The Best Dryers of 2026

While clothes dryers are rarely purchased without their accompanying washers, there’s no rule saying you have to buy them as a set. Sometimes it’s more economical to buy a washer-dryer set, but if you’re not concerned about owning a matching pair, you can pick the best dryer for your needs.

Multitudes of dryers have passed through our labs, and we’ve tested them from every angle. The chief concern: Can the dryer get clothes dry in a timely manner without damaging them? Next, we test extra features like steam or smart connectivity. Finally, we analyze the fit and finish.

In addition to meeting our high drying standards, the best dryers have sturdy doors, drum lights, and easy-to-read control panels. Among those, the Electrolux ELFE7637AT (available at Home Depot) tops our list with excellent performance and a number of features that make laundry day easier.

This dryer buying guide focuses on the best electric dryers, but each has a gas-powered counterpart that we expect works equally well. Your specific needs may vary, but on this list you’ll find the best clothes dryer for your laundry room.

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Other Dryers We Evaluated

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What To Consider When Buying A Dryer

Whether it’s an emergency replacement or you’re just looking to upgrade your laundry room, there are a few things to consider when purchasing a new dryer.

Space

Before you hit “buy” on your new dryer, be sure you know the size constraints of your space. We’re not just talking about the available width in your laundry room, although that’s definitely important.

Are the doorways in your home wide enough for a dryer to fit through during delivery? Will narrow or tight staircases present a problem? Take a tape measure and check the doorway width against the dryer’s specs, making sure you have a few inches of clearance.

Capacity

Most full-size dryers have capacities ranging from 7 to 7.5 cubic feet, enough to handle the laundry that fits in most washing machines. However, if you have a high-capacity washing machine (5.0 cubic-foot capacity or greater), you’ll need a dryer that can keep up with the bigger laundry loads—typically one with a capacity of 8.0 cubic-feet or greater. Otherwise, your dryer may struggle to dry large loads of laundry in a single cycle.

Price

Keep your budget constraints in mind. Dryer prices can range from $500 to $2,000 or more. Most sit in the $800 to $1,200 range, but you can generally find great dryers at any price point. It just takes a little research and figuring out which features and design elements you absolutely need versus those you can live without.

Also, if you can afford to wait, most appliance manufacturers and retailers tend to offer steep discounts around major holidays. Vigilantly searching for deals can save you hundreds of dollars.

Customization/Extra Cycles

How picky are you about your dryer cycles? Do you want to set specific cycle temperatures, drying levels, and cycle duration, or would you prefer just to hit two buttons and start drying? Do you want a cycle just for denim jeans?

Consider how you do laundry on a day-to-day basis. If you prefer a straightforward process, you’ll probably want to buy a lower-tech dryer. Even if extra customization seems appealing, it may not make sense to buy a dryer loaded with features you won’t actually use.

On the other hand, if you’re tech-savvy and want your phone to alert you when your laundry is dry, look for a model with Wi-Fi capabilities and app controls. Apps also tend to unlock additional customization features.

FAQ: What To Know About Dryers

How do I extend the life of my dryer?

What are steam capabilities?

Are you considering a dryer with steam? Steam is an easy and effective way to reduce wrinkles, remove stale smells, and refresh clothing.

However, if the dryer you’re eyeballing has steam, be sure to find out exactly how it gets the water needed to produce that steam. Most dryers require access to an additional water line, but some have a drawer for manually adding water. If you don’t have that necessary water hookup, you may pay extra for a feature you can’t actually use.

Can you change the door configuration?

Based on your laundry room setup, which way should the dryer door open? If the opening direction doesn’t work in your laundry space, don’t worry, almost all dryers have reversible doors. Request that the installer flip the door before they finish the installation.

It may seem like such a minor thing, but it can be a big frustration when you use your shiny new dryer for the first time and learn you can’t open the door all the way, or the door is getting in the way of moving wet laundry from the washer.

Some dryers now have a dual-direction opening—the ability to pull down and open to the side. Check the specs if you’re interested in a dryer that opens both ways.

Do I need an electric or a gas-powered dryer?

Whether you need a gas- or electric-powered dryer depends on your existing hookups and budget. If you currently have a gas line to your dryer, you can look at gas-powered models; if not, you’ll need an electric dryer. Be sure there’s a 240-volt outlet, because dryers run on higher voltage than standard 120-volt outlets and require a different plug configuration.

Electric dryers are typically less expensive, but may cost more to run over time. Gas dryers cost more up front but may have a lower impact on your utility bills. Gas dryers also require proper ventilation beyond the standard dryer vent, and can pose a risk of a hazardous gas leak.

Why You Should Trust Our Expertise

Every dryer we tested in the Reviewed labs underwent the same testing regime, which addresses both performance and user experience.

In addition to dryers, we've spent many years testing major appliances including washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, and robot vacuum cleaners.

In addition to standardized performance testing, we use appliances as anyone would in their daily lives to evaluate the user experience, so we can recommend products that really work and are easy to use.

Dryer testing includes:

• Drying performance – How much water does each major dryer cycle actually remove from your clothes, and how quickly can it achieve that level of dryness?

• Maximum temperature – We record the maximum temperature in each dryer cycle. Some like it hot, but if dryer temperatures get too hot, it could damage your clothes.

The best dryers completely dry your clothes at a hot temperature (140°F-150°F), but not too hot (lest your clothes be scorched or damaged), and do so in a reasonable amount of time.

Beyond these performance tests, we also assess the usability of each dryer, based on our experience during testing and casual use. Our main goal is to discern: How easy is it to actually use this dryer? This involves assessing the control panel, door, vent, lint trap, and any smart features.

By combining performance data with our own observations, we can make solid recommendations for any dryer, regardless of price point.

What Other Reviewers Are Saying About The Best Dryers

There are so many dryers on the US market, and almost as many expert recommendations on which one to buy, so we’ve gone ahead and done the research for you.

• Wirecutter: Wirecutter evaluates washer-dryer sets, so its top pick is an LG companion to its winning washer, the LG DLEX4000 is a step down from our Best Upgrade pick, but offers solid performance at a lower cost with fewer bells and whistles.
• Consumer Reports Consumer Reports’ top-rated dryer is the LG DLE3400W, which scored highest for its predicted reliability and quiet performance.
  
• Better Homes & Gardens: The BHG team agrees with Wirecutter, and their pick for the best washer-dryer set includes the LG DLEX4000.

What Owners Are Saying About Our Best Dryer

User comments about the best dryers reveal the typical animosity of laundry day. We’re pulling these user reviews from some of the largest consumer sites and appliance retailers.

• The Home Depot: Customers at The Home Depot give the Electrolux ELFE7637AT dryer an average of 4.7 stars with over 4,000 reviews. This dryer also gets 4.7 stars at AJ Madison and Abt signaling a lot of very satisfied customers.
• reddit/BuyItForLife: The folks who contribute to the BIFL subreddit often recommend Speed Queen for washers and dryers, but when challenged to pick a different brand, Maytag appears most often, with LG coming in a close second.

Read More About Dryers and Laundry on Reviewed

For more tips, product reviews, and ideas related to dryers and laundry, check out these articles on Reviewed.com and beyond:

8 things to consider before buying a new dryer: This feature is a practical consumer guide that walks you through the essentials of picking a dryer—including setting a budget, sizing needs, and compatibility with existing washer setups. It’s especially helpful if you're replacing just your dryer.

9 Ways to Keep Your Washer and Dryer Healthy: This article offers smart upkeep advice—like leaving washer doors open to prevent mildew and cleaning lint traps—designed to help appliances run safely and effectively over years of use.

7 Best Steam Dryers We’ve Tested: A product guide spotlighting dryers equipped with steam functionality—this list of the best steam dryers highlights their solid drying performance, smart features, and wrinkle-reducing steam capability.

The Best Ventless Dryers: If you have space or venting constraints,s consider a compact ventless (heat-pump) dryer. The ones on this list are praised for excellent efficiency and drying capabilities—making them ideal for apartments or tight setups.

The Best Washers We’ve Tested: If you need to replace your washer as well, shop this list of the best washers we recommend through our expert testing.

The Best Washer-Dryer Combos: A washer-dryer combo can be the best of all worlds: typically ventless, energy- and water-efficient, and space saving. The new generation of washer-dryer combos solves the problems most older models faced, making this list the cutting edge of laundry machines.