What Is the Best Small Tumble Dryer?
Narrow dryers are an obvious choice when it comes to utilising the available space in an apartment or smaller home.
There are lots of options out there to decide from when it comes to choosing small tumble dryers for flats.
But it can be time-consuming to work out which right specifications, such as load capacity, are the right choice.
Nobody wants to fork out on a new tumble dryer only to realise its way too small for your household, or too loud to use outside of the 9-5 hours.
That’s why here at Clean and Tidy Living we’ve researched small dryers for apartments, to pick out the best of the bunch.
Since everybody has different requirements and preferences, we’ve varied our top choices and sorted them into different categories.
As well as our top recommendations for a small clothes dryer, we’ve also put together a tumble dryer buying guide, which you’ll find at the bottom of this post.
This buying guide includes the different considerations necessary for purchasing a new dryer, and why they’re important.
If you’re in a rush, here are our Top 5 Small Tumble Dryers for Flats:
- Candy Smart CSC8DF 8Kg Condenser Tumble Dryer – Best Condenser Dryer
- Technix TKDV25W Compact Tumble Dryer (2.5KG) – Best Compact Dryer
- ZANUSSI ZWD91683NW Washer Dryer – Best Small Washer and Dryer for Small Spaces
- Indesit Ecotime Idv75 Vented Tumble Dryer – White – Best Small Vented Tumble Dryer
- Cookology Mini Tabletop Compact Tumble Dryer (2.5kg) – Best Portable Dryer for Apartment
Clean and Tidy Living Top 5 Small Tumble Dryers for Flats
1. Candy Smart CSC8DF 8Kg Condenser Tumble Dryer – Best Condenser Dryer
Small condenser tumble dryers are our top choice for spatially-challenged flats and homes.
They’re easy to move, use and maintain without the need for integration or vents.
If you’re looking for a mini tumble dryer, this Candy machine probably isn’t right for you. This Candy Smart CSC8DF is actually the largest of our 5 options.
It’s made the top spot because of the amount it fits in in comparison to the size of the machine.
There are loads of different cycles to suit whatever is being washed, and it has a clean and simplistic design.
| Holds 8kg of wet clothes without taking up too much room inside of a flat. Condenser dryers can go anywhere with no need to be by a wall or window. |
Type: Condenser, Freestanding
Dimensions: 850mm x 596mm x 600mm; 33kg
Load Capacity: 8kg
Energy Rating: B
Pros
Cons
After researching and reviewing the Candy Smart CSC8DF, we think it’s the best out there for flats that have enough room to fit a stand-alone appliance alongside a washing machine.
However, this Candy dryer would not be suitable for a household who are really pushed for space. In which case we would recommend a washer-dryer combo, or a mini dryer like the 2.5kg options reviewed below.
Click the button below to find out more about the Candy Smart CSC8DF, including more specifications and customer reviews.
2. Technix TKDV25W Compact Tumble Dryer (2.5KG) – Best Compact Dryer
This Technix dryer is about the same size as a bedside table. Since it’s designed to be compact, it does only dry about 2.5kg of laundry.
2.5kg of wet clothes would be roughly 2 hoodies or a load of pants and socks.
Depending on your desired use of a small tumble dryer, 2.5kg might be enough for your household.
This dryer is lightweight so it can easily be moved around the flat and put away when not in use.
There are a good amount of settings that are easy to understand.
| A lightweight, well-made mini tumble dryer ideal for dorm rooms or small flats that don’t require too much drying to be done. |
Type: Vented, Freestanding
Dimensions: 41.5 x 49 x 58.5 cm; 17kg
Load Capacity: 2.5kg
Energy Rating: C
Pros
Cons
After researching and reviewing the Technix TKDV25W, we think it’s the best out there for one person households living in flats or for students living in a dormitory or shared house.
Mini tumble dryers are also often used by people living on boats or in motorhomes!
2.5kg is a small load capacity and may not be enough for a medium sized household. However if you’re looking for a machine to supplement line-drying or a drying rack, then this dryer will work well without taking up too much space.
Click the button below to find out more about the Technix TKDV25W, including more specifications and customer reviews.
3. ZANUSSI ZWD91683NW Washer Dryer – Best Small Washer and Dryer for Small Spaces
A compact washer and dryer combination is an obvious choice for renters and landlords. The combination of the two appliances can be a big cost, space and time saver.
However, these machines have a bad reputation for lacking in performance when it comes to actually drying clothes.
For that reason, we try to steer away from the cheaper models as we find they create a lot of heat inside the dryer which produces very hot steam, which can shrink or damage wet clothes.
This long lasting washer dryer gently washes and drys clothes with clever sensors that adjust wash and dry time depending on the wetness of clothes.
| Save space with a combo washer dryer, but also save on household bills by reducing your energy and water consumption with the smart AutoAdjust sensor feature. |
Type: Freestanding condenser washer dryer
Dimensions: 850 x 600 x 605 mm, 81 kg
Load Capacity: 9kg washing; 6kg drying
Energy Rating: A
Pros
Cons
After researching and reviewing the ZANUSSI ZWD91683NW, we think it’s the best out there for a household looking to invest in a washing machine and small tumble dryer and are considering a washer-dryer combo.
We wouldn’t recommend this washer dryer to somebody looking for a small machine whilst renting a flat, as it’s an investment purchase and not very portable.
Click the button below to find out more about the ZANUSSI ZWD91683NW, including more specifications and customer reviews.
4. Indesit Ecotime Idv75 Vented Tumble Dryer – White – Best Small Vented Tumble Dryer
Also available in Silver: INDESIT Ecotime IDV75S Vented Tumble Dryer – Silver
Overall we think the INDESIT Ecotime DV75 is the best vented tumble dryer for small flats in the UK.
This Indesit Ecotime IDV75 Vented Tumble Dryer comes with a vent hose and offers versatile and thorough drying options.
These drying options include 12 programmes including cycles for cotton, synthetics, acrylics, and refresh to optimise the drying style for each load and to be gentler with delicate fabrics.
The 7kg may be too small for medium to large households, depending on how often you like to use your tumble dryer.
For small flats with households of 1-2 people, 7kg should be plenty of capacity even for sheet and towel washing.
| Best vented tumble dryer for small to medium families with little space for a tumble dryer in a flat or shared house. |
Type: Vented, Freestanding
Capacity: 7kg
Dimensions: 850mm x 595mm x 584mm; 34.6 kilograms
Energy Rating: B
Pros
Cons
Overall after researching and reviewing this INDESIT Ecotime IDV75 we think its the best value for money and has the highest performance out of our reviewed vented tumble dryers.
We recommend this vented dryer for small to medium families that don’t have a lot of space inside a home or flat.
We wouldn’t recommend this tumble dryer for larger households as 7kg may not be enough depending on how often drying clothes is required.
For more details on the INDESIT Ecotime IDV75, click on the button below.
5. Cookology Mini Tabletop Compact Tumble Dryer (2.5kg) – Best Portable Dryer for Apartment
If you thought you didn’t have space for a tumble dryer in your home, think again.
The Cookology CMVD25BK is a mini tumble dryer that was designed to fit on your worktop and can even be mounted on your kitchen wall freeing up valuable space.
This Cookology compact dryer is favoured by boat dwellers and caravaners, because of its portable and lightweight characteristics.
This tabletop dryer is vented, which means you connect a ducting pipe to the outlet on the back to take the air outside, either through a hole in your wall, or by opening a window.
| This tabletop vented dryer can easily be moved around for versatile use in a small flat or shared house. The 2.5kg capacity is small but enough for one person or for minimal use alongside a drying rack or washing line. |
Type: Vented, Freestanding
Dimensions: 530x430x660mm; 19kg
Load Capacity: 2.5kg
Energy Rating: C
Pros
Cons
After researching and reviewing the Cookology Mini Tabletop, we think it’s the best out there for a household who don’t think they have room for a tumble dryer.
This compact dryer can sit on top of a chest of drawers, table or worktop and performs well as long as the dryer isn’t overloaded. You can even fix it to the wall (with permission from a landlord) so it doesn’t take up surface space.
Click the button below to find out more about the Cookology Mini Tabletop, including more specifications, colour options and customer reviews.
Small Tumble Dryers for Flats Buying Guide
This short guide will go through some of the important considerations to make when choosing a tumble dryer.
The factors we’ve chosen are particularly significant when choosing a small tumble dryer for a flat, as there are some things that wouldn’t be as big of an issue in a home.
For example, the noise level of a machine is more important in a 3rd floor flat than in a home’s cellar or garage.
Condenser Dryer vs. Vented Dryer
Condenser Dryer Pros and Cons
Condenser dryers have water tanks installed that collect all the excess moisture that’s drawn out of clothes during the drying cycle. These require emptying after each use.
If you’re looking for a condenser, check out Currys tumble dryers here: Curry’s Top Condenser Dryers
Pros:
No need to worry about the ventilation hose needing to reach outside.
Easier to install and conceal as part of a unit so condenser dryers can be installed anywhere in the house.
Cons: They tend to be more expensive and have a slightly higher energy rating than a vented dryer.
Vented Dryer Pros and Cons
Vented dryers have a pipe that takes the evaporated water and releases it outside. The pipe can be installed through a hole in the wall or it can be placed outside of a window or door when in use.
Check out Curry’s range of condenser tumble dryer’s here: Curry’s Top Vented Dryers
Pros: Since there is no water stored in the dryer like in a condenser, the tumble dryer can be stored in colder areas like outbuildings and garages, as there’s no risk of the water freezing.
Since this post is about flats, it’s unlikely dryers will be stored in an outhouse building so there’s no real advantage apart from an occasional cost and energy saving.
Cons: Require considering where the vent pipe will go, which can be an extra cost and doesn’t look as smart as a self-contained condenser dryer.
Read more about vented dryers in our post What’s The Best Tumble Dryer For A Cold Garage UK?
Are Washer Dryers Good?
A washer-dryer is a 2-in-1 appliance that claims to perform as both a washing machine and tumble dryer in one. This is potentially a great cost, time and space saver.
Unfortunately, washer dryers tend to lack in the drying area and cause people to have to use even more room on manually drying clothes on large racks.
Unless you have a large budget to invest in a high-performance washer-dryer, then we don’t think there is much of a benefit from these machines.
Some people even end up with even more problems such as shrunk, over-heated clothing.
However, if there is only room for one appliance then buying a washer-dryer is better than no dryer at all.
Dimensions and Weight
The dimensions and weight of the machine will affect where and how you can move your tumble dryer.
In flats, especially in the UK, space is notoriously limited.
Some mini tumble dryers are so small they can even be wall-mounted, or placed on top of a counter for a real space-saving machine.
The weight is less important as most tumble dryers, regardless of size, will be around 20-35kg which is heavy but not impossible to move around.
However, if you’re on a top floor flat with no lift, then the weight might be a factor you’ll want to consider.
Noise
You definitely don’t want your brand new tumble dryer to cause falling outs with your neighbours and make you reluctant to use it.
When buying a new dryer for your flat, keep an eye out for ‘anti-vibration’ technology and thick insulation which blocks some of the sounds.
For additional quietening power, invest in some anti-vibration pads and mats like this set of 4 noise-dampening pads and an anti-vibration mat on Amazon.
What Are the Best Small Tumble Dryers for Flats in the UK – Final Thoughts
Whatever spare space there is inside a flat or shared house, there’s sure to be a tumble dryer that will fit.
Even if there’s only room for a mini 2.5kg tumble dryer, that’s still more drying capacity than no dryer at all.
At Clean and Tidy Living we try and provide options to meet a range of different needs and requirements.
We hope that in our 5 recommendations you’ve managed to find something that works for you, or that you now know where and what to look for.
Buying a new appliance can be a time-consuming process and there’s still a risk that there will be performance or space issues.
Hopefully, our advice and reviews have helped to clarify some of your concerns and you’re now more confident in buying small tumble dryers for flats.
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