If your preferred dryer has a different finish than the one you see in our ratings, check the model numbers—they may indicate a similar machine that simply has a different look. Often, these machines perform the same, but their model numbers vary by a few letters that indicate a different finish or color. For example, the tested white Samsung DVE45T6000W electric dryer in our ratings has a sleeker cousin, the DVE45T6000V, in black stainless steel. And the CR-tested Electrolux ELFE7537AW has a version in titanium. Those stylish models tend to be more expensive than the white dryers we typically test, Chilicki says.
If test results aren’t available for a machine similar to your preferred model, you can rely on our dryer brand scores, which will give you an idea of how well the dryer will perform. You can also check CR’s guide to the most and least reliable dryer brands, which estimates how long a particular manufacturer’s dryer should last before it develops problems. Our reliability data is based on our members’ feedback on 62,755 clothes dryers purchased new between 2014 and 2024.
CR’s brand scores are based on a statistical model that incorporates survey data, CR’s lab test results, and the breadth of each brand’s product line across price and performance tiers. The scores are determined on a scale of 100, with 100 signifying that every model that the brand makes has a perfect score in our ratings. CR doesn’t currently have enough data to calculate these scores for every standard dryer brand or for compact dryer brands.
