How we analyse and score
We compare tumble dryers by cross-referencing manufacturers' specifications, energy labels, available manuals and buyer reviews. Our analysis distinguishes between declared data, documented features and observations reported by users.
What “analysis” means here
We do not physically test tumble dryers. Our comparisons draw on documentary sources and buyer reviews, whose limitations we examine: missing specifications remain marked as unavailable, and an isolated account is not enough to support a general conclusion.
A manufacturer's claimed specification is not measured performance, and a buyer review is not an analysis result. We keep these three types of evidence separate, both on the page and in our calculations.
Our evidence trail
- 1Exact modelThe full model name, variant and market. Two versions of the same product are never combined.
- 2Published dataManufacturer specifications and retailer listings for the exact model, recorded on a specific date.
- 3Catalogue comparisonEach value is compared with those of all other models on the same scale.
- 4Verdict in contextWho the model suits, and when to choose another.
Missing data stays missing. We do not guess it, replace it with an average or count it as zero.
How we assess tumble dryers
These criteria are fixed for the entire category and applied in the same order to every model. This lets you compare two analyses line by line, instead of reading two reviews that cover different things.
- Load capacity higher is better · kg
- Drum volume higher is better · l
- Equipmentdocumented features tracked for this category: more features mean a higher score
A criterion is scored only if the relevant feature is documented for the model. Across the site's 40 scored analyses: Load capacity out of 37, Drum volume out of 28, Equipment out of 40.
This is why a product page displays between 1 and 3 scores. Each page's “Our scores explained” section lists the criteria that are not scored and explains why.
A model is not penalised for a feature it never promised. We assess it based on its price and intended users, using criteria relevant to its category.
How the score is calculated
The score out of 10 is the average of individual scores, one for each criterion in the table above. Each score is more than an impression: it reflects themodel's standing across the full cataloguefor that criterion. That's why each row shows the figures behind its score, such as “210 min, ahead of 80% of models in the catalogue”. You can cross-check them.
When our data doesn't cover a criterion for a particular model, the row says so: it is shown as anassessment based on published specifications, rather than a measurement. The page clearly distinguishes between the two.
What we never do:
- fill in a missing specification with an assumption;
- score two models using different approaches;
- turn a result that depends on user needs into an overall winner;
- publish a score when the data is too limited to support it.
A score reflects our assessment at a given time. It is relative to the catalogue: whenever we update the scores, all product pages are recalculated against the current catalogue, so a score can change as new models are added. Scores last updated: November 4, 2026.
A real example: Haier HD90-A2939-FR
Here's how the “Load capacity” score for Haier HD90-A2939-FR is calculated, exactly as shown on its product page, one of the site's best-documented analyses.
Load capacity: 8.6/10
Two model counts: the rank and average include models with a page on this site and a score for this criterion; the calculation compares the model with all catalogue models whose specification is verified, with or without a page. A score assigned at publication may remain without a verified specification, so the first count can be higher.
Haier HD90-A2939-FR scores 8.6/10 on this criterion. Across the site's 37 product listings with a score for this criterion, the average is 8.1: above average, 5 out of 37.
| Common baseline: last place in the ranking | 6.5 |
|---|---|
| Load capacity: 9 kg ; 17 rank lower, 4 rank higher, 16 are tied (including this model), among the 37 models in the catalogue with a verified value for this specification | +2.1 |
| Load capacity score | 8.6/10 |
Calculation: (17 + 16 ÷ 2) ÷ 37 = 67.57% of the ranking; 6.5 + 67.57% × 3.1 = 8.6/10, rounded to one decimal place.
Complete or partial documentation
Beside the overall score, each product page shows whether the category's 5 key features are confirmed by a verified source (an archived retailer page or manufacturer documentation): Load capacity, Drum volume, Your search, Drying type, Bosch range. It shows “Documentation: complete” when all are confirmed, or “partial” otherwise, with missing information shown on hover. In the specifications table, any of these 5 features that are not confirmed are marked “unverified”; other rows in the table are not subject to this check.
Partial documentation does not lower the score: a criterion with an unconfirmed value is not scored and is excluded from the average. The only exception is a score assigned when the analysis was published, which is retained while the product page has fewer than 3 verified criteria; the page's “Our scores explained” section flags this.
Currently, 0 product pages have complete documentation and 40 have partial documentation.
Our sources and how we weigh them
- Manufacturer documentationOfficial pages, manuals and specification sheets. We use these to identify the stated features. Manufacturer claims are always presented as claims.
- Retailer pagesThese confirm the exact model, included accessories and recorded price for the relevant market. A limited-time offer is never presented as a permanent price.
- Customer feedbackWe look for recurring themes, rather than isolated comments, taking into account reviews that combine different variants and the sample size.
- Published specialist analysesWe use these to compare claims with observations. We don't copy their verdicts or average their scores.
When sources disagree, we flag it rather than force a conclusion.
Prices
We do not display prices next to retailer links. A price recorded once soon becomes outdated, and an incorrect figure next to a buy button does a disservice to the reader it was meant to help. Prices shown in our comparison tables and filters indicate a model’s price range and let you sort by budget: the price that applies is the one displayed by the retailer when you make your purchase.
Independence and affiliate links
No brand pays to appear in our selections or to improve its score. Some links to retailers are affiliate links: if you buy through them, we may earn a commission,at no extra cost to you.
Whether we earn a commission, and how much, has no bearing on any of our criteria. Affiliate revenue funds the site; it doesn't determine our rankings.
Updates and corrections
An analysis is updated when the model changes, when information proves incorrect, or when new models shift its position in the catalogue. The date of the most recent update remains visible on every page.
This site is written and checked by Romain Brunel. An error, outdated information, a missing model: let us know and we'll correct the page.
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