Last updated on October 16th, 2024
Choosing the right clothes dryer can significantly impact your laundry experience, especially when it comes to energy efficiency, budget, and environmental considerations. In Australia, the options range from reliable vented dryers to innovative heat pump models. Whether you opt for a reliable vented dryer, a second-hand model, or a heat pump dryer, there are options available to suit all budgets. Budget friendly vented dryers offer simplicity and ease of repair, heat pump dryers stand out for their energy efficiency and cost savings over time – and can even be had quite cheaply.
This article is not sponsored or affiliated with any brands; these are our honest views based on years of experience maintaining our own fleet of dryers.
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Best New Budget Dryer for Ventilated Spaces - Vented Timer Dryers
When it comes to budget-friendly options for ventilated spaces, the Electrolux family of timer dryers are the only choice as long as you can open a window or have a good exhaust fan. These dryers include the Simpson SDV401 and Westinghouse WDV457H3WB. Both models are renowned for their simple construction, basic mechanics, and ease of repair, making them perfect for everyday laundry needs without breaking the bank. They are the very definition of cheap and cheerful. Don’t limit yourself to only buying the two above named models, model numbers come and go all the time. The key to spotting this dryer is the distinctive grille vent on the bottom left side, with the timer on the top right.
Best Second Hand Dryer for Ventilated Spaces - Vented Sensor Dryers
If you’re on the hunt for the best clothes dryers in the second-hand market, you want the Electrolux, and Westinghouse vented sensor dryers. These are the best dryers if you’ve got a well ventilated laundry, and you don’t mind buying second hand. Electrolux have been making this dryer for nearly 30 years, with many superficial tweaks but always with the same basic design. So again as above, don’t deal in model numbers, look for the distinctive grille on the bottom left side – it’s the reliable indicator that you’re dealing with the best dryer in Australia for reliability and serviceability. Just remember that if it has that grille, you’re getting a reliable dryer that’s been around in some form or another for decades.
The current showroom models as a the time of writing include the 7kg capacity Electrolux EDV705H3WB and the Westinghouse WDV556N3WB among other variants. These dryers share the exact same basic design as the timed dryers above, only instead of a timer, they have a humidity sensor and a smart little computer to work out when the clothes are dry. This feature can save you a heap of money because the dryer stops when your clothes are dry, not at whatever time you set. But – buying these dryers new doesn’t make any sense at showroom prices, because you’re better off buying a budget heat pump as outlined in the section below.
For the second-hand buyer these sensor dryers can be great value. Second-hand shoppers don’t really value the sensor dry function compared to the timer dryer models. While the sensor dryer versions may cost hundreds of dollars more than the timer dryer versions to buy brand new, expect to pay the same or only slightly more for the sensor dryer version on the second-hand market! Used prices are generally $50 – $150 in Summer and $120 – $300 in Winter – and that’s pretty much the rule for any vented dryer.
Best Dryer on a Budget for Any Space - Budget Heatpump Dryers
For those in search of a solution that will work in any situation – minimising room heating and humidity issues – a heat pump dryer is the best solution. It’s advisable to steer clear of condenser dryers entirely. While condenser dryers may be appealing with their premium look and feel compared to a vented dryer – and at a cheaper price point than most heat pump dryers – they are much more complex than a vented dryer and significantly more prone to failure, with their only benefit being humidity control.
While heat pump dryers are slightly more complex than condenser dryers, and even more prone to failure, they are 200-300% more efficient than vented or condenser dryers, reducing power use by half or even a third to dry the same load of clothes. And because they use dry air rather than hot air to remove the moisture from clothes, they’re much gentler on your clothes extending the life of your wardrobe. They’re also less of a fire hazard as they don’t need heating elements. This justifies the added complexity of a heat pump dryer.
If you’re considering buying a name brand dryer vented or condenser dryer for less than $1000, instead consider a budget brand heat pump dryer. These 8kg capacity dryers can often be found for around $600 when on special, offering unbeatable value without compromising on performance when compared to their name brand counterparts. Heat pump dryer models from brands like Akai, Solt, Kogan, Esatto, Stirling, and Teka all fall into this category. These models will save you a small fortune over time. We recommend to never buy these dryers second-hand, or from someone claiming to be selling them as a factory second. Their complexity and lack of parts availability mean it’s important to have a manufacturer’s warranty. This is especially so as you won’t save much by purchasing these models used, they’re typically sold around $350 – $400 on the second hand market.
The significant drawback of most budget heat pump dryers is the lack of parts availability. Simple components, such as lint filters and other repair parts, are usually impossible to source. If anything goes wrong with these dryers during the warranty period, the retailer typically opts to issue a refund as they have no parts to provide. When these dryers encounter issues, it is typically more practical to replace the entire unit rather than attempt repairs. While the significant energy savings they provide can justify the initial investment, potential buyers should consider the long-term implications of limited serviceability and parts availability, and to consider whether they are comfortable contributing to a throwaway culture. Worse still these dryers use r134a refrigerant, which, unless recovered before scrapping – which very rarely occurs – contributes significantly to global warming when illegally released to atmosphere. R134a has a high global warming potential of 1430kg of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions for every kilogram released to atmosphere, with these models typically having around 150 grams. Usually we would tout any heat pump dryers as green heroes, but given the likely emission of r134a at the end of their relatively short service life, and their general throwaway nature we couldn’t recommend these dryers as ethical or environmental choices. For peace of mind, you’ll need to spend more money.
Best Dryer in Australia for the Ethical and Environmentally Minded
For those who prioritise environmental impact and sustainability, selecting the right clothes dryer goes beyond just energy efficiency. The choice of refrigerant, long-term durability, and ethical manufacturing practices are all key factors that should be considered.
The LG DVH5-08W Heat Pump Dryer
The LG DVH5-08W is the standout choice for the environmentally conscious, and with a recommended retail price of $1,299 it’s good value. With a good Shop Ethical rating and high energy efficiency, it utilizes R290 (propane) as its refrigerant, which has a low global warming potential, making it the most sustainable choice.
The Miele TWF 720 WP
Although eye wateringly expensive with a recommended retail price of $2,999 , the Miele TWF 720 WP offers the best Shop Ethical rating of any dryer brand in Australia, and is the best choice if ethical manufacturing is your concern. Unfortunately it uses R134a refrigerant, which means it’s possibly not as environmentally friendly as the LG.