Abstract: A laundry dryer is configured to facilitate multiple venting arrangements, including side venting. A rear wall of the dryer includes a recessed region that extends width-wise along a lower portion of the rear wall, below an inwardly directed step and a deep tray of the rear wall panel. The dryer includes sidewall panels having a generally rectangular cut-away portion located at the respective lower rear corner thereof, in general registry with opposite ends of the recessed region. This arrangement allows the dryer to vent to either the left or right side, or downwardly to the floor, along the exterior of the housing, but within the dryer footprint, without requiring any modifications to the housing or internal vent passage. In addition, the dryer may include a telescoping vent tube extendible beyond the rear wall of the dryer to facilitate connection of an exterior vent extension during dryer installation, and retractable back into the housing.