Best Portable Washing Machines UK: 7 Options Compared
- Nyheter
Compare portable washing machines in the UK by price, capacity and format, including twin-tub, foldable, manual and fully automatic options.
Our best overall pick for a frequently used household dryer is the Bosch Series 6 WQG24502GB. It combines a 9kg load capacity with A+++ heat-pump technology and is listed by AO at £399. The recommendation is based on its combination of heat-pump efficiency, capacity and mid-range price, rather than a claim that it is the independently proven best model in every category.
A heat-pump tumble dryer recirculates heat rather than sending warm air outside. Which? says heat-pump models typically use less than half the energy of vented or standard condenser dryers. They cost more initially and generally dry at lower temperatures, so programmes can take longer. For regular drying, however, the lower energy use makes heat pump the strongest type to start with.
Here is the shortlist, ordered by the balance of efficiency, capacity and listed price. Prices were checked on 9 September 2026 and may change.
| Rank | Model | Type and capacity | Listed price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bosch Series 6 WQG24502GB | Heat pump, 9kg | £399 | Best overall |
| 2 | Hotpoint FastDry C HD 94M WBS UK | Heat pump, 9kg | £399 | A 9kg efficient alternative |
| 3 | Samsung Series 5 DV90CGC0A0AE | Heat pump, 9kg | £349 | A lower-priced 9kg heat pump |
| 4 | electriQ 9kg heat pump tumble dryer | Heat pump, 9kg | £299.97 | Heat-pump value |
| 5 | Beko DTLCE80051W | Condenser, 8kg | £279 | A cheaper condenser dryer |
| 6 | Candy Smart CSEV9DF-80 | Vented, 9kg | £269 | A low upfront price |
| 7 | Amica ADV7CLCW | Vented, 7kg | £199 | The lowest listed purchase price |
The Bosch, Hotpoint and Samsung prices come from AO. The electriQ, Beko, Candy and Amica prices come from Appliances Direct’s tumble-dryer listings.
Choose the Bosch Series 6 WQG24502GB for an all-round heat-pump option. Its 9kg capacity, A+++ rating and £399 listed price put it ahead of the more expensive models in this selection. The Samsung Series 5 DV90CGC0A0AE is the lower-priced 9kg alternative at £349, while the electriQ 9kg A++ model is the cheapest heat-pump option listed here at £299.97.
Heat pumps are particularly relevant when energy use matters. UK government consultation material gives average annual energy use of 225kWh for heat-pump dryers, compared with 564kWh for condenser dryers. Actual energy use varies with the programme and number of loads. Which? reports that good heat-pump tumble dryers can cost around £350, but are more likely to cost around £500 or more, with typical annual running costs in its tests of about £54.
The Bosch Series 4 WTH85226GB is an 8kg A++ heat-pump model listed by AO at £429. It provides another Bosch option, but its listed price is higher than the 9kg Series 6 model in the table.
The Beko DTLCE80051W is the budget condenser option here. Appliances Direct lists it at £279 with an 8kg capacity. A condenser dryer collects moisture from the air in a container and does not require an external vent, which distinguishes it from a vented model.
The 9kg Hotpoint CHDC92WWGDUK is another condenser option, listed at £299. It offers 1kg more capacity than the Beko for £20 more at the listed prices. The trade-off is higher average energy use than a heat pump: the government’s figures put condenser dryers at 564kWh per year, compared with 225kWh for heat-pump dryers.
For shoppers asking which is the best condenser tumble dryer, the Beko is the clearer value choice in this group, while the Hotpoint is the capacity-led alternative. Neither should be treated as the lowest-running-cost option.
The Candy Smart CSEV9DF-80 is the strongest low-price vented option in this selection. It has a 9kg drum and is listed at £269. A vented dryer expels warm, damp air through a hose to the outside, so it needs a suitable external vent route.
The Amica ADV7CLCW is cheaper at £199 and has a 7kg capacity. It is the lowest-priced model in the table. The main reason to choose a vented dryer is the lower purchase price; its external venting requirement and generally higher energy use make it a different proposition from a heat pump.
The best budget buy depends on the technology you want. For a heat-pump tumble dryer under £300, the electriQ 9kg A++ model is listed at £299.97. For a condenser dryer under £300, the Beko DTLCE80051W is listed at £279. For the lowest purchase price overall, the Amica ADV7CLCW is £199, but it is a 7kg vented machine.
The Samsung Series 5 at £349 is a lower-priced 9kg heat-pump alternative to the Bosch. Paying more for a heat pump is most defensible when the machine will be used regularly, because the technology generally uses less energy than vented and conventional condenser models.
Compare type, capacity, efficiency and drying controls before choosing a model.
They are being targeted by proposed UK efficiency standards because conventional condenser dryers use more energy than heat-pump models. The proposals would effectively phase out less efficient gas-fired, air-vented and conventional condenser dryers while encouraging heat-pump technology. The government’s proposed requirements include an Energy Efficiency Index threshold of 85 and a minimum condensation efficiency of 80% for condenser dryers.
This is a proposed policy direction, not a statement that every existing condenser or vented dryer is already illegal. The government response describes a phase-out of inefficient models, while Mumsnet reported that vented and conventional condenser dryers had not yet been banned in Great Britain and that no confirmed phase-out date had been announced.
For brand-level reliability, Bosch is the clearest answer in the available survey evidence: Expert Reviews’ 2026 consumer survey named Bosch the most reliable laundry brand, with 97% of Bosch owners rating the brand as reliable. That result does not establish that one particular Bosch tumble-dryer model has the fewest faults.
Which? surveyed 2,692 tumble dryers in July 2025 using fault rate, time to first fault and the impact of faults. Its most common reported problems included unexplained breakdowns at 12% of faults and sensor or poor-drying problems at 7%.
Martin Lewis’ practical advice is to reduce or avoid tumble-dryer use when possible because the appliance is energy-intensive. MoneySavingExpert says a tumble dryer can cost up to £1 per load and recommends an airer or outdoor drying where possible. It cites the Energy Saving Trust estimate that avoiding the dryer could save £50 a year.
For a regular user prioritising lower running costs, the Bosch Series 6 WQG24502GB is the best overall choice in this guide: a 9kg A+++ heat-pump model listed at £399. Choose the Samsung for a cheaper 9kg heat-pump option, the Beko for a condenser model, or the Candy for a lower-priced 9kg vented dryer.
