The Best Laundry Baskets and Hampers of 2026

• Dimensions: 26.4″ L × 18.1″ W × 10″ H (1.25 bushels)
• Materials: Rigid BPA-free plastic with reinforced rim
• Design: Three integrated comfort-grip handles; contoured “hip-hugging” side for one-handed carry
• Ventilation: Large oval holes for airflow prevent odor buildup

If you were asked to close your eyes and create a mental image of the word “laundry basket”, the Sterilite Ultra HipHold Laundry Basket is probably close to what you’re thinking of. It’s the platonic ideal of a laundry basket—plastic, low and wide, utilitarian—but with some welcome upgrades compared to bargain basement baskets.

The rigid BPA-free plastic is tough. Owners have praised their sturdiness, some saying that theirs are still going strong after a decade or more. It’s worth noting that some Reddit users have suspected a decrease in Sterilite’s durability in recent years, but it’s difficult to quantify from anecdotal information sources.

For such a simple product, the design choices are smart. The ergonomic, “hip-hugging” design and three-point handle make it easy to carry without the ridges poking into your hips. There are lots of ventilation holes, and the cuts are clean (no rough edges to snag fabrics). Well designed though it may be, few would consider it beautiful enough to leave sitting out in the living room—least of all when it’s full of your dirty undies. A basic hunk of plastic with no lid, the Sterilite Laundry Basket is best hidden away in the closet or laundry room.

Note that the Sterilite Ultra HipHold Laundry Basket can be purchased individually on some websites, but the best value is the 6-pack. That’s enough to have several devoted to sorting different fabrics, or different family members, and still have other baskets left over for transporting clean laundry from the dryer.

• Dimensions: 18.5″ W × 12.2″ D × 24″ H (3.3 bushels)
• Materials: Woven water hyacinth, steel frame, canvas liner
• Design: Wicker exterior with a lid, and a washable interior liner
• Ventilation: Naturally breathable materials

A laundry hamper, unlike a basket, is meant to look good (or good enough) to leave out as a piece of decor, while still providing all the needed functionality of a stinky clothes receptacle. The Seville Classics Premium Natural Handwoven Portable Laundry Bin Basket checks all the boxes.

Woven water hyacinth and similar wicker designs are common for hampers because of their cozy aesthetic and breathable airflow. However, it’s a material that can snag on fabric, so the Seville Classics has a removable, washable liner that we recommend you always leave in. A steel frame supports the structure internally, which appears to be resilient to all things except cats, which, according to user reviews, may crush the lid if they decide to make it their new perch. Beware!

While natural wickerware hampers are beautiful, it’s important to remember that they’re organic materials that are susceptible to mold and mildew. Don’t store wet laundry for long periods of time. If inserting damp items, leave the lid open to speed up drying. I know from personal experience that once mildew sets into a wicker basket, it’s difficult to clean and often leaves a stain.

Seville Classics offers several versions of this basic design, varying in capacity and shape. The particular mode that we recommend sits at 24 inches tall and holds 4.1 cubic feet—about a week’s worth of laundry.

• Dimensions: 35.43” x 16.93” x 31.1” (overall cart); 4.8 bushels total capacity
• Materials: Steel frame, fabric bags with waterproof PVC coating
• Design: Four separate removable laundry bags with metal handle frames, rolling caster wheels
• Ventilation: Lid-free design for venting, but bags are not breathable material

The Romoon Laundry Hamper Sorter Cart is less a laundry hamper than an entire laundry sorting system. If pre-sorting your delicates from your sportswear from your towels has been a pain (or impossible to train your kids on), this may be the solution.

The Romoon has a sturdy steel frame housing a set of tall, thin bags that are labeled: Towels, Color, Light, Dark. We’re recommending the four-bag version, but it also comes in a three-bag variation. The labels are also optional if you want to be less prescriptive about what goes where. The whole frame is set upon caster wheels, so you can easily move your laundry around the house without lifting.

It’s not small. The Romoon is nearly three feet wide and just as tall. Conversely, each bag is on the small size, so while it’s fine for regular laundry, it will have trouble accommodating large items like comforters.

If you have the space, though, the Romoon Laundry Hamper Sorter Cart is a brilliant, incredibly affordable way to make laundry time faster and more efficient.

• Dimensions: 22.5"L x 17.5"W x 3.5"H (0.9 bushels)
• Materials: TPE & PP plastic
• Design: Collapsible plastic basket that doubles as water-tight bucket
• Ventilation: Open top, otherwise non-breathable

This may be a controversial choice, but our pick for Best Portable Laundry Basket is the Sammart 41L Collapsible Laundry Basket. The sheer utility won us over. Not only is it a fully collapsible laundry basket, it can also double as a bucket, a beer cooler, a baby bath, and a whole list of use cases identified in the Amazon user comments. For the price, a reliable, multi-purpose product like this warranted some celebration from our editors.

That said, it may not fit the bill for “portable” if your laundry commute means moving from building to building rather than room to room. The Sammart is, at the end of the day, just a really good bucket with no lid. For those who frequent laundromats and might need something more private or more wind and rain-resistant, we have another recommendation.

The REI Laundry Pack is a 35-liter (1 bushel) backpack-style bag that cinches at the top with a drawstring. While marketing primarily to campers, it’s perfect for city folk or college students trekking through the streets with quarters jingling in their pockets and a jug of detergent in one hand. REI products are famously durable and have a good return policy.

• Dimensions: 26″ W × 18″ D; 28″ H (approx. 2 bushels total)
• Materials: Steel frame; Dual polyester canvas bags, stain- and odor-resistant coating
• Design: Wide X-frame base for stability; Removable, washable bags with steel handles
• Ventilation: Breathable material and no lid

The Simplehuman X-Frame Laundry Hamper is gorgeous, if we can apply that word to a laundry hamper. It’s the Mercedes of sweaty sock storage. Everything about the look and materials speaks of a brand that wants you to know what good design feels like—something Simplehuman has made a core principle in their take on everyday products like trash cans and soap dispensers.

The sturdy X-shaped base is made of tubular steel in chrome white, or black, all with a stylish, decorative hinge. Single or dual laundry bags hang from steel handles, with a lift-and-go functionality. The bags are made from 100% recycled, breathable polyester, with a stain- and odor-resistant coating to fight off the funk. The bags are also machine washable. You can even have the bags personalized with custom embroidery if you like, but you’ll need to order directly from simplehuman.com to do so.

Design this good will cost you, of course. The X-Frame Laundry Hamper is by far the most expensive hamper on our list. But if luxury is a must for your home, there are few options better than this that combine beautiful design with practical necessities like odor management.

• Dimensions: 8.66″ W × 16.14″ L × 27.56″ H (including wheels); 1.8 bushels
• Materials: Fabric exterior with metal frame; removable, washable liner; caster wheels
• Design: Tall and slender
• Ventilation: Removable, breathable fabric for washbag; no lid

Caroeas makes a series of ultra-slender rolling hampers perfect for small-space living. Available in multiple sizes and colors, we’re recommending the 27.5'' Slim Plus Laundry Basket, but all the sizes have a similar set of features and looks.

The Slim Plus Laundry Basket is remarkably versatile, considering its size and price. The interior liner is removable for laundry transportation or washing. The steel-frame, fabric-wrapped exterior rolls in and out of tight spaces and collapses for easy storage when not in use.

Not every aspect of the Slim Plus Laundry Basket is of the highest quality. Many users are complaining about the “LAUNDRY” lettering on the side of the bag chipping, flaking, or sticking to itself. But some versions come with the lettering, so shop around. Availability for various models is spotty at the time of this publication, but that can change over time. Assuming you can find the size, color, and design you like at the time you’re reading this, we’re happy to recommend Caroeas.