The 10 Best Clothes Dryers of 2021

Best Overall: Maytag MED5630HW 7.3 cu. ft. 240-Volt White Stackable Electric Vented Dryer

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The roomy and practical Maytag MED5630HW is a top option for a dryer. This model gives you 7.3 cubic feet of space, and is up to the challenge of thoroughly drying loads large and small, and doing so without creating a ton of extra noise. It’s equipped with advanced moisture sensing to ensure that each load is dry without wasting excess energy on a cycle. In addition, a wrinkle prevent setting can continue to tumble the load for up to 150 minutes after it's completed, to minimize ironing time on items like shirts or pants. 

Now, this model might not have a steam function or reversible door, but it does have an extra power button and quick dry setting that you'll likely appreciate. Both of these options boost the power of the machine and ensure that laundry day doesn't drag on. You can also opt to purchase a pedestal or stacking kit separately, to give your laundry room some extra storage and floor space. All in all, at a decent price, this Maytag dryer covers the basics and then some, making it our best overall pick.

Best Budget: Amana NED4655EW 6.5 cu. ft. Top Load Electric Dryer with Wrinkle Prevent Option

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The Amana NED4655EW marries a good price point with valuable features. This budget clothes dryer isn’t the fanciest model on the market, but includes settings that make it easy and efficient to dry your laundry. 

The 6.5-cubic-foot drum isn’t the largest capacity dryer on the market, but offers plenty of room for average-sized loads. In addition, an auto-dry sensor ensures each cycle only lasts as long as necessary to get your clothes dry. Plus, there's an optional wrinkle prevention setting, which will save you time with your ironing board, and make sure your shirts and pants are ready-to-wear upon coming out of the dryer.

Best Electric: LG Electronics DLE7300WE 7.3 cu. ft. Smart Wi-Fi Enabled Electric Dryer

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If you’re in the market for an electric dryer, remember that you’ll need a 220/240V outlet to plug your machine in to. Electric dryers require extra voltage to generate heat, along with power the controls and turn the drum. Many spaces and laundry rooms are already equipped for an electric dryer, so you may have no issues with installing this eye-catching model that offers easy loading, a range of cycles, and quiet operation. 

Most notably, the LG DLE7300WE has a dual-opening door that can be opened hamper-style or to the side, depending on your preference or the configuration of your washing machine. Some people like opening it hamper style to prevent any clothes from falling on the floor, or to use it as a place to quickly fold a small load of clothes. In addition, the eight drying cycles and options are easy to use, and a FlowSense Duct Clogging indicator helps to ensure that lint doesn’t linger in your vent system and impair dryer performance. 

Best Gas: LG Electronics DLGX4001W 7.4 cu. ft. White Ultra Large Capacity Gas Dryer

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The LG Electronics DLGX4001W will check off many of your boxes, if you're not only looking for a gas dryer, but also one that's very functional. This appliance is stackable, equipped with a steam function, and can be controlled by other smart devices like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Not to mention, its drum has a total of 7.4 cubic feet of space, meaning it can handle a ton of clothes, sheets, or towels at once.

Of course, there's always a learning curve with laundry, as you may ask yourself regularly what setting your load should go on. This machine eliminates all of that guesswork, by using AI technology to select the appropriate settings. On its own, it'll select the best drying motions and temperature for the type of fabric in a load, assuming you pick the "sensor dry" setting. The model also features settings for bedding, delicates, and sanitizing. When a cycle is done, remove everything with ease, as it has a reversible door with a tempered glass window that won't easily get scratched.

Best Energy-Efficient: Electrolux EFME627UTT 8.0 cu. ft. Front Load Perfect Steam Electric Dryer

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By design, dryers require a fair bit of energy to operate. Between generating hot air, and tumbling a drum to take your clothes from drippy to dry, consuming a lot of energy is inevitable. But, you can offset some of the energy costs by choosing an energy-efficient dryer like the Electrolux EFME627UTT. This traditional vented clothes dryer will fit the needs of most households, despite using a heat pump—which sometimes gets a bad rap for not thoroughly drying clothes.

This dryer is part of a very energy-efficient washer and dryer duo and is Energy Star-certified. This unit uses about 600 kWh, according to the Energy Star rating. Some of the features that will make a difference in your everyday routine include a 15-minute fast dry setting, that lets you dry smaller loads of clothes quickly and thoroughly without extended cycle times. In addition, an eco mode minimizes the energy consumption without sacrificing the dryer’s performance.

Best for Small Spaces: LG Electronics WKEX200HBA 27 in. Black Steel WashTower Laundry Center

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If you’re tight on space, the LG WKEX200HBA is a great solution. It combines a washer and dryer into a single unit, and allows you to control both via a central control panel. Unlike other laundry centers, you'll notice the doors are both front-loading, which makes it easy to operate. In addition, the unit can be used alongside the LG ThinQ app, which helps you select cycles or save your very own presets.

When it comes to the dryer, you're certainly not limited on space. The stainless steel drum has 7.4 cubic feet of space, which is plenty for tumbling king-sized sheets or even a comforter. Now, if you do want to tumble a bulkier item, be prepared to run a quick touch-up cycle to tackle any damp spots. If you leave a freshly-dried load in the dryer for a bit, also be prepared to find your machine running again, as the dryer will occasionally re-tumble the clothes for up to three hours after the cycle has completed. This is how the machine prevents wrinkles from forming, while still offering a compact build that's great for small laundry rooms or closets.

Best Stackable: Samsung DVE45R6100P 7.5 cu. ft. Stackable Electric Dryer with Steam

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The stackable Samsung DVE45R6100P doesn’t skimp on features, functionality, or style. While you can position it next to your existing washing machine, it's also able to stack on top of its matching washer—the Samsung WF45R6100AP. It has the option to be put on a matching pedestal, for easy access to the 7.5-cubic-foot drum. You can make use of its reversible door too, which can swing open toward your washer or away from it, depending on the layout of your home and what's a more convenient system for you.

This model has many thoughtful amenities like that, that take it to the next level. For example, there's a steam function that'll rid your clothes of any wrinkles, as well as a lint indicator so you know when to clean the tray. It's able to dry a load of clothes to completion the first time around, meaning you won't need to run a touch-up cycle even when dealing with hard-to-wash items, such as pillows and stuffed animals. The very quiet operation of this appliance may make you forget it's running at times. However, quirky music will play when it's done and ready to be unloaded.

Best Large Capacity: Whirlpool WED8120HW 8.8 cu. ft. 240-Volt Smart White Electric Dryer with Steam

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For a supersized dryer, look no further than the Whirlpool WED8120HW. With one look inside the drum, you will instantly feel confident that there are very few loads this dryer can’t handle. This model has a total of 8.8 cubic feet of space for towels, blankets, clothes, and comforters. But, notably, it also has three sensors that ensure your clothes are dried properly. They recognize the amount of moisture in your load, and adjust how long the cycle lasts accordingly.

In addition, this model is able to turn into a smart model with a connected app subscription. You can run the sanitize cycle to eliminate a majority of common bacteria from your clean clothes, and steam cycle to tackle wrinkles right from the get-go. Finally, this model features a reversible door and interior light so you can get to your clothes with total ease.

Best Smart: GE GFD85ESPNDG 7.8 cu. ft. Smart Diamond Gray Stackable Electric Vented Dryer

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Get a helping hand with your laundry when you choose a smart clothes dryer. The GE GFD85ESPNDG is part of a smart duo, but brings its intelligent features to any laundry set-up. It works with Amazon Alexa as well as Google Assistant, and a smartphone app that allows you to monitor cycles wherever you are.

Although this model can be noisy at times, it also has a reversible door, 7.8-cubic-foot drum, and stackable design to make your laundry experience as streamlined as possible. Along with a stacking kit, you can pair it with its matching washer. You can also make use of its steam function and sanitize setting to tackle both wrinkles and bacteria in your clothes. Are you typically in a rush? Run a quick dry cycle to have your clean clothes in under 23 minutes. It's that easy.