Any clothes dryer will get the job done, eventually.But when you’re busy—or trying to plow through multiple loads of laundry—“eventually”might not suffice. Of course we’d all prefer a quick, efficient dryer that won’t jack up the utility bill or hold you hostage like a slow, quarter-chugging laundromat machine.
Consumer Reports’ clothes dryer buying guide will help you find the best model for your budget and needs, and walk you through how to determine precisely what your needs are in the first place.
If you’re already familiar with dryers, consider our recommendations of the best clothes dryers—members can peruse our comprehensive clothes dryer ratings of almost 200 models.
How CR Tests Clothes Dryers
To find out how well each dryer does its job, our testers run loads of laundry of varying weights and fabrics. Dryers that perform well but don’t hold up over time aren’t winners. That’s why it’s important to consider which brand of dryer is the most reliable.
To help you choose the best dryer for your budget, we incorporate lab-test results, predicted reliability, and owner satisfaction into one Overall Score for each dryer.
Our rigorous lab tests entail the following steps.
- We time how long it takes to dry each load using the most appropriate setting.
- We then set the dryer to its minimum dryness level to find out whether clothes come out damp. Why? Some folks like to iron cottons when they’re damp. We also set the machine to its maximum dryness level to find out whether it can dry laundry in the shortest possible time without exposing it to high temps.
- We evaluate each machine’s convenience, evaluating the controls and the ergonomics when you load and unload laundry.
- Our panelists also judge the dryer’s noise level as it dries an average-sized load.
How Much Should You Pay for a Dryer?
Dryer prices in our tests generally range from about $350 to $2,200, depending on the type, capacity, and features. And while doing laundry may be a mundane task, the dryer isn’t as humdrum as it once was. For instance, today you’ll see WiFi-enabled dryers and evenmultitasking dryers that allow you to dry two loads at once (features like these tend to come with higher prices, though).
On a budget? Check out our picks of the best electric dryers for $800 or less.
Dryer Efficiency
Roughly half the models we test are Energy Star certified, as you’ll see in ourdryer ratings. These dryers use about 20 percent less energy than noncertified dryers, according to Energy Star. Check with your utility company to see whether it offers rebates for Energy Star appliances. In our ratings, you’ll find that some dryers earn our Green Choice designation. The green leaf icon highlights eco-friendly dryers with the lowest environmental impact. Green Choice electric dryers offer better efficiency, reliability, warranties, features, sustainable design, and/or a smaller eco-footprint. These machines aren’t necessarily the highest-rated or the most expensive; you’ll find Green Choice dryers in a variety of categories. Read "Best Eco-Friendly Clothes Dryers of 2023" for more.
For additional ways to save money and energy while using your dryer, check out “10 Ways to Save Energy Doing Laundry” and “Laundry Products That Waste Loads of Money.”
Dryer Types
How much space do you have?Dryers can be full-sized or compact. Choose which type you need based on your available space.
Electric dryers are the big sellers, but Consumer Reports’ decades of testing have revealed that electric and gas dryers perform similarly. We test both electric and gas models in our labs.
Full-Sized Dryer
Some dryers are designed so that they can be paired with a matching washer, and usually the dryer can be stacked atop the washer to save space. An electric dryer requires a 240-volt outlet. For a gas dryer, you’ll need a 120-volt outlet and a gas hookup.
Most full-sized machines come with a one-year warranty on parts and labor. Speed Queen, however, offers warranties ranging from three to seven years.
Electric Dryers Ratings
Compact Dryer
Manufacturers make only electriccompact dryersat this time, not gas. Each dryer measures 24inches wide, and height and depth vary, as you’ll see in ourdryer ratings.
The dryers that CR tests can be stacked atop their matching compact front-loading washers. Most compact dryers require 240volts. If your home has the ductwork, choose a vented dryer. Ventless models, also known as condenser dryers, take longer to dry a load—up to2½hours, according to our tests.
Warranties last one to two years.
Compact Dryers Ratings
All-in-One Washer-Dryer
All-in-one washer-dryers are an emerging manufacturer trend, and you’ll find a few in our ratings. These costly combination units offer a one-step laundry solution where clothes are conveniently washed and dried in the same machine with no need to transfer loads. The ventless machines can be set up anywhere near a water hookup instead of an outside vent, which may work well for apartments or condos, or if you lack space for two appliances.
But while this eliminates much of the laundry chore, you can’t wash and dry multiple loads at the same time, as you can with an individual washer and dryer. And ventless washer-dryer machines are very slow at drying clothes—often taking hours. So even if they tout energy efficiency, they’ll be running longer.
Electric Dryers Ratings
Dryer Size
Most full-sized dryers are 27inches wide, but increasing capacities may mean a dryer is 2to 3inches wider. All-in-one washer-dryer combos can be up to 47 inches tall. Measure the space you have to work with and allow at least 6 inches behind the dryer for venting. Measure the doors into your home and laundry room, and any other possible tight spaces you may have to maneuver through. Note the machine’s height and control location if it will be under a counter.
Manufacturers design some dryers so that they can be paired with a matching washer, but not all of these sets make a great couple. Our recommendations of the best matching washers and dryers highlight the top performers from our tests. Here’s a tip for choosing a matching pair: Make your pickbased on the washer—it does most of the work and is a more complicated machine than the dryer.
We list dimensions in ourclothes dryer ratingsand note which models can be stacked with a matching front-loader. (Move the Ratings & Specs slider bar to the right to see all specs.)
Dryer Capacity
A clothes dryer’s drum capacity is bigger than the capacity of its matching washer. That’s because wet laundry needs room to expand as it dries. A dryer with a claimed capacity of around 9cubic feet, among the biggest we’ve tested, should fit about 17thick, full-sized bath towels.
A compact dryer, on the other hand, typically has a claimed capacity of around 4cubic feet and should fit about six of these towels. You’ll see the claimed capacities noted in thedryer ratings.(Use the Ratings & Specs slider bar to see all specs.)
Photo: Consumer Reports Photo: Consumer Reports
How Long Do Dryers Last?
A clothes dryer is a big purchase, so you want to choose a machine that lasts—and take steps to help it last as long as possible.
If you’re considering whether it’s worth it to repair a dryer, know that a dryer typically lasts 10 years, says Tian Wang, a CR researcher who conducts our dryer member surveys. Taking the following steps can help you get the most life out of your clothes dryer.
- Clean the dryer lint screen after each load. A blocked lint trap requires the dryer to run longer, adding wear and tear on the machine.
- Clean the dryer vent every three to six months. Clogged dryer vents increase drying time and energy use—and, at worst, can cause a fire. If you don’t feel comfortable cleaning the vent yourself, you can hire a dryer vent cleaning service.
- Don’t overstuff your dryer. Overstuffing will cause your clothes to take longer to dry; it also puts more stress on the machine, shortening its life.
- Choose a dryer with a high reliability rating. CR uses surveys of its members to give each dryer brand a reliability score. Check out our roundup ofthe most and least reliable clothes dryer brands.
- Buy a dryer with a moisture sensor. This feature will turn off the dryer when it senses your clothes are dry, as opposed to using the timed dry cycle that runs for a specific amount of time whether your clothes are dry or not.
Dryer Features Worth Considering
There are a number of features we recommend considering: a moisture sensor, auto-dry cycles, extended tumble, and an end-of-cycle signal.
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Moisture Sensor
This is a must. Moisture sensors detect the laundry’s dampness and shut the machine off when clothes are dry. Your clothes won’t get overdried, and you’ll save energy. They’re an improvement over thermostats, which tend to make the dryer run longer. Most dryers in our ratings a have moisture sensor.
Auto-Dry Cycles
No more guessing how much time is needed to dry your laundry the way you want it. Instead of relying on timed dry, auto-dry cycles provide settings of “less dry” (for damp ironing) to “more dry,” and points in between.
Extended Tumble
Can’t get to the dryer as soon as your laundry’s done? An extended tumble setting reduces wrinkles by intermittently tumbling the clothes. Some tumble for up to several hours.
End-of-Cycle Signal
A snappy tune or a string of beeps alerts you that it’s time to take your laundry out of the dryer. Leaving it in there long after the cycle is over will result in more wrinkles and more time ironing. Some signals can be turned off or the volume lowered so that the sound won’t disturb sleepers.
Moisture Sensor
This is a must. Moisture sensors detect the laundry’s dampness and shut the machine off when clothes are dry. Your clothes won’t get overdried, and you’ll save energy. They’re an improvement over thermostats, which tend to make the dryer run longer. Most dryers in our ratings a have moisture sensor.
Buying Guide Video
For more, watch our video below.
Dryer Brands in CR's Ratings
Here’s a look at the brands in our ratings. We test year-round and continue to add brands to ourdryer ratings.
Amana, which is owned by Whirlpool, makes budget-friendly dryers that are sold at Appliances Connection, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Walmart.
Asko is a European brand of premium compact dryers.
Bosch currently makes higher-end compact laundry appliances.
Electrolux is the parent company and makes upper midpriced to high-end full-sized and compact laundry appliances under the Electrolux brand. Frigidaire full-sized laundry appliances are in the low-priced to midpriced range. Electrolux and Frigidaire dryers are sold at Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and many independent retailers.
This manufacturer makes compact laundry appliances on the higher end of the price scale.
GE Appliances [a Haier company] makes full-sized and compact laundry appliances in a wide price range. They’re sold at Appliances Connection, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, and Wayfair.
Haier makes compact dryers only. They’re sold at Home Depot, Lowes and independent retailers.
Hotpoint, a GE Appliance company, is among the lower-priced dryer brands. They’re sold at national big box retailers like Best Buy, Home Depot, and Lowe’s.
Insignia is Best Buy’s house brand of mid-priced full-sized and compact dryers.
This brand covers full-sized dryers at all prices, with the Kenmore Elite models on the higher end. Kenmore also has compact laundry appliances. Kenmore appliances are sold at Sears.
LG makes full-sized and compact dryers with costs ranging from midpriced to high-end. LG dryers are sold at Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and many independent retailers.
Maytag is a Whirlpool brand; it makes midpriced to high-end full-sized laundry appliances that are sold at Appliances Connection, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and many independent retailers.
Midea manufactures washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, ranges, microwaves, and air conditioners. Its dryers are sold at Lowe’s and AJ Madison.
You’ll see this high-end brand in our ratings of compact laundry appliances.
Samsung makes full-sized and compact laundry appliances in a wide price and modern design range, including front-loaders, HE top-loaders, and top-load agitators. Its dryers are sold at Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and many independent retailers.
This manufacturer offers a narrow line of full-sized dryers with at the higher-end price range. Speed Queen’s dryers are sold at independent retailers nationally.
Whirlpool manufactures full-sized and compact laundry appliances. Its models cover a wide range of prices and are sold at Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and independent retailers.
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