The 10 Best Clothes Dryers for Soft, Fluffy, and Wrinkle-Free Clothes

Brandon Carte
·16 min read
Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images


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If you don’t have the time or space to let your clothes air-dry, a dryer can sap the moisture from your clothes in about an hour.

As convenient as dryers are, though, they are oftentimes an afterthought when shopping for new appliances. That’s because people tend to want a matching washing machine or the ability to stack the two. For those who have laundry machines tucked away in the basement or utility closet, having a matching pair might not be that important since they’re not visible to guests.

But not all clothes dryers are built the same. Some remove moisture better than others, they vary in the number of cycles they can dry, and some even get too hot, which can damage fabrics. The best dryers have stainless steel drums, sensors to prevent overdrying and conserve energy, and a delay cycle, so your loads are finished when you want them to be.

Editor's Note: The appliance industry is currently experiencing a supply chain disruption due to the global pandemic. We did our best to find expert-approved models that are in stock at retailers we trust, with reasonable delivery estimates.

Best Clothes Dryers of 2021

If price isn't an issue, premium features like steam generators to lessen wrinkles, downloadable custom cycles, and Wi-Fi connectivity are useful optional additions worth considering. Here are the most important factors you should consider when it’s time to buy a new dryer.

What to Consider

  1. Size: It may seem like a given, but the most important thing to consider when buying a new dryer is its size. Typically, a full-sized dryer is 27 inches wide, but you’ll want to make sure you measure the location where the new dryer will go so you know it’ll fit. Keep in mind the space required for the dryer door to swing open. Pay attention to which way the dryer door opens, too, since some of them aren’t reversible.

    Of course, you’ll also want to ensure the doorways in your home are wide enough for the dryer to fit through during delivery. If you’re putting the dryer next to your washing machine, you should also leave a 1-inch gap between the two appliances. Our product reviews below list the dimensions of our recommended dryer picks as width by height by depth.

  2. Gas or Electric: Next, you’ll need to decide whether the dryer runs on gas or electricity. Gas dryers require a gas line hookup and a 120-volt outlet, and electric dryers need a 240-volt connection. If you have the choice between the two, our colleagues at Popular Mechanics recommend gas dryers over their electricity-powered counterparts since they are less expensive to run and dryer faster.

  3. Capacity: You’ve probably realized that a clothes dryer’s drum capacity is larger than the capacity of its matching washing machine. Full-size clothes dryers’ capacities range from about 7.3 to 8.3 cubic feet. Compact models offer between 3 and 4 cubic feet of room. The largest models have 9 cubic feet drums.

    We recommend a 1:2 ratio for determining what size dryer you should buy. For example, if your washer has a 3.5 cubic feet capacity, opt for a dryer with a 7 cubic feet capacity. For large families, or for folks who want to dry a full set of bedding in just one load, you ought to consider buying a mega-capacity offering so you can dry more clothes in fewer loads.

  4. Venting: Most dryers require proper venting so that moisture and heat can be safely removed from your home. For those who don’t have the proper venting, make sure you shop for a ventless dryer — which are dryers that collect excess water in a chamber that you empty after the cycles are finished.

    If your home has the necessary ductwork, definitely opt for a vented dryer as ventless models take significantly longer to dry a load of clothes (typically 2-plus hours.) Also, make sure you have 6 inches of clearance between your dryer and the wall to allow space for the hookups and venting.

How We Chose

We’ve tumbled through the specs and features of more than 50 different clothes dryers and have done hundreds of hours’ worth of research to help you discover which one is best for your needs, budget, and setup. Not only that, our colleagues at Good Housekeeping have tested a number of washing machines in house over the years. They take into account dryers’ performance, capacity, total footprint, and ease of use.

Besides that, We also looked at repair and reliability data from Yale Appliance and Consumer Reports, in addition to J.D. Power's annual Laundry Appliance Satisfaction Study and the ACSI Household Appliance and Electronics Report when making our top picks.

If you’re looking for a top-rated dryer that’ll get the job done and leave you with clean towels, soft sheets, and fresh clothes that you'll want to bury your face in, these are the best clothes dryers money can buy.

Best Overall

Also available at Home Depot

Key Specs

  • Dimensions: 27 x 46 x 30.5 inches

  • Capacity: 7.4 cubic feet

  • Vent Type: Vented

If you're overhauling your laundry room, we think the GE GTD72EBSNWS is the best dryer you can buy. Based on our extensive evaluation, we determined that GE is one of the most reliable brands of appliances. Yale Appliance found that only 6.3% of GE appliances sold throughout 2021 needed service in the first year of ownership. In 2020, Yale Appliance sold 800 GE dryers, and of those, only 19 needed servicing.

The dryer comes in white or diamond gray finishes, and it offers a spacious 7.4-cubic-foot capacity. That's enough room for 18 towels, a king-sized comforter, or about three baskets of laundry.

The GE packs 12 dry cycles and four drying temperatures to select from. Its sanitize cycle eliminates 99.8% of common household bacteria. And since the dryer is outfitted with sensors that measure moisture levels, you can ensure that your clothes are dry every time. The sensor also measures temperature levels so your clothes won't get overdried, either.

The dryer runs quietly, and although it isn't outfitted with steam functionality, it does offer a "wrinkle care" cycle that will tumble clothes without heat to reduce creasing. We also appreciate that it’s a “smart dryer” that syncs with your Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant speaker. That way, you can check the status of the job and turn the dryer off and on remotely.

Best Budget Dryer

Also available at Home Depot

Key Specs

  • Dimensions: 27 x 44 x 29.5 inches

  • Capacity: 7.2 cubic feet

  • Vent Type: Vented

If you're willing to put up with an outdated design and forfeit steam functionality for a much more affordable price, we think this dryer from GE is still an excellent pick for those on a budget. It's easy to use, features a large 7.2-cubic-foot capacity, and performs well, which is what really matters. It is equipped with a moisture sensor, offers users four heat selections, and has a reversible door.

With this dryer, you get six cycles ranging from normal, delicates, cottons, an 80-minute timed dry, and an air fluff cycle. There are no steam cycles like some more expensive options. However, there's a wrinkle care option that uses 15 minutes of extra no heat tumbling after your cycle ends to eliminate wrinkles. Our biggest complaint is the dryer is only backed by a one-year warranty. Most brands cover parts like the dryer and drum for a few extra years, but not GE.

We were happy to see that it has an interior drum light, so socks don't get lost in the abyss. Overall, we think this dryer should meet the needs of most users who'll appreciate its attractive price and its effectiveness at drying clothes.

For the Largest Capacity

Also available at LG, Best Buy

Key Specs

  • Dimensions: 29 x 40.8 x 32.2 inches

  • Capacity: 9 cubic feet

  • Vent Type: Vented

For those with deep pockets who want an equally deep dryer, the LG DLEX8100V has it all — and then some. With its 9-cubic-foot capacity, it's one of the largest clothes dryers you can buy. If you're the type of person who just wants to dump a damp heaping basket of clothes in it and press a button, you'll love it — that is, if you can fit it in your utility room.

A small laundry closet just won't cut it for this mammoth machine. A dryer this large requires more than 23 cubic feet to install and to open its door fully, you'll need 56 inches of space. Its large capacity will definitely come in handy, though, so you can spend less time swapping loads and more time tending to other things. If space is tight, you’ll be happy to know that it's stackable with its matching washer.

The dryer sports an attractive silver stainless steel exterior with a gorgeous glass portal that'll go perfectly in any laundry room. Plus, it has a fingerprint-proof finish, which keeps it looking sleek and smudge-free at all times. Not only does the dryer look great, but it performs well, too. Its TrueSteam technology penetrates fabrics to remove odors and eliminate wrinkles in just 10 minutes flat. It also integrates fantastically with your smartphone. You can download a free app to monitor your laundry remotely and stop or check the status of the running cycle.

If you have a big family and need a big dryer or just hate doing laundry, the LG is packed with all the bells and whistles you need to make your laundry less of a chore and make life a little easier. It's packed with 14 cycles, a child lock, and a bright drum light. Plus, it's backed by a 1-year parts-and-labor warranty, and its DirectDrive motor is covered for an additional 9 years.

Best Design

Also available at Home Depot

Key Specs

  • Dimensions: 28 x 39.75 x 32 inches

  • Capacity: 7.8 cubic feet

  • Vent Type: Vented

The GE GFD85ESPNRS front-load dryer comes in a stunning sapphire blue finish that’ll make it the focal point of any laundry room. We know looks aren’t everything, though! Our colleagues at Good Housekeeping remarked that this dryer demonstrated stellar drying power for clothing and towels and that it dried small loads in just 23 minutes. So not only does it look great, it performs fantastically, as well.

With its 7.8-cubic-foot capacity, it's one of the largest dryers you can buy. If you're the type of person who just wants to dump a damp heaping basket of clothes in it and press a button, you'll love it.

Key features include a stainless-steel drum, a Powersteam cycle that helps resist wrinkles, and Wi-Fi connectivity for monitoring your laundry from afar or starting and stopping cycles remotely. If you purchase the matching washing machine, the washer wirelessly sends ideal dry settings to your dryer, so all you have to do is hit the start button after you transfer your clothes to the dryer.

For the Fastest Cycles

Also available at Best Buy

Key Specs

  • Dimensions: 27 x 38 x 31.5 inches

  • Capacity: 8 cubic feet

  • Vent Type: Vented

For those times when you accidentally spill a glass of water on your pants before you go out, this dryer will have your back. It features a quick cycle that'll get your clothes dry in just 15 minutes. You'll also appreciate the dryer's stainless steel exterior, which comes in either white or black. Its controls are straightforward and aren't cluttered and confusing, and it only has nine cycles — compared to other models that can have from 12 to 20 cycles.

If you have lots of delicates, you don't have to worry about this dryer damaging them, either. It boasts Instant Refresh, Perfect Steam, and Wrinkle Release cycles for keeping your clothes like new. Its allergen cycle even gets hot enough to kill dust mites. Plus, its large 8-cubic-foot drum ensures you can tackle large loads. When it’s time to take your clothes out, you won't leave anything behind because its drum is illuminated. This dryer does exceptionally well at removing moisture from clothes and comes with a 10-year warranty on its drive motor, a lifetime warranty on the tub, and one year of parts-and-labor coverage. For those looking for an attractive dryer that's quick and easy to use, you can't go wrong.

Most Innovative Dryer

Also available at Samsung, Best Buy

Key Specs

  • Dimensions: 27 x 46.9 x 32.5 inches

  • Capacity: 7.5 cubic feet

  • Vent Type: Vented

This dryer has a combined capacity of 7.5 cubic feet, and it's a great choice for folks with several delicates to dry because it’s equipped with dual dryers. There's a top, standstill dryer where you lay undergarments, sweaters, and other delicates that shouldn’t be tumbled to dry, in addition to a large drum for everything else. You can use the dryers separately or together.

The appliance is absolutely stunning and comes in a sharp black stainless steel finish or a white color. The dryer's large touch display is inviting and easy to use, and you'll appreciate that it has a built-in dome light so you won't leave any clothes behind.

The dryer is packed with several sensors, including a vent sensor that detects duct blockages, so it can remind you when it's time to clean your dryer's vent. Like others, it also has a sensor that optimizes the time and temperature to dry clothes completely and prevent heat damage. It features a built-in steamer to minimize wrinkling, odors, germs, and static. We like that you don't have to constantly refill a water reservoir after each load, too. It's packed with 12 drying cycles and five temperature settings, and, despite its large size, the dryer is surprisingly energy efficient.

Samsung clothes dryers rank highest in customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power's laundry appliance satisfaction study, and Samsung was named a most reliable brand by Yale Appliances, as well, so you know this one will last.

Best Top-Load Dryer

Also available at LG, Best Buy

Key Specs

  • Dimensions: 27 x 44.25 x 29.5 inches

  • Capacity: 7.3 cubic feet

  • Vent Type: Vented

Most clothes dryers just have a front-loading reversible door that swings open up to the left or the right — requiring you to squat or bend to load clothes. With this LG model, you can open its door two ways and load it from its top while standing, making it a great choice to complement your existing top-load washer. If you're transferring wet clothes from the washer, just press a button and pull the dryer's door down like an oven so you can keep clothes from hitting the floor. The door locks in place at a 40-degree angle and serves as a chute for your freshly washed clothes. Or, if you're removing the dry clothes, you can swing the door to the side to make room for your laundry basket underneath. We also appreciate that the door has a large viewing window, so you can see it working its magic without interrupting the cycle.

The dryer offers a quiet operation, eight cycles, and five temperature settings. Its 7.3-cubic-foot capacity is plenty large enough for your bedding or a heaping hamper full of clothes. You have the choice of white or black stainless steel. The dryer is backed by LG's 1-year parts-and-labor warranty, and its motor is covered for an additional 9 years on top of that.

Best Portable Dryer

Key Specs

  • Dimensions: 23.6 x 21.5 x 27.5 inches

  • Capacity: 3.5 cubic feet

  • Vent Type: Vented

If you're renting your place and your landlord won't pay to have a washer and dryer installed (or you don't have enough room for a full-sized one or even the right hookups), this dryer will serve as a great temporary solution. It's a small but powerful pick that's perfect for those who want to avoid the laundromat at all costs.

The BLACK+DECKER checks all the boxes for what a portable dryer should be. It's reasonably priced but doesn't feel cheap. It looks great and has a nice see-through window, so you can check up on your clothes without interrupting the cycle. Most importantly, it features a humidity sensor, which will save you time and money since it'll stop drying as soon as your clothes are dry — that way, you can start another load ASAP.

This dryer features a 3.5-cubic-foot capacity, which is enough space for 13 pounds of clothes which roughly translates to three pairs of pants, three shirts, a few socks, and a couple of pairs of underwear. The dryer plugs into a standard-size, 120-volt outlet and has five cycles and three air temperatures.

It's about 28 inches tall and can be stacked on top of a portable washing machine, but unfortunately cannot be wall-mounted. It comes with a vent hose and exhaust connector to allow for proper venting. The dryer is affordable and energy-efficient, and it doesn't require any special electrical or water hookups — you can fit it practically anywhere, even on a countertop!

Best for Small Spaces

Key Specs

  • Dimensions: 23.5 x 33.25 x 25 inches

  • Capacity: 4 cubic feet

  • Vent Type: Ventless

Not to be confused with our top dishwasher pick with the same name, the Bosch 300 series dryer is the best compact dryer for those who can't fit a full-sized model in their home. If a lack of room is the situation you're in, we recommend the Bosch 300 Series WTG86400UC. It's stackable with Bosch's matching washing machine, but unfortunately, the smaller size doesn't result in a smaller price. Regardless, this front-loading Bosch is a stylish, capable, and versatile model equipped with sensors to prevent overheating, which is reassuring for those who have lots of delicates.

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