Best Clothes Dryers of 2025, Tested and Reviewed
These electric, gas, and compact models from Consumer Reports' tests will dry your laundry quickly and efficiently
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When it comes to picking a dryer, more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better. In fact, some of the best dryers we’ve tested are also among the least expensive.
CR’s clothes dryer ratings of more than 150 models are based on performance, reliability, noise, and convenience (for instance, whether the door is high enough to clear a laundry basket). Prices range from about $450 to $2,200, but most of the dryers that made it onto this list of the best cost under $1,000.
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- Best Clothes Dryers: Electric Gas Compact
- How CR Tests Dryers
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According to our recent surveys, electric dryers account for 73 percent of the machines owned by CR members. Nonetheless, our decades of research and testing show that gas dryers perform just as well. Our comprehensive ratings cover both types of full-sized dryers, as well as compacts.
If your dryer is on its last tumble, the models below are among the best electric, gas, and compact dryers from our tests. For helpful information as you shop, see our clothes dryer buying guide, which also lists the brands we test. Need a washer, too? Check out our picks of the best matching washer/dryer sets and the best washing machines.
Best Electric Clothes Dryers
Electric clothes dryers are the most popular choice among consumers, and they consistently set the standard for quality in CR’s tests. Many of our top-rated electric dryers are from LG, thanks in part to its stellar reliability ratings and impressive owner satisfaction scores. Keep reading to discover the cream of this crop.
Best Gas Clothes Dryers
Full-sized gas dryers require a 120-volt outlet and a gas hookup. Like its electric dryers, LG’s gas models dominate our ratings for quality, features, and overall reliability.
Best Compact Clothes Dryers
On average, compact dryers don’t rate as well as electric and gas models in our tests. But they tend to be smaller and use less energy, making them ideal for stacking (with matching compact front-load washers) in an apartment or a smaller laundry space. Miele compact dryers lead in our ratings, but Samsung isn’t far behind.
@consumerreports For optimal laundry success, follow these tips from our resident laundry expert, Rich Handel ☺️. Learn more through the link in our bio. #laundrytok #laundry #cleaningtok #laundrytiktok
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How CR Tests Clothes Dryers
In our labs, we dry laundry loads of different sizes and fabric mixes (like cotton/polyester blends and synthetic delicates) to determine a machine’s drying performance. A dryer’s controls and ergonomics, such as ease of loading and unloading, determine its convenience score. The sound quality and volume of an 8-pound laundry load define a dryer’s noise score.
We also consider a dryer’s energy efficiency. Generating the heat required to dry clothes generally uses much more energy than a clothes washer. An Energy Star certified dryer can save as much as 20 percent on your energy costs compared with a standard dryer.
Learn more about our tests in CR’s clothes dryer buying guide.
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