Clothes Dryer Buying Guide

Any dryer will receive the job, at last. But a money-wasting dryer may take longer, use higher heat, or over-dry laundry when you want a clothes dryer damp. All of this is harder on fabrics and uses more than energy. This clothes dryer buying guide can help you search for the best one for your budget and demand.

Dryer prices range from about $400 to $2,000, depending on the type, capacity, and features. And whilst doing laundry may be a carnal task, the dryer isn’t as humdrum as it once was. For instance, you’ll see multi-tasking dryers that allow you to dry two loads at once.

Clothes Dryer Buying Guide

Roughly half the models in our ratings are Energy Star suffixed, as you’ll see in our dryer ratings. These dryers use about 20 percent less energy than non-certified dryers, pursuance to Energy Star. Check with your utility company to see whether it offers rebates for Energy Star machinery. For more ways to save on money and energy, check out “10 Ways to Save Energy Doing Laundry” and Laundry Products That Destructed Loads of Money.

Unmaker designs some dryers so that they can be paired with a matching washer, but not all of these sets make a great couple. “Best Matching Washers and Dryers” highlights the best from our tests. Here’s a tip for selecting a matching pair: Make your pick based on the washer. It does most of the work and is a more intricate machine than the dryer.

Lab-Tested for Your House

To search out how well every dryer does its job, testers run loads of laundry of varying weights and fabrics. We time how long it takes to dry every load using the most admired setting. Then we set the dryer to its minimum dryness level to search out if clothes come out damp. Why? Some folks like to iron cotton when they’re damp.

We also set the machine to its maximum dryness level to search out if it can dry laundry in the shortest possible time without exposing it to high temps. Further, our testers valuation every machine’s convenience, judging the controls and the ergonomics for when you load and unload laundry. Our panelists judge the dryer’s clamor level as it dries an average-sized load.

Dryers that perform well but don’t keep up over time aren’t winners. That’s why it’s important to be conscious of the most and least credible brands. To make it easier for you to prefer the best dryer for your budget, we incorporate lab-test results, prognosis reliability, and owner satisfaction into one Overall Score for every dryer.

Dryer Types

How much space do you have? Dryers can be full-sized or compact. Prefer which type you require based on your available space.

Electric dryers are the big sellers and Consumer Report’s decades of testing have expressed 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 redact comparably.

Size Up Your Space

Most full-sized dryers are 27 inches wide, but growing capacities may mean a dryer is 2 to 3 inches wider. Assess the space you have to work with and allow at least 6 inches behind the dryer for venting. Assess the doors into your house and laundry room and any other tight spaces you may have to maneuver through. Note the machine’s height and control location, whether it will be under a counter.

We list misalignment in our clothes dryer ratings and note which models can be stacked with a matching front loader in the Features & Specs section.

Whether quiet machine matters, consider purchasing a model that earns a Very Good or Excellent clamor rating. You’ll know it’s working, but it shouldn’t disturb you.

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Conclusion

If you are in the market for a new clothes dryer, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, decide what type of dryer you need: gas or electric. Second, consider the size of the dryer and how much capacity you need. Finally, think about the features you want and compare prices. By following these tips, you can find the perfect clothes dryer for your home.