The Bosch Series 6 WTH85223GB is, for us, the best all-rounder among tumble dryers: an efficient 8 kg heat pump, reliable AutoDry sensors and the quiet, well-built feel you expect from Bosch. Here is what it does well, and where its limits lie.
Bosch has a long-earned reputation for appliances that just work, and the Series 6 dryer lives up to it. The WTH85223GB does not chase headline gimmicks; instead it gets the fundamentals right: it dries efficiently, it dries gently, and it does so cycle after cycle without fuss. That dependable competence is exactly why it is our best overall pick, and the machine we would happily put in our own utility room.
| Model | Price | Type | Capacity | Energy rating | Rating | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ★ Top pick Bosch Series 6 WTH85223GB 8kg Heat Pump Tumble Dryer | £549.00 | Heat pump condenser | 8 kg | A++ | ★ 4.6 | View → |
£549.00
Heat pump condenser · 8 kg · A++
The verdict from Leah Okafor, home appliance tester
Our best overall pick. The Bosch Series 6 WTH85223GB does the important things right: an efficient A++ heat pump keeps running costs low, AutoDry sensors stop the cycle at exactly the right dryness, and the 8 kg drum suits most families. It is not the cheapest dryer to buy, but it is the one we would put in our own home and expect to last.
Clothes come out evenly dry and barely warm, with no scorched or stiff patches.
The Series 6 is the right dryer if you want a dependable 8 kg machine for a family of three or four and you would rather pay a fair bit more upfront for low running costs and longevity than save money on a machine you will replace sooner. With an 8 kg drum it pairs naturally with a 7 to 8 kg washing machine, so a full wash load goes straight into the dryer with room to tumble freely. For most British households doing several loads a week, it is the sensible default.
It is less obviously the right choice if you only dry occasionally, where the higher purchase price takes longer to justify, or if you regularly dry big duvets and need a 9 kg drum. In those cases look at the budget Beko DTLCE70051W or the larger Hoover H-DRY 300 respectively. For everyday family laundry, though, the Bosch is hard to beat.
This is where the Series 6 shines. As a heat pump dryer it works at a lower temperature than a vented or standard condenser machine, and the AutoDry sensors monitor the moisture in the load and stop the cycle at exactly the dryness you selected. The result is laundry that comes out evenly dry and barely warm, with none of the scorched, stiff patches you sometimes get from a hotter dryer. Cotton, mixed loads and towels all come out ready to fold.
The Series 6 carries an A++ energy rating, which is where it earns back part of its price. In practice it uses roughly half the electricity of an older C-rated condenser dryer for the same load. Over a year of regular family use that lower consumption adds up, so although it costs more than a budget dryer to buy, it costs noticeably less to run. If you dry frequently, that is money in your pocket. We rank the most economical options in our guide to the cheapest tumble dryer to run.
Heat pump dryers are generally quieter than vented ones, and the Bosch is no exception: it runs at a calm, unobtrusive level you can comfortably leave going in a kitchen. The controls are clear and logical, the programme list is well judged rather than overwhelming, and the lint filter and water tank are easy to reach. Bosch's build quality shows in the small things, from the solid door to the way the drum light makes unloading easier.
The 8 kg drum is the family sweet spot. It swallows a full wash load with room for clothes to move, which is part of why it dries so evenly, and it copes with bedding without being overloaded. If your washing machine is 7 or 8 kg, the Series 6 matches it well. If you genuinely fill a 9 kg washer and dry duvets often, step up to the Hoover H-DRY 300; otherwise 8 kg is exactly right. Our capacity guide helps you decide.
The Series 6 has two real drawbacks, and neither is a flaw in the machine itself. First, it costs more upfront than a condenser dryer, because you are paying for the heat pump and Bosch's build quality. Second, like all heat pump dryers it dries a little more slowly than a hotter condenser machine, since the lower temperature is gentler but takes longer. If you need the fastest possible cycle and the lowest possible price, a standard condenser dryer such as the Beko will suit you better, at the cost of higher running bills. For most people, the Bosch's efficiency and gentleness are well worth the wait and the premium. The difference between the two types is set out in full in our heat pump vs condenser guide.
Yes. The WTH85223GB is a heat pump condenser dryer, which means it recycles its own warm air rather than heating fresh air from cold. That makes it far cheaper to run than a standard condenser dryer and gentler on clothes, because it dries at a lower temperature.
Thanks to its A++ energy rating it is one of the cheaper dryers here to run, using roughly half the electricity of an older C-rated condenser dryer for the same load. Over a year of regular family use that efficiency is where it earns back part of its higher purchase price.
With an 8 kg drum it suits a typical family of three or four and pairs well with a 7 to 8 kg washing machine. It has enough room for a full wash load to tumble freely, which is part of why it dries so evenly, and it copes with bedding without overloading.
The Bosch Series 6 is our best overall pick because it strikes the best balance of efficiency, gentleness, capacity and longevity. It does not reinvent the tumble dryer, but it does everything that matters right: low running costs from the A++ heat pump, even and gentle drying from the AutoDry sensors, and the build quality to keep doing it for years. For a family of three or four it is the soundest buy here. If you would rather spend less for similar heat pump drying, look at the Samsung Series 5 for value, and for the gentlest premium option the AEG 7000 Series. Before you decide, it is always worth reading our buying guide and getting the capacity right.