Best vented tumble dryers: budget-friendly options, tried and tested
Looking for a budget-friendly tumble dryer that can blast through your family’s laundry? While they’re not the cheapest appliance to run, these affordable vented designs come well-rated by Mumsnet users.
By Lucy Cotterill | Last updated Jun 18, 2024
If the high price of heat pump and condenser tumble dryers has been enough to put you off, or you want an affordable tumble dryer for occasional use in your garage, a vented tumble dryer may be worth considering.
While they cost significantly more to run than the more modern alternatives, vented tumble dryers are much cheaper to buy initially. The cycles also tend to be shorter than those on more energy-efficient heat pump tumble dryers, meaning you won’t have to wait as long for your clothes to dry.
It’s also worth noting that there is no water tank to empty as you’ll find on condenser appliances. You will therefore need to install vented tumble dryers near an external wall or window so that the warm air created during the cycle can be expelled via the hose.
To help you find the best tumble dryer for you and your family, 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. While vented designs are less common now, we've made every effort to keep this guide up-to-date, cost-effective and honest, reflecting current availability.
Still undecided? Check out our guides to the best condenser tumble dryers, the best budget tumble dryers and best heat pump tumble dryers to help you select the best tumble dryer for your family.
Best vented tumble dryers - editor's pick
"Just select a high or low temperature and turn the dial for drying time."
Indesit I1D80WUK 8KG
Vented Tumble Dryer
"It lives in my garage happily so no need for the vent to be installed."
Candy CSE V9LF-80 9KG
Vented Tumble Dryer
"Simple and cheap."
HOTPOINT H1 D80W UK 8kg
Vented Tumble Dryer
Simple turn-and-go dial for ease of use
Spacious 8kg drum capacity
Refresh cycle to freshen up clothes
Easy clean purse filter
Timed drying programmes
No auto-drying sensors or specialist programmes
Metal hose is best suited to wall venting than placing through windows
Price on writing: £279 | Energy rating: C | Programmes: 3 | Dimensions: H85 x W59.5 x D61cm
The intuitive ‘turn and go’ feature on this Indesit vented tumble dryer couldn’t be easier to use - simply add the contents to the spacious 8kg drum and turn the dial to the desired duration, using the recommended timescales on the appliance as a guide.
There are no auto sensors on this tumble dryer, so while you do need to check your washing manually, drying speeds are relatively quick and efficient - especially when compared to cooler eco heat pump cycles.
We love the Refresh cycle - ideal for freshening up PE kit before Monday morning. Thanks to the handy purse filter that catches fluff and lint during the cycle, it's also relatively simple to maintain. It is worth noting however that the venting hose is made from metal, so perhaps best suited to wall venting than draping through your window.
Related: The best washing machines for families
Large 9kg drum capacity
Delay timer to plan around your schedule
Choice of 15 programmes including delicates and duvets
Dries quickly
Flexible hose
Items can ball up and crease if left in the drum too long
The solid door means you can’t see the contents during the cycle
Price on writing: £269 | Energy rating: C | Programmes: 15 | Dimensions: H85 x W60 x D60cm
With a generous 9kg drum, this Candy vented tumble dryer can easily cater for the entire family’s laundry, drying your clothing quickly and evenly.
As well as the useful delay timer to help plan around your schedule, you can also select specialist programmes to care for more delicate clothing such as wool and sportswear. We love the handy refresh cycle - a useful feature when removing clothes from storage.
The flexible venting hose makes this option easy to use and install, but the solid door front means you can’t see the contents inside - so you may find yourself checking more regularly as a result.
Related: The best dehumidifiers for drying clothes
Easy-to-clean filter
Range of 16 programmes
Useful refresh cycle
Optimal Temperature control to save money
Lower running costs on an equivalent-priced condenser tumble dryer
Price on writing: £299 | Energy rating: C | Programmes: 16 | Dimensions: H85 x W59.5 x D67cm
While vented tumble dryers cost more to run, the Hotpoint H1 puts you more in control of your energy bills thanks to the Optimal Temperature control which allows you to choose the temperature of your cycles. By opting for cooler cycles wherever possible, you can keep energy consumption down and use your tumble dryer far more efficiently.
There are 16 programmes on this dryer, so you can tailor the cycle to the contents, including a useful refresh cycle for removing odours or musty smells left from storing over the winter. The 8kg drum is ideal for most medium households, however, you could invest a little more and opt for a condenser dryer if you want to secure a cheaper long-term investment.
Read next: The best budget washing machines under £500
Sensor dry features
Large 10kg drum capacity
NFC feature can connect to your smartphone
Delay timer
No reverse action or anti-crease function
Price on writing: £280 | Energy rating: C | Programmes: 14 | Dimensions: H85 x W60 x D60cm
If you're looking to accommodate the entire contents of your laundry basket, even with a larger family, this 10kg Hoover vented tumble dryer should be at the top of your list. With a large porthole door and spacious drum, it's easy to load even with larger items such as bed linen and blankets.
Clever sensors measure the amount of moisture and humidity left in the drum, stopping the cycle automatically when the clothes are dry. Not only can this protect your clothing from wear and tear, but saves money on your energy bills too.
We love the anti allergy programme, helping remove allergens such as pollen, pet hair and dust mites which can exacerbate medical conditions such as eczema and asthma. There’s no reverse action on this appliance, however, so clothing may still need a quick run over with your iron.
Read next: The best washer dryers, tried and tested
What is a vented tumble dryer?
Less commonly sold these days due to their less energy-efficient designs, vented tumble dryers use a connected hose to ‘vent’ the moisture and steam out of the drum during the cycle. The venting hose needs to be installed against an outside wall or vented through a window to the outdoors, which limits installation to certain rooms in your home.
Why would you choose a vented tumble dryer over a condenser or heat pump model?
Whilst they cost considerably more to run and result in higher energy bills, vented tumble dryers are simple to use, drying evenly and quickly with much faster cycles than condenser or heat pump tumble dryers - a big bonus if you’re short on time.
They are also much more affordable to buy, generally retailing at under £300.
Read next: The best integrated washer dryers and the best integrated tumble dryers for families
What’s the best vented tumble dryer to buy?
The Indesit I1D80WUK 8Kg Vented Tumble Dryer is our pick of the best vented tumble dryer you can buy today. With a simple, intuitive design, spacious drum and quick drying cycles, it makes an affordable and efficient choice for your garage or utility room and a great upgrade from your rotary dryer.
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 vented 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 vented 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.