Vented vs. Ventless Dryers: Pros, Cons, and Costs

If you’re choosing between a vented and a ventless dryer, your budget, home layout, and household size are the main factors to consider. It’s safe to say that 90% of the decision is determined by whether you have a dryer vent installed. If you have the hookups for a vented option, you’ll want to choose the suitable dryer for your household size. Those with more people living in the home should go with a vented dryer when they have the option. 

Ventless vs. Vented Dryers: Key Differences

The main difference between these two types of dryers is that one requires a vent to outside air, while the other is self-contained. Vented dryers dump heat much faster but also require a dedicated space to operate. The real defining difference, and the main reason homeowners choose one over the other, is whether they already have an exhaust port drilled into their wall. Most apartments don’t, which is why they have ventless dryers.

What Is a Ventless Dryer?

Ventless dryers are dryers that recycle the hot air instead of expelling it. This sounds good in theory, but the additional energy required costs more than a vented dryer, and they are often more expensive to purchase. However, if you live in an apartment or your home doesn’t have an exhaust vent installed—or you don’t want to install one—they can be an excellent solution. 

Best for:

• Apartments and homes without exhaust vents. 

• Homes with limited space. 

• People looking for a quiet dryer. 

• Those interested in placing their dryer in unconventional spaces. 

• Avoiding dryer vent installation costs. 

Pros of Ventless Dryers

The major pro of ventless dryers is that you can place them anywhere, negating the need for an external exhaust vent. Ventless dryers are also much quieter than their vented alternatives because they don’t need to pump the hot air out. Finally, ventless dryers require less maintenance because they don’t require you to remove and clean the duct that connects the dryer to the outside air.  

Cons of Ventless Dryers 

Despite the pros, ventless dryers have their setbacks. They are more expensive than their vented counterparts when you hire a local appliance company to install them. They are more complicated to repair, can require more energy to run, and drying clothes takes a lot longer. Another big issue is that because they can’t expel all the hot air generated from drying clothes, they tend to significantly increase the humidity in the room where they operate. For some, ventless may be the only option, but if you can choose between the two, don’t discount these cons.

What Is a Vented Dryer?

In contrast to their ventless counterparts, vented dryers have a tube around 6 inches wide that pushes hot air out of the house entirely. Many houses have exhaust hookups where you can place your dryer. This somewhat limits where you can place it, but since many homes have a dedicated laundry area, it isn’t often a problem. Vented dryers are larger and dry clothes more quickly than ventless dryers, but that doesn’t mean they’re without their faults.

Best for:

• Large households that dry large loads. 

• Homeowners with ample space. 

• Those who want to avoid higher upfront costs. 

• Homeowners who don’t want to deal with increased humidity. 

• Homes that already have dryer vents installed. 

Pros of Vented Dryers

Vented dryers dry more clothes more quickly, but they require a tube to pump out the hot air generated during a drying cycle. Because of this, they are generally larger and louder, but they do a much better job of drying clothes than ventless dryers. They don’t have complicated heat recycling systems, so they require less maintenance, and because they are the more common option, there are more brands and models to choose from. 

Cons of Vented Dryers 

Vented dryers do have their drawbacks. They require a lot more space than their ventless counterparts, which means you usually can’t stack them atop a washing machine. You are limited to wherever the vent is unless you want to install a new one. If you live in a cold climate, the humidity that is pumped out with the air can freeze, blocking the vent. Finally, if you don’t remove the lint by cleaning the dryer vent, over time it builds up and can be a fire hazard.  The cost to clean a dryer vent is $145, on average.

Ventless Dryers vs. Vented Dryers

Appearance: Ventless

Ventless dryers look sleeker than vented dryers. The lack of vent coming out of the back means the unit is freestanding, so you can also place it anywhere. Since you don’t have to see it if you don’t want to, and it doesn’t have a large pipe sticking out the back, the edge goes to ventless. 

Options and Customizations: Ventless

Ventless dryers are not as common as vented dryers, but because you can place them anywhere you want, this point does to them. While there are surely more options to purchase vented dryers, it’s not like you are limited to one or two brands if you go ventless. There are still plenty of options—plus you’re more likely to be able to stack it over a washer.

Durability: Tie 

Vented dryers tend to last a good amount of time, but without regular maintenance, they also break down sooner than ventless dryers. Ventless dryers have more moving parts and are slightly more complicated, but they require less oversight. If both machines are cared for, they should last a similar amount of time. 

Price: Vented 

Vented dryers are less expensive to buy and to run. The heat pump that expels hot air through the vent uses less energy than the heat recycling systems found in ventless dryers. While vented dryers are bigger, if you consider the cost-per-pound dried, vented dryers are less expensive both in running costs and upfront payment when you purchase the machine. 

Ease of Repair/DIYability: Vented 

Vented dryers are easier to repair because they have less complicated parts, and because they can hold larger loads, they are less frequently overloaded. Overloading a dryer can burn out the motor and wear out the belt prematurely, so the fact that vented dryers somewhat negate this issue gives them the edge here. 

Maintenance: Tie 

Vented dryers require cleaning the lint trap and the tube leading to the outside, while ventless dryers require removing moisture traps and checking the heat recycler. Both types of dryers require some maintenance, so this point results in a tie.

Length of Life: Vented

Vented dryers can last longer than their ventless competitors if they are properly cared for. This means regular maintenance and cleaning, as well as avoiding overloading the unit.

ROI and/or Resale Value: Tie

Most people own their dryers until they need replacing, but both have a market and can be resold without much problem. If you live in the suburbs, vented dryers will sell faster. The opposite is true if you live in a city, where you can move a ventless unit without much issue.

Is a Vented or Ventless Dryer Better?

Which is better isn’t a simple answer. If you have a vent installed, you can choose between the two, but we lean more toward the vented dryer option. If you live in an apartment without a vent and you can’t install one, you don’t have a choice and will have to settle for ventless.

However, if you can choose between the two, we’d recommend the vented option due to its low upfront cost and significantly larger load capacity.