Compare clothes dryers in New Zealand with Canstar Blue. Samsung, Fisher & Paykel, Haier, LG and Bosch were compared on Overall Satisfaction, Appearance & Design, Ease of Use, Performance & Reliability, Quietness and Value for Money.
See our Ratings Methodology.
Fisher & Paykel | Samsung – two famous brands tie as the No.1 choice in clothes dryers, as rated by Kiwi consumers.
Our review compares clothes dryers on customer satisfaction, so you can discover what other Kiwis think about our compared clothes dryer brands before you go ahead and make a purchase. Think of it like asking hundreds of your closest family, friends and colleagues which clothes dryers they think are best!
Canstar Blue surveyed 515 Kiwis who had bought a clothes dryer over the past five years for their feedback on the clothes dryer they bought.
Respondents rate their satisfaction with their clothes dryer brands from zero to ten, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and ten is extremely satisfied. Brand satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria:
The winning brand is the one that receives the highest Overall Satisfaction rating once all the scores from the Overall Satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.
Find more information on our Most Satisfied Customer methodology.
This year’s joint winner of Canstar Blue’s Clothes Dryers Award, Fisher & Paykel earns almost a clean sweep of top 5-Star ratings across the board, including for Overall Satisfaction, Value for Money and Performance & Reliability, which was the key attribute highlighted by the consumers in our research. The homegrown appliance brand also earns a great 4-Star rating for the Appearance & Design of its dryers.
Fisher & Paykel is a brand synonymous with appliances in NZ, and it sells an impressive range of dryers:
Nine models: 8-9kg heat-pump dryers ($2200-$6600) | 25+ settings | 7- to 10-star energy ratings
Four models: 5-7kg vented dryers ($1050-$1500) | Up to 10 settings | 2-star energy ratings
One Dryer: 8kg condensing dryer ($1600) | 13 settings | 2-star energy rating
More expensive models feature steam freshen, to quickly dewrinkle and deodorise your clothes, and smart connectivity.
Sitting in equal first on our awards table with Fisher & Paykel (although second alphabetically!), Samsung also achieves a tally of five 5-Star ratings across the six categories in our award. The South Korean appliance brand earns its single 4-Star rating for Value for Money.
Samsung’s range of nine heat-pump dryers comprises six models with 9-star energy ratings and one with a top 10-star rating.
Its cheapest heat-pump dryer has a load capacity of 8kg, features OptimalDry smart drying and wrinkle prevent and a quick 35-min dry for loads up to 1kg, all for approx $1800.
At the top of Samsung’s range, its 10kg smart dryer retails for around $3900 and boasts nine-sensor AI dry, automatic door open and smart connectivity.
Fisher & Paykel’s sister brand sits second on our awards table and earns a mix of reviews from its customers. Notably it earns great 4-Star ratings for Overall Satisfaction, Performance & Reliability and Value for Money, plus a top 5-Star rating for Ease of Use. It earns its lowest scores, 3 Stars, for the appearance of its dryers and their noise levels.
Haier was founded in China in 1984 and is the owner of Fisher & Paykel. Here in NZ, the brand is often considered a cheaper alternative to Fisher & Paykel products, delivering great design and features at an affordable price.
It sells a range of dryers similar to those offered by Fisher & Paykel:
Six models: 7-9kg heat-pump dryers ($1350-$2200) | 10-16 settings | 7- to 8-star energy ratings
Five models: 4-7kg vented dryers ($699-$999) | 7-9 settings | 2-star energy ratings
One dryer: 8kg condensing dryer ($1599) | 16 settings | 2-star energy rating
More expensive models feature steam freshen, to quickly dewrinkle and deodorise your clothes, and smart connectivity.
LG achieves a strong set of ratings, including a top 5-Star rating for Value for Money, setting it in third place on our table. Across all other categories it earns great 4-Star ratings, plus 3 Stars for Performance & Reliability.
LG is a multinational electronics company that is based in South Korea. It produces a wide range of electronic goods and home appliances. In New Zealand, it retails four heat-pump dryers, which come in 8kg, 9kg and two 10kg models. These range from approx $2500 to just over $3000.
Bosch has an impressive track record in Canstar Blue’s appliance awards: it’s a two-time winner of our Dryer Award and took out this year’s Washing Machine Award. Despite this, Bosch achieves predominantly 3-Star ratings from its customers, placing it bottom of our awards table. However, 3 Stars is by no means a measure of dissatisfaction, and Bosch achieves two great 4-Star ratings for Performance & Reliability and Quietness.
German appliance manufacturer Bosch is synonymous with quality and design, and many of its models are made in Germany. It has a range of six heat-pump dryers, across three Series: 4, 6 and 8. Prices start from around $1450 for a Series 4, 8kg dryer and reach as high as approx $3800 for a Series 8 9kg model.
All Bosch dryers feature auto-dry sensing, while more expensive models boast no-lint auto-cleaning and smart connectivity. Energy ratings vary between models, from 7 up to an impressive 10 stars, for the Series 8 8kg dryer.
Not all clothes dryer brands in the market qualify for our ratings (based on minimum survey sample size), but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth considering. Here are more brands to check out before making a purchase decision.
AEG is a German company that produces a wide range of premium brand home appliances and electronic goods.
Its range comprises eight heat-pump dryers, that range in price from approx $2200 for the AEG 8kg 6000 Series SensiDry heat-pump dryer to around $3200 for the 9kg 9000 Series 3DScan heat-pump dryer dryer, which features 3DScan technology that ensures all your clothes are dried with precision and care.
Beko is a Turkish company that is one of Europe’s biggest appliance manufacturers. Here it sells a range of nine models covering heat-pump dryers, condenser dryers and regular dryers.
All machines are backed by 5-year warranties and prices range from around $2000 for Beko’s top-of-the range 8-star energy rated 9kg hybrid heat-pump with steam and wi-fi, to around $700 for its 2-star energy rated 7kg vented dryer.
Electrolux is a Swedish appliance company. It’s a premium brand that sells a range of nine dryers: five heat-pump dryers, three vented dryers and one condenser model.
Prices start from around $725 for the Electrolux 6kg vented sensor clothes dryer up to over $2500 for its large, heat-pump models.
The Warehouse’s own brand Living & Co is known for its no-frills products and low prices. Through the big red barns, it retails just two models:
Miele is a German premium brand that manufactures a wide range of home appliances. Its range of dryers comprises seven heat-pump models.
The cheapest 7kg model has a 9-star energy rating, features Miele’s exclusive FragranceDos system for fragrant-smelling laundry and retails for $2100.
The most expensive dryer in Miele’s range is its 9kg Passion dryer, which tops out at $5800. For that money you get a 10-star energy rating and drying programs to match clothing from outdoor wear to denim.
PanasonicJapanese manufacturer Panasonic is best known for its electronic good, such as TVs and audio products. But it also produces a range of kitchen and laundry appliances.
While it makes an extensive range of washing machines and washer-dryers, it only makes two dedicated dryers, vented models with 7kg and 8kg capacities. The Panasonic 7kg vented sensor dryer retails for around $960, while the larger 8kg model goes for $1050.
WestinghouseWestinghouse is part of the Electrolux group, but as a brand has been producing quality appliances in Australia since the 1930s. Its range of dryers incorporates vented and heat-pump models:
When choosing a clothes dryer, energy efficiency is a big consideration for many consumers. Indeed, 40% of respondents in our survey say that their choice of dryer was heavily influenced by its energy-saving rating: heat-pump models score between 8 and 10 stars for energy efficiency, while conventional, cheaper models only around 2 stars.
However, when it comes satisfaction with their choice of dryer, what influences consumers the most?
Despite the various settings offered by more expensive models, clothes dryers pretty much all perform the same task and should produce the same outcome: dry clothes. So it’s unsurprising that Performance & Reliability is the biggest consideration for the consumers in our survey.
Quietness and Ease of Use are also important factors, cited by 16% and 15% of respondents, respectively. It’s interesting to note that Value for Money is the least important factor for those in our survey – this is perhaps unsurprising, as only 20% in our survey opted for a cheaper no-frills dryer, while 80% opted for more advanced machines that deliver better performance.
Here’s the full rundown of what the clothes dryer consumers in our survey say are the main things they consider when rating their purchases.
If you’re in the market for a new clothes dryer, apart from the best appliance brand, what do you need to consider before making your purchase. Canstar Blue walks you through what to consider when buying a new clothes dryer.
The first step when buying a clothes dryer is working out the size you need. Do you have a large family, and how much clothing do you need to dry on a regular basis? Most dryers have a capacity of between 4-10kg, however, if you’ve got no clue about your needs, consider these two tips:
Also, consider the following:
Once you’ve settled on the size of dryer you require, you need to consider the type of machine you want to buy:
Vented dryers are the simplest form of dryer. They heat air, pass it into the drum, and then vent it, often outside via a hose. Vented dryer capacity ranges from 3kg to 9kg. Prices start from as little as $500.
Pros:
Cons:
Condenser clothes dryers recycle hot air by extracting the water vapour from it. The dry air is then sent back through the clothes in the dryer, while the water is either collected in a tank or expelled into the drain via a hose.
While this method of dealing with moist air means no humidity in your laundry room, it doesn’t do anything for the heat itself, meaning your laundry will be just as warm as if you were using a vented dryer.
Condenser clothes dryers cost from around $650 upwards.
Pros:
Cons:
A heat-pump dryer is a type of condenser dryer, which recycles heat in the process of extracting moisture. This means you get great drying results while consuming up to 50% less electricity than other dryer types. Prices start from around $1300.
Pros:
Cons:
When choosing a dryer, energy efficiency is an important consideration, one that can save you a considerable amount of money over the lifetime of your appliance.
As we mention above, a third of respondents in our survey say that their choice of dryer was heavily influenced by its energy-saving rating.
Finding an energy-efficient dryer is simple. Just check its Energy Rating Label (see right). The more stars, the more energy-efficient the dryer.
The label also shows an estimated kWh usage per year, which if you know how much you’re paying for power, can help you work out the dollar cost of using the dryer.
Keep in mind that cheap and basic appliances tend to be less energy-efficient. So to lower your running costs, you’ll likely have to raise your upfront costs. However, as a dryer is one of the costlier appliances to run, choosing an energy-efficient model is a wise investment.
There is a big difference in the amount of electricity dryers use. A 2-star model can burn through close to 7kWh per load, while a 10-star model uses around 2kWh.
This means there’s a big difference in their running costs. The following calculations show running costs according to current government energy ratings, which assume one cotton load per week.
To do the calculations below we’ve used the national average power price of 33.6c p/kWh.
| Energy star rating | Machine Load | Per Year Energy Use | $ Per Year | $ Per Load |
| 10 Stars | 9kg | 105kWh | $35.28 | $0.68 |
| 9 Stars | 9kg | 129kWh | $43.34 | $0.83 |
| 8 Stars | 9kg | 145kWh | $48.72 | $0.94 |
| 7 Stars | 8kg | 159kWh | $53.42 | $1.03 |
| 2 Stars | 8kg | 355kWh | $119.28 | $2.29 |
As you can see, if you buy a cheap 2-Star energy rated dryer, instead of a more efficient one, you’ll be paying a lot more to use it, especially if you’re running it more than once per week.
Over 10 years on the above numbers, a 2-star 8kg dryer will cost $840 more to run than a larger 9kg 10-star dryer.
Always read and abide by your garment’s care label. And if an item is particularly precious or expensive, maybe just use a clothes horse. However, here’s a guide to which fabrics are safe to use in a dryer.
Usually safe, but should be done on a low heat, as if it’s too high the clothes can permanently wrinkle.
100% cotton clothes may shrink if put in a dryer, although most cotton blends should be able to survive the drying cycle shrink-free. But always use a low heat, and it pays to check a garment’s label to see if it has been pre-shrunk.
Denim fabrics can be put into a dryer. But for optimal care, take them out just before the end of the cycle and leave them finish air drying, as they’ll keep their shape for longer. Use a low-heat and delicate cycle if using a tumble dryer, as well as low heat if you have crinkles to iron out.
Most linen options, such as towels and sheets, are dryer safe. Although tumble drying may impact the lifespan of the linen. Use a low temperature, and be mindful that linen can be prone to wrinkling.
Linen clothing, however, is a different story. Many garment manufacturers recommend linen clothing to be professionally dry cleaned or air-dried, to avoid shrinkage and creasing.
Microfibre-made clothes and covers should be fine, as long as the dryer is set to a low temperature, as microfibre dries quickly in comparison to other materials. It’s also recommended to dry with other microfibre products to prevent lint from building up.
Most nylon clothes should be dryer safe. But, as nylon dries quickly, it’s recommended that nylon is put through a low-temperature cycle. Also grab the clothes out of the machine as soon as possible, as they can be damaged if left in the dryer too long. Nylon also builds up static cling, so be sure to dry with a dryer sheet to avoid getting zapped.
Polyester is quick-drying, so you may not even need to use a clothes dryer. But, for peace of mind, you won’t ruin your clothes if you do use a machine. Using a low-temperature cycle will also avoid any possible damage or shrinkage. Again, beware the static!
As spandex is often mixed with other fabrics, you’ll have to check your clothes’ tags before you throw them in the dryer, as some spandex clothing may be fine to dry, while others are best hung out to dry. Generally, the more spandex your clothes contain, the more possible dryer damage.
About the editor of this pageThis report was written by Canstar’s Editor, Bruce Pitchers. Bruce has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in the UK and Australasia, including ACP, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. Prior to Canstar, he worked as a freelancer, including for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority, and for real estate companies on both sides of the Tasman.
Only use dryer when not possible to dry outside: 49%
Energy-saving rating played big part in choice of dryer: 40%
Use dryer for all clothes drying: 28%
Usually stick to one basic setting: 27%
Avoid using dryer due to cost: 23%
Dry different fabrics separately: 22%
Bought a budget dryer as does the same job: 20%
Own a heat-pump dryer: 16%
Have a combined washer/dryer: 14%
Canstar Blue surveyed 2577 New Zealand consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers who had purchased a clothes dryer in the past five years. In this case, 515 New Zealanders. Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criterion.
The past winners from Canstar Blue’s Clothes Dryers ratings:
Appliances - March 28th
Why do I need to clean my water bottle/travel mug?
Cleaning your water bottle or travel mug regularly is essential for several reasons:
Hygiene: bacteria, mould, and other microorganisms can accumulate in your water bottle or …
– Read more
Appliances - March 26th
What is a top fridge-freezer?
A top fridge-freezer refers to a type of refrigerator-freezer unit where the freezer compartment is located at the top of the appliance, above the refrigerator compartment. In this design, the freezer …
Best-Rated Clothes Dryers - March 18th
Why do delicates need to be washed differently?
Delicate items, like silk blouses or lace lingerie, need special care when washing because they’re made of fragile fabrics or have intricate details. Regular washing machines and harsh …
Appliances - February 20th
Kitchen appliances
Air fryers
3.75L Air Fryer ($85)
If it’s your first time buying an air fryer, or you’re not willing to break the bank, consider Kmart’s affordable 3.75L air fryer. Prepare delicious, crispy fries, nuggets and more …
Appliances - February 18th
If you vacuum sucks at sucking, it could just need a deep clean. Keeping your vacuum cleaner in top shape ensures it provides optimal performance, lasts longer, and remains hygienic. This comprehensive guide caters to …
– Read more