out for when choosing your new appliance. 

Load Capacity

a woman reaching for her laundry

While a standard washing machine and tumble drier will have a capacity of around 7kg, understandably, compact tumble dryers have much smaller rated capacities. Standard compact mini tumble dryers range from 2.5-3kg in load capacity. 

While this won’t be enough to dry a whole load of washing straight from your machine, it is generally enough to dry approximately 12 T-shirts in one go. Small tumble dryers are less suitable for large families, although they can still be useful for quickly drying small essentials.

Small tumble dryers are normally recommended for single households and couples or very small families, given their small load capacity. 

Dimensions

Before you purchase small dryers for clothes, make sure that you plan where you will install them. Whether you want to set it up on your worktop, over your washing machine, under your counter or mounted on your wall, you must measure up all compact spaces before you buy. 

Most small tumble dryers have fairly similar dimensions, and some are just a little bigger than dehumidifiers. They typically measure around 58cm high, with a width of around 49cm and a depth of approximately 41cm. However, there can be several centimetres of difference between models. Also, some may be narrower and make up for this difference with extra width or height.

Heat Settings

Unless it is a gravity spin dryer, your mini tumble dryer should have at least two heat settings – high and low. Models with three heat settings provide greater versatility, allowing you to dry larger loads on medium heat that may be too heat-sensitive to put on high.  

Programmes

Your small dryer is also likely to have some set programs. These are easy ways to quickly get your tumble dryer up and running. Also, as these programs have been specifically developed to get the best use out of your tumble dryer, they are generally designed to reflect what is likely to become your most-used settings.

Popular small dryer programs include a long, hot drying cycle for cotton and large loads. There’s also an air-dry setting for refreshing clothes that have been stored for long periods. A short cool setting is for sensitive fabrics, and a medium-length warm setting is for partial loads.

Timer

Make sure that you choose a small dryer with a good, long-timer of at least 200 minutes. While you might not want to run every load for the full 200 minutes, it’s nice to have the option when you are drying towels or a large load of clothes. Otherwise, if your timer isn’t long enough, you may have to put your mini dryer back on for longer when you get home.

Size Does Matter

Small dryers are ideal for any small home, allowing you to quickly and easily dry your laundry without cluttering up your home with wet clothes and unsightly clothes horses. If you’re still making up your mind about which model to go for, we strongly recommend looking at our Editor’s Choice and overall favourite, the Cookology CMVD25WH Small Tumble Dryer.

With its 2.5kg load capacity, you can easily install this small vented tumble dryer directly on your counter or tabletop. It can even be wall-mounted. With four drying settings and a 200-minute timer, this tumble dryer is also quite easy to use. Available in three colours, it’s sure to look the part wherever you choose to install it. Plus, with a noise level of just 57dB, it’s very quiet to run, making it the best small tumble dryer on the market.

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