Best Dryers for Small Spaces: Options When You Have Limited Room

Not everyone has the luxury of a dedicated laundry with generous floor space. In apartments, townhouses, and smaller homes, the dryer often needs to fit in a tight spot — or double up with the washing machine in a combined arrangement. Here's how to choose a dryer that works in a small space without giving up performance.

Know Your Options

Before choosing a dryer, it helps to understand the main types and how they work in small spaces:

Vented dryers: The cheapest option, but require an external exhaust duct or open window to push warm, damp air outside. In apartments, this often isn't feasible unless there's already a duct in place. Compact 45 cm wide models are available.

Condenser dryers: No external duct required — moisture is collected in a water tank that you empty after each cycle, or drained to a standpipe. Can go virtually anywhere with power. Available in 45 cm and 60 cm widths.

Heat pump dryers: The most energy-efficient type. Like condenser dryers, no external duct needed. They operate at lower temperatures, which is gentler on clothes. Available in 45 cm and 60 cm widths. More expensive to buy but significantly cheaper to run.

Washer-dryer combos: Single machine that washes and dries. Ideal when you can only fit one appliance. The main tradeoffs are longer cycle times and lower drying capacity relative to wash capacity.

Space Configurations for Small Laundries

Stacked washer and dryer: The most space-efficient two-appliance setup. A front-load washer with a compatible dryer stacked on top using an approved stacking kit. Total height is typically 165–175 cm, so measure your ceiling clearance. Only works with front-loaders.

Side by side (45 cm models): If your laundry is 90 cm wide, two slim 45 cm appliances side by side give you full functionality in a compact footprint.

Under-bench dryer: Some condenser and heat pump dryers can be installed under a bench at the standard 60 cm height. Useful in a laundry with an existing benchtop.

Separate location: Condenser and heat pump dryers can go almost anywhere with a power point — a hallway cupboard, a bedroom wardrobe, a bathroom. As long as there's airflow and a drain or emptying plan for the water tank, they're flexible.

Recommended Models for Small Spaces

Bosch Serie 4 Condenser Dryer (45 cm): Compact footprint, good capacity for its size (7 kg), sensor drying, and very quiet. Stackable with compatible Bosch front-loaders.

Electrolux Heat Pump Dryer (60 cm): Excellent energy efficiency, 8 kg capacity, can go in tight spaces without external venting. Good sensor drying performance.

LG WashTower: Integrated washer and dryer in a single tower unit with a smaller footprint than stacked appliances. Good capacity and smart home integration.

Bosch washer-dryer combo (60 cm): 8 kg wash, 5 kg dry, one machine, standard dimensions. Good choice when only one appliance footprint is possible.

What to Avoid in a Small Space

• Large vented dryers that need a fixed external duct — inflexible placement
• Top-loading washing machines if you want to stack — you can't stack a dryer on a top-loader
• Very cheap condenser dryers with high energy consumption — in a space where you're running it regularly, running costs add up

Visit Our Showroom

At 2/14 Centre Place, Wetherill Park (open 7 days, 10 am to 8 pm), we carry a wide range of dryers in both 45 cm and 60 cm widths, including heat pump, condenser, and combo models. Bring your measurements and we'll help you find the right fit.