How to Choose a Clothes Dryer

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.

• 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.
• Our testers evaluate each machine’s convenience, evaluating the controls and the ergonomics for when you load and unload laundry.
• Our panelists also judge the dryer’s noise level as it dries an average-sized load. 

Dryer prices in our tests generally range from about $400 to $2,000, 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 even multitasking dryers that allow you to dry two loads at once (features like these tend to come with higher price tags, though).

Roughly half the models in our ratings are Energy Star certified, as you’ll see in our dryer ratings. These dryers use about 20 percent less energy than non-certified dryers, according to Energy Star. Check with your utility company to see whether it offers rebates for Energy Star appliances.

For more 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.

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, and Consumer Reports’ decades of testing have revealed that electric and gas dryers perform similarly. We now test only electric models, but their gas versions are also listed in our clothes dryer ratings because we expect them to perform comparably. 

Most full-sized dryers are 27 inches wide, but increasing capacities may mean a dryer is 2 to 3 inches wider. 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.

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 9 cubic feet, among the biggest we’ve tested, should fit about 17 thick, full-sized bath towels.

A compact dryer, on the other hand, typically has a claimed capacity of around 4 cubic feet and should fit about six of these towels. You’ll see the claimed capacities noted in the dryer ratings. (Use the Ratings & Specs slider bar to see all specs.)

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, consider 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, 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; 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 of the 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.