We updated this guide in October 2022 to include new winners based on updated testing by the Home Care & Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. We removed sold-out and discontinued products and added a new pick from GE.
A good clothes dryer will dry your laundry quickly and evenly and won't use too much energy. They may seem like simpler appliances than washing machines, but dryers continually incorporate new technology and smarter features. New clothes dryers can come vented or ventless, can steam and sanitize, include heat pumps to save energy, connect to WiFi and apps and more. With all of these newer options available, there's a lot to consider.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab tests the newest dryers to help you make the best choice for your home and family. We've been testing clothes dryers since they were invented in the 1930s, so we've tested hundreds if not thousands of clothes dryers over the years. When we test dryers we score their performance to make sure they dry clothes safely, quickly and well, of course, and we evaluate how easy they are to use. We also consider features like the footprint, drum capacity and more.
Our top picks:
As you read along, you'll find out more details about all of our clothes dryer picks, how we test them, what to keep in mind when you are buying a clothes dryer and why you can feel confident trusting our Good Housekeeping reviews.
GH LAB TIP: Before you head out shopping, make sure to accurately measure the space where your new dryer will go as well as the width of doorways and stairwells to get it into position, keeping in mind allowances to open and close doors in the room as well as on the appliance.