The Top 7 Best Dryers of 2022

By Corrie Pelc

There’s nothing quite like slipping on a pair of socks or wrapping yourself in a blanket fresh and warm out of the dryer. While outdoor sunshine will certainly get your laundry dry — and for free! — dryers get the job done in a lot less time and more efficiently.

Dryers have come a long way over the years, and there are hundreds of options to choose from. After lots of research, here are the best clothes dryers you can buy this year.

How to Buy a Dryer

Here are some of the questions to consider when purchasing a new clothes dryer:

• Gas or Electric? This really depends on the type of hook-up you have in your laundry room or garage. Most of today’s dryers come in either gas or electric options, so you’ll have your pick.
• Vented or Ventless? When dryers are working, they need a way to get rid of any moisture and heat build-up in the machine. This is normally done through the vent in the dryer, which hooks up to a vent in the wall behind it. Having a vented dryer is pretty standard, however, there are some models that are ventless where internal technologies in the dryer remove excess water and recover the extra heat to put it back into the drying process.
• What Type of Door Do You Want? Most dryers have their doors on the front of the machine. Some open drop-down, which gives you a ledge to fold your dried laundry on. Others swing open to the side, which for some people may give them the ability to reach deeper into the machine to grab that last sock all the way in the back corner. Some dryer side doors are reversible, meaning you can switch the side they open. And some dryers have a dual-opening door, which can be opened as either a drop-down or side-open door, depending on how you feel that day.
• What Size Do You Need? Dryers range in size from compact (about 24 inches wide), full-size (around 27 inches wide), and oversized (about 28-30 inches wide). How much laundry you need to dry and how large your laundry room size is will determine how big a dryer you can accommodate.
• What Cycles Are Important to You? Today’s dryers don’t just dry clothes anymore. A lot of them offer a wide variety of cycle options to make the laundry process more enjoyable. For example, some offer drying cycles like steam, eco-friendly, and delicate to offer more options for your laundry. Some have extended tumble, which keeps your clothes moving after drying so fewer wrinkles set in. And other dryers have speed modes where you can quickly dry a set of clothing you need for that evening in 15 minutes.

Test Factors We Considered When Picking the Best Dryers

With the market inundated with options, it’s hard to pick the best clothes dryer. Here’s a rundown of the test factors we used when making our list:

• Price: Dryers come at many price points; how will this dryer fit in someone’s budget?
• Power: Is the dryer electric, gas, or available in both options?
• Size: The width, depth, and height of the dryer will determine whether it’ll fit in a laundry room space or not.
• Capacity: How many cubic feet of laundry can the dryer process at one time? Generally speaking, dryers normally have a capacity of between 3.4 to 7 cubic feet.
• Drum Type: Like in washing machines, dryer drums are generally made of either stainless steel or a coated ceramic. Both have their own pros and cons.
• Door Type: How does the door on the dryer open?
• Venting: Is the dryer vented, ventless, or have the option for either?
• Cycles: How many cycles does the dryer offer?
• Controls: What type of controls does the dryer have?
• Energy Star Certified: Just like washing machines, dryers can also be Energy Star Certified. An Energy Star Certified dryer means saving money on utility costs and also helping prevent greenhouse emissions.
• Colors: What colors is the dryer available in?
• Warranty: Does the manufacturer back their dryer?

And now, onto the best dryers of 2022:

With over 2,500 reviews and 4.7 out of 5 stars on HomeDepot.com, it’s no surprise that the Electrolux EFME627UIW 8.0 cu. ft. Electric Dryer is our pick for the best overall clothes dryer. In addition to a large eight cubic foot capacity, this dryer offers a number of special features, including a 15-minute fast dry option, minimized noise when it's in operation, and an extended tumble option to help reduce wrinkles. Also, the dryer's steam option helps keep clothes looking their best, and its predictive drying sensor helps protect clothes from getting damaged by overdrying. The Electrolux dryer is available in both electric and gas options, is Energy Star-certified, and is stackable with its companion washer.

If you're looking for a dryer that you can activate in the palm of your hand, look no further than the LG EasyLoad Smart Wi-Fi Enabled 7.3-cu ft Dryer. Available in both gas and electric versions, this 7.3 cubic foot dryer is WiFi connected and can be controlled through LG’s SmartThinQ app on your phone, or connect and activate the dryer through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The dryer also offers the SmartDiagnosis feature where, through the app, LG can help diagnose issues, cutting down on time picking up the phone to call customer service. The dryer comes with nine drying cycles and five temperature settings, as well as a sensor that will automatically adjust drying times by how much moisture it senses. The LG EasyLoad Smart Wi-Fi Enabled 7.3-cu ft Dryer operates quietly and has a dual-opening door so you can open it drop-down or side-open depending on your needs.

You can easily dry a king-size comforter and its matching sheet set in one load with the LG Electronics 9.0 cu. ft. Stackable Front Load Electric Dryer. This electric dryer boasts an extremely generous nine cubic feet of drying space with 14 cycles, including Speed Dry, Super Dry, and Steam Sanitary. The dryer's steaming options also help eliminate odors and wrinkles from the laundry. The dryer is operated through an easy-to-use LED display and dial, and you never worry about your laundry sticking to each other again with the dryer's static-busting option in the settings. Lastly, the LG Electronics 9.0 cu. ft. Stackable Front Load Electric Dryer has a feature that notifies you when your vent ducts need cleaning to help ensure that the dryer's performance does not suffer.

The LG WashTower Electric Stacked Laundry Center's dryer boasts 7.4 cubic feet capacity for lots of laundry room. Both machines in the washer-dryer combo set use AI technology that allows you to select the best drying cycle for your laundry, and you can set the dryer to auto-select what it should do based on what you select on the washer. The dryer offers 11 cycles, including bedding, heavy-duty, delicates, and a small load that can quickly dry up to three items. It also offers cycles for reducing static, wrinkle care, steaming, and an energy saver cycle. The LG WashTower Electric Stacked Laundry Center is WiFi-compatible and your entire laundry cycle can be controlled through LG’s ThinQ App.

If you live in an apartment, RV, or other small dwelling, finding a dryer can be tricky. Thankfully the Panda Portable Compact Laundry Dryer only takes up 3.5 cubic feet and weighs just 48 lbs, making it easy to move around. Despite its size, this compact dryer offers similar features to standard-sized dryers, including a stainless steel drum and a large see-through window on the dryer door. The dryer has an interior lint filter that is easily removed for cleaning, and drying times can be set for 20 to 200 minutes depending on your laundry's needs. The Panda Portable Compact Laundry Dryer only needs a 110V plug to work (most electric dryers require a 240V plug), which means it can be used wherever there's a standard plug.

Who says you buy a hard-working and reliable dryer for under $600? The Amana 6.5 Cu. Ft. 11-Cycle Dryer comes in both an electric and gas option at under $500 and $600, respectively. While at that price point you won't have some of the special features that more expensive dryers offer, you still have 11 drying cycles and three temperature settings to choose from, making it a workhorse in the laundry room. This economical dryer is easily operated by a dial on the top, and its automatic dryness control has a sensor in the drum that stops it when it notices your laundry is dry, helping you save money on energy bills. The budget-conscious Amana dryer is backed by a one-year limited warranty and features a reversible side-open door.

Why settle for one clothes dryer when you can have two?! The Samsung 7.5 cu. ft. FlexDry Dryer not only dries your laundry like a standard dryer but also features a special dryer on the top just for delicates. This special dryer has its own door and allows you to dry clothing like undergarments and sweaters without them tumbling, so you don't have to worry about fabric damage or shrinkage. In the main dryer area, a stainless steel drum takes care of up to 7.5 cubic feet of laundry with 12 cycles to choose from. The dryer's internal sensor helps optimize drying time so your laundry doesn't get over-dry. And the Samsung 7.5 cu. ft. FlexDry Dryer is easily operated through either the easy-to-read LED display or via your smartphone or smart home device.

How to Take Care of Your Dryer

Dryers are not cheap and if taken care of properly, they should last you for many years to come. Here are a few tips on how to make sure your dryer keeps on tumbling for as long as possible:

• Read Your Owner's Manual — We’ll keep saying it: Always take the time to read through your machine’s owner’s manual. Not only will you learn all about the features of your new dryer, but you’ll also learn smart tips on how to keep it clean and running efficiently.
• Keep the Lint Trap Clean — Before drying your first load, check to see where the lint trap is on the machine. Most are easily accessible outside the machine, but sometimes they are placed inside. It’s vital to clean your lint trap after every drying cycle — lint build-up can cause the dryer to overheat, leading to mechanical issues.
• Periodically Check and Clean the Vent — Know where the ventilation for your dryer comes out in your home so you can make sure nothing blocks it. And every few years, you’ll need to clean out the vent and ducts. If you’re not sure how to do that, hiring a professional might be your best option.
• Clean the Inside and Outside of the Dryer — There’s no mistaking the fact that dryers get dirty. Make sure to keep both the inside and outside of your dryer clean by wiping down both surfaces with a soft microfiber fiber with plain soap and water or a little rubbing alcohol.

Do you have a dryer that’s loads of fun? Tell us about it in the comments below!