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The Best Ventless Dryers of 2024

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A white ventless dryer sits on a brown floor with its door open Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus

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Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.

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Editor's Choice Product image of Beko HPD24414W
Best Overall

Beko HPD24414W

4.5
Check Price at Appliances Connection

A high-efficiency heat pump ventless dryer that works well and is compact enough to install anywhere. Read More

Pros

  • Excellent efficiency
  • Ample effective dry cycles
  • Compact

Cons

  • App may display misleading cycle timing
  • Controls may be too low for some people
Editor's Choice Product image of Bosch 500 Series WTW87NH1UC
Best Design

Bosch 500 Series WTW87NH1UC

4.4
Check Price at Home Depot

The Bosch 500 dryer will get your clothes dry, but it’s so slow it’ll turn Laundry Day into Laundry Weekend. Read More

Pros

  • Energy efficient
  • Tons of installation options
  • Dries clothes

Cons

  • Takes forever
  • Complex controls
  • Needs draining
Editor's Choice Product image of GE Profile PFQ97HSPVDS
Best Washer/Dryer Combo

GE Profile PFQ97HSPVDS

4.2
Check Price at Best Buy

This highly efficient Energy Star-certified washer-dryer combo comes with a large mold-resistant drum, high-end features, and an excellent warranty. Read More

Pros

  • Extremely energy efficient
  • Great warranty
  • Smart features

Cons

  • Heavy dryer loads may require additional drying time
Product image of Miele TXR860 WP

Miele TXR860 WP

4.2
Check Price at Abt

This compact, ventless dryer boasts an above-average performance, specialized cycle settings, and low maximum temperatures. It's just very expensive. Read More

Pros

  • Easy installation
  • Plugs into 120V outlet
  • Ventless

Cons

  • Have to manually empty water condensation
Product image of Bosch 800 Series WTG865H4UC

Bosch 800 Series WTG865H4UC

4.1
Check Price at Home Depot

If you don’t mind a small drum and very long dry times, the Bosch 800 Series is super energy-efficient and fits anywhere. Read More

Pros

  • Compact design
  • No vents required
  • Lots of custom options

Cons

  • Takes forever to dry
  • Gets too hot
  • Small capacity
  • Best Overall Beko HPD24414W
  • Best Design Bosch 500 Series WTW87NH1UC
  • Best Washer/Dryer Combo GE Profile PFQ97HSPVDS
  • Other Ventless Dryers We Tested
  • How We Test Ventless Dryers
  • What You Should Know Before Buying A Ventless Dryer
  • More Articles You Might Enjoy

Consumers who buy ventless dryers likely do so for a very specific reason. Maybe they don't have a vent hookup. Maybe they're living in a city apartment, condo, or a tiny home, without room for a standard-size washer-and-dryer setup.

A ventless dryer can often fit into tight spaces regular dryers can’t, doesn't require a vent hookup to function, and uses significantly less energy than a standard dryer.

While ventless dryers don’t match up to the performance and drying times of a standard or extra-large clothes dryer, they can typically fit where a vented dryer can’t. They're often more expensive than a full-size dryer, as their ventless nature requires more elaborate feats of engineering. If you’re shopping around for a compact, ventless dryer, we’ve tested some top contenders to consider.

Editor's Note: Appliances purchases are a large investment of both money and time. We’ve not only compiled lists of the best dryers to shop, but also the best places to buy in-stock appliances right now and the best times of year to buy appliances to take advantage of sales and new releases.

A compact dryer sits in the Reviewed testing lab.
Credit: Reviewed/ Beckett Dubay
Best Overall
Beko HPD24414W

Conservation of space meets conservation of energy in this exceptional ventless dryer. In our tests, the Beko HPD24414W scored the highest of any ventless dryer we’ve tested yet. It’s both effective and extremely efficient—vastly more so than a regular dryer, even winning Energy Star’s Most Efficient award for 2023.

Like other ventless dryers, this compact can be installed in places without an exhaust vent. It dries using a high-end heat pump. Condensation is then trapped in a reservoir. Niftily, this condensation is then repurposed for the dryer’s futuristic steam mode—which de-wrinkles or sanitizes.

These high-end features wouldn’t mean much without good basic performance. Thankfully the Beko HPD24414W’s cycle performance is strong, with a wide range of cycles and lots of options for customization. Like other ventless dryers, this will take much longer than traditional dryers to get your clothes bone dry, but we did find that it’s capable of this.

Whether you live in a tiny apartment and want real laundry machines in a small space, or you’re committed to conserving resources, this space-saver is a great investment.

Read our full review of the Beko HPD24414W compact, ventless dryer

Pros

  • Excellent efficiency

  • Ample effective dry cycles

  • Compact

Cons

  • App may display misleading cycle timing

  • Controls may be too low for some people

Buy now at Appliances Connection
Two shots of the Bosch WTW87NH1UC in a pale blue void.
Credit: Reviewed / Bosch
Best Design
Bosch 500 Series WTW87NH1UC
  • Dimensions: 33 1/4" x 23 1/2" x 25" (H x W x D)
  • Capacity: 4.0 cu. ft.
  • Finishes: White
  • Special features: Low Heat, Bosch Home Connect app support, Wrinkle Block
  • Matching washer: Bosch WAW285H1UC Front Load Washer
  • Energy Star rated: Yes

From an aesthetic point of view, the Bosch 500 Series WTW87NH1UC looks great, with a relatively simple white finish, stainless steel door, and a sleek, modern design. This unit will look great in any laundry room.

The WTW87NH1UC stands head-and-shoulders above other ventless dryers in terms of its attractive design. It also delivers thoroughly dry laundry, although its cycle times can be lengthy. Of course, the WTW87NH1UC isn't going to win a competition against a full-size unit, but compared to other ventless units a 100-minute Normal cycle isn't out of the ordinary. What's important: It finishes cycles with dry laundry.

Of course, Bosch has also outfitted this unit with its excellent Home Connect app support, which allows users to start cycles remotely, or get a notification when a cycle is complete.

Read our full review of the Bosch 500 Series WTW87NH1UC compact, ventless dryer

Pros

  • Energy efficient

  • Tons of installation options

  • Dries clothes

Cons

  • Takes forever

  • Complex controls

  • Needs draining

$1,449.00 from Home Depot
A head-on shot of the GE washer / dryer combo unit sitting in our laundry testing area.
Credit: Reviewed / Beckett Dubay
Best Washer/Dryer Combo
GE Profile PFQ97HSPVDS
  • Dimensions: 46.70” x 28” x 32” (H x W x D)
  • Capacity: 4.8-cubic-foot capacity
  • Finishes: Carbon graphite
  • Special features: Washer/dryer combo unit, heat pump, large drum, steam, Microban drum coating, auto smart dispenser, app support
  • Matching washer: N/A
  • Energy Star rated: Yes

The GE Profile PFQ97HSPVDS washer-dryer combo is an excellent all-in-one machine that's a full-size ventless model, not a compact ventless model. This larger size gives it a much higher capacity and lower cycle times than other units on this list, and its two-in-one design can help save space over having separate, dedicated units for washing and drying.

Not only is this design convenient, it's effective. Both its stain-scrubbing ability and drying power were above average for a ventless machine. Even though it struggled to dry a comforter completely on its Bulky cycle, once we enabled its More Dry option it was able to get out significantly more water.

If we were to separate the PFQ97HSPVDS's functionality, it would rank in our top 10 best overall washers and among our top 20 dryers. It's one of the best washer/dryer combos we’ve tested to date, and an excellent option for those looking for a ventless dryer.

Read our full review of the GE Profile PFQ97HSPVDS ventless washer / dryer combo

Pros

  • Extremely energy efficient

  • Great warranty

  • Smart features

Cons

  • Heavy dryer loads may require additional drying time

$2,299.99 from Best Buy

Other Ventless Dryers We Tested

Product image of Miele TXR860 WP
Miele TXR860 WP
  • Dimensions: 33.5 x 23.5 x 25.38 (H x W x D)
  • Capacity: 4.03 cu. ft.
  • Finishes: Lotus White
  • Special features: Steam, wrinkle-free, compact & ventless
  • Matching washer: Miele WXR860 WCS TDos & IntenseWash
  • Energy Star rated: Yes

If money is no object, and you're specifically looking for a compact ventless dryer, the Miele TXR860WP Eco & Steam dryer is an excellent option.

Compact ventless dryers are a lot smaller than built-in models, which can be either a boon or a burden, depending on your laundry room. They're also much more expensive than vented models, so typically you should get a full-size, built-in model if you can accommodate one.

For those that can't, the Miele TXR860WP Eco & Steam dryer provides a higher-end user experience than most other compact ventless dryers we've tested, proving itself capable of competing with full-size models. Its drying performance was better than most built-in models, and its cycle times were surprisingly fast as well.

We love the TXR860WP's steam and sanitize features, which help remove wrinkles and kill germs. We also like its specialized cycle settings and low maximum temperature, both of which can help mitigate wear and tear damage on your laundry.

This model is simple to install, and its smaller size makes it easy to move from room to room. Those shopping for a compact ventless dryer should definitely check out the TXR860WP Eco & Steam dryer.

Read our full review of the Miele TXR860WP Eco & Steam ventless dryer

Pros

  • Easy installation

  • Plugs into 120V outlet

  • Ventless

Cons

  • Have to manually empty water condensation

$2,449.00 from Abt
Product image of Bosch 800 Series WTG865H4UC
Bosch 800 Series WTG865H4UC
  • Dimensions: 33 1/4" x 23 1/2" x 25" (H x W x D)
  • Capacity: 4.0 cu. ft.
  • Finishes: Neat White
  • Special features: Wrinkle Block, Bosch Home Connect app support, self-cleaning condenser
  • Matching washer: 800 Series Compact Washer
  • Energy Star rated: Yes

The Bosch 800 Series Compact WTG865H4UC ventless condensing dryer is the company’s top-end compact model in the U.S.

While its cycles can be slow—even for a ventless model its drying times are long—they are effective, resulting in remarkably dry laundry.

This machine is also small, making it a boon for those in smaller spaces.

The only other drawback we found is that the Cotton cycle can get significantly hotter than most other ventless machines—a scorching 176.4°F—well above the safe threshold of 150°F.

Despite its flaws, the WTG865H4UC is still a sleek appliance that gets the job done.

Read our full review of the Bosch 800 Series WTG865H4UC ventless condenser dryer

Pros

  • Compact design

  • No vents required

  • Lots of custom options

Cons

  • Takes forever to dry

  • Gets too hot

  • Small capacity

$1,649.00 from Home Depot
Product image of GE GFT14ESSMWW
GE GFT14ESSMWW
  • Dimensions: 33.25" x 23.44" x 25.25" (H x W x D)
  • Capacity: 4.1 cu. ft.
  • Finishes: White
  • Special features: Sanitize
  • Matching washer: GE GFW148SSMWW
  • Energy Star rated: Yes

If you’re in the market for a compact ventless dryer, and are struggling with space, the GE GFT14ESSMWW may be the perfect fit.

This 4.1-cubic-foot dryer managed to put up some solid performance numbers on our drying tests, and finished cycles with mostly-dry laundry. Cycles do take slightly longer than average, and the GFT14ESSMWW does sometimes run hot, but it's difficult to argue with the end result: Almost completely dry laundry, every cycle.

Where the GE GFT14ESSMWW really stands out, however, is in its value. As you can see, other top-performing ventless dryers are significantly more expensive than the GFT14ESSMWW. Its lower price point, coupled with an above average performance, makes the GFT14ESSMWW one of the better entry points for those looking to try out a ventless dryer.

Read our full review of the GE GFT14ESSMWW ventless dryer

Pros

  • Gets laundry completely dry

Cons

  • Cycles take a long time to finish

  • Temperatures get way too hot

$899.99 from Best Buy

How We Test Ventless Dryers

The Testers

Reviewed's appliance testing team has spent many years testing major appliances, both in a lab setting and also exactly how you would in the course of your daily life.

This combination of objective performance testing and subjective user experience testing helps give us a holistic view of what it actually feels like to own and use these devices.

The Tests

Every ventless dryer that comes into Reviewed’s labs gets put through the same testing regime, which addresses both its performance and the user-friendliness of its design.

  • Drying performance – How much water does each major dryer cycle actually remove from your clothes, and how quickly can it achieve that level of dryness?

  • Maximum temperature – We record the maximum temperature in each dryer cycle. Some like it hot, but if dryer temperatures get too hot, it could damage your clothes.

A person pulling a white piece of laundry out of a dryer.
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

Most dryers have capacities ranging from 7.3 to 7.5 cubic feet, enough to deal with the laundry that can fit in most washing machines.

The best dryers completely dry your clothes at a temperature that is hot (140°F-150°F), but not too hot (lest your clothes be scorched or damaged), and have short cycle times.

Beyond these performance tests, we also assess the usability of each dryer, based on our experience, both during testing and during more casual use (one perk of working at Reviewed is that there are plenty of laundry machines on premises!).

Our main goal is to discern: How easy is it to actually use this dryer? This involves cumulatively assessing the control panel, the door, the vent, and any smart features.


What You Should Know Before Buying A Ventless Dryer

What is a ventless dryer?

A ventless dryer does not need to be hooked up to a vent like a full-size or built-in dryer.

These dryers often exhaust their humid air into a drawer, another receptacle, or out a nearby window.

What is a compact dryer?

Most of the ventless models we’ve tested were compact—a standard width of 24 inches wide. It is very common to see compact dryers that are ventless, since these features complement each other and support the same use case.

There’s usually two reasons you’re buying a compact, ventless dryer: You want to save energy, or it’s the only dryer that will fit your available cubic feet. Most of the things people say they want in a dryer—high capacity, fast drying, clothes that come out fully dry—just aren’t here. The ventless design doesn’t allow it to check all those boxes like a vented tumble dryer can.

Smaller than the standard size dryer that Americans are used to, a compact dryer can fit about half the amount of clothes as a traditional dryer. (They’re quite popular in European homes.) And they’re great options for people living in apartments, condos, and even tiny houses because they can fit anywhere, including interior bathrooms or the kitchen.

How does a ventless dryer work?

A ventless dryer (also known as a condenser tumble dryer) solves some real problems by working in a way that’s quite different from a conventional dryer. It eliminates the need for running a dryer duct, which is helpful if you live in a building that simply doesn’t give you an option to have a vented dryer.

It’s also far more energy-efficient than a conventional vented electric dryer. Both for the dryer and for your home’s HVAC system, which has to replace the air your typical dryer sucks out of the room. It condenses the moisture out of your clothes into a tray or tank that you can empty or drain into your standpipe or a nearby sink.

All this results in a more efficient dryer that can be installed in more places.

Though ventless dryers are more efficient in terms of the energy usage per cycle, they tend to take longer to dry your clothes. They are not fast. Where a conventional hot air dryer typically takes about an hour to dry clothes, a ventless dryer can take anywhere from two to four times as long. Ventless dryers also get hot enough to warm a room, so keep that in mind if you live in a small space.

What's the difference between a condenser dryer and a heat pump dryer?

The two major types of ventless dryer are condenser dryers and heat pump dryers.

A condenser dryer doesn't exhaust air like a vented model. Instead, it uses a dual loop airflow system. The first loop draws some ambient air into the dryer, heats it up, pushes it through the drum to evaporate water. Then the air goes through a second loop where the hot, wet air is cooled down, allowing its moisture content to precipitate out. The evaporated water is then either sent out a drainage hose or collected in a reservoir to be emptied later.

A heat pump dryer does not have a heating element like the condenser dryer. It instead works more like an air conditioner, but in reverse, gradually extracting cold and moisture from the air as it recycles and reuses the air.

In general, heat pump dryers are significantly more energy efficient as they lack a heating element, but they also tend to have a more expensive up-front cost.

Are ventless dryers safe?

Yes, ventless dryers are safe. You just need to make sure they're set up properly, meaning that their drainage hose is leading to a sink, or that they're properly hooked up to vent out a nearby window.

That being said, if you just run a ventless dryer in a room with no air circulation, that room is going to get hot and humid very quickly. Repeating this process without properly allowing the room to dry out could cause mildew to form, or peel wallpaper.

Meet the testers

Mark Brezinski

Mark Brezinski

Senior Writer

@markbrezinski

Mark Brezinski works on the Home Team, reviewing refrigerators, minifridges, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, air purifiers, and fans.

See all of Mark Brezinski's reviews
Jonathan Chan

Jonathan Chan

Senior Manager of Lab Operations

@Jonfromthelab1

Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.

See all of Jonathan Chan's reviews
Leigh Harrington

Leigh Harrington

Executive Editor, Home

@

Leigh Harrington has more than 20 years experience as a writer and editor for myriad print and digital publications.

At USA TODAY and Reviewed, Harrington oversees large appliances, including refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, and laundry, and manages Reviewed's overall home content, including areas of focus like home improvement, cleaning, gardening, cooking, and parenting. She focuses on writing, but mostly editing, consumer ed content and product reviews.

Harrington is also an experienced travel writer, and has authored books including Fodor's Boston, 100 Things to Do in Boston Before You Die, and Colorful Boston, an adult coloring book.

See all of Leigh Harrington's reviews
Gabriel Morgan

Gabriel Morgan

Staff Writer, Home

Gabriel Morgan is a staff writer on Reviewed's home team, where he covers consumer education topics such as earthquake preparedness, radon in the home, and concerns about health and wellness in product design. He also writes product reviews and how-to articles on appliances, smart home technology, and goods for the home.

See all of Gabriel Morgan's reviews

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