These electric, gas, and compact models from Consumer Reports’ tests will dry your laundry quickly and efficiently
CR has tested over 190 dryers to help you find the most efficient machine for laundry day.
By Keith Flamer
When it comes to picking a dryer, more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better. In fact, some of the best dryers we test are also among the least expensive.
CR’s clothes dryer ratings of over 190 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 $400 to around $2,500, but most of the dryers that made it onto this list cost under $1,000.
There’s no shortage of dryers to choose from today, each with its own slate of features. But there are some features that you should prioritize when buying or replacing a dryer, like ones that will make the most difference in everyday use: sufficient capacity and a moisture sensor, which detects how dry a load is and automatically turns off the machine. This prevents overdrying and also saves energy.
“Dryers can vary in external size by a few inches or more, and many people have space or access limitations, like doorways,” says Rich Handel, the CR test engineer who oversees our laundry lab. “Narrow your choices down to a dryer that has a moisture sensor, then look at the space you have and the capacity you need," he says.
A majority of consumers recently surveyed by CR said they prefer electric dryers over gas dryers. Nonetheless, our decades of research and testing show that gas dryers compare favorably with their electric counterparts. You’ll find both types of dryers, as well as compact dryers, in our comprehensive ratings.
If your dryer is on its last tumble, the models below are among the top 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 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. Keep reading for three of the best.
LG DLE3400W
We expect the top-rated LG DLE3400W to perform similarly to the CR-tested LG DLEX3700W (now discontinued). The tested model delivers solid performance across the board, nabbing an excellent rating for noise and ratings near the top in our drying and convenience tests. This stackable, Energy Star certified machine, with a claimed capacity of 7.4 cubic feet, is equipped with a moisture sensor, an extended tumble, custom programs, and an end-of-cycle signal—with a fairly low price. As a brand, LG electric dryers boast top-notch reliability and a very good owner satisfaction score in CR’s latest member surveys.
LG DLEX4080B
The sleek, black LG DLEX4080B has no shortage of features, including a moisture sensor, a steam option, a duct block indicator, WiFi connectivity, and an extended tumble cycle. It’s also an eco-friendly Green Choice model. On top of that, it’s an all-around great performer, garnering a stellar drying score and our second-highest scores for noise output and convenience. If this model is too pricey for you, consider the LG DLEX4000W or the LG DLEX4200W, two similar (and cheaper) electric dryers from LG, each with a 7.4-cubic-foot capacity. They perform comparably but lack some features, such as duct block indicators and stainless steel drums, which resist damage better than plastic and painted metal drums.
LG DLEX8600BE
There’s a lot to like about the Energy Star certified LG DLEX8600BE. It’s a strong performer, is quiet and easy to operate, and comes loaded with useful features like extended tumble, a moisture sensor, a steam option, WiFi, and a duct blockage indicator. With its 7.3-cubic-foot stainless steel drum, capacity won’t be an issue, even for large bedding. But at 43 inches high, it’s a tad taller than most of the other dryers we test, and it’s not stackable.
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 when it comes to their quality, features, and overall reliability.
LG DLGX5501W
Our top-rated gas dryer, the LG DLGX5501W offers great performance and some nice extras at a moderate price. It scores admirably in our tests for drying performance, convenience, and noise, and offers a steam option, a moisture sensor, extended tumble, and WiFi capability. Its stainless steel drum has a 7.4-cubic-foot capacity. In our surveys, CR members rank LG gas dryers tops for reliability and above average for owner satisfaction.
LG DLG7401WE
The LG DLG7401WE performs very well in our drying tests and offers several handy features, including a moisture sensor that automatically adjusts drying time and an auto dryness control that turns off the dryer within 5 minutes of clothes being fully dry. It also has a duct blockage indicator to alert you when ducts need cleaning. This gas model is also very quiet, with a 7.3-cubic-foot capacity and electronic controls.
LG DLG3471W
The LG DLG3471W gas dryer shares its impressive score with the LG DLG7401WE and the LG DLGX6501W, above, but it’s less expensive than both while offering similar performance. (In fact, it slightly outscores the DLG7401WE for convenience.) That said, this is a basic machine that’s a bit short on extras. If you’re looking for a steam option, WiFi, or a stainless steel drum, you’ll want to pay a little more for the DLGX6501W. Whichever model you choose, you’ll be buying from a brand with high marks from CR members for reliability and owner satisfaction.
Best Compact Clothes Dryers
On average, compact dryers don’t rate as well as electric and gas models in our tests. However, they tend to be smaller and use less energy, making them the most ideal for stacking (with matching compact front-load washers) in an apartment or a smaller laundry space. Samsung compact dryers lead in our ratings, but Miele is not far behind.
Samsung DV25B6900EW
The Energy Star certified Samsung DV25B6900EW compact dryer earns CR’s Green Choice designation for being among the most eco-friendly models in our ratings. This 4-cubic-foot-capacity dryer scores highly for both drying performance and noise, and average for convenience. It offers extras that include a moisture sensor, a stainless steel drum, and WiFi capability. As a brand, Samsung compact dryers get a very good mark in our surveys of CR members for reliability but a mediocre score for owner satisfaction.
Miele TXI680WP
The Energy Star certified dryer Miele TXI680WP has a hefty price tag, but it does a solid job in our tests, earning very good scores across the board. It’s equipped with a stainless steel drum, a moisture sensor, WiFi capability, a steam option, and an end-of-cycle signal. Miele compact dryers receive top-notch predicted reliability and owner satisfaction scores from our member surveys.
Samsung DV22K6800EW
If you’re looking for an affordable compact dryer with solid drying performance that’s relatively quiet and easy to use, the Samsung DV22K6800EW fits the bill—and it earns our eco-friendly Green Choice designation to boot. In CR’s tests, its automatic dryness control detected when a load was dry and turned off the dryer within 5 minutes, helping to prevent overdrying. This stackable machine has a claimed capacity of 4 cubic feet and comes with a stainless steel drum, custom programs, an extended tumble option, and an end-of-cycle signal.
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 defines a dryer’s noise score.
We also take note of a dryer’s energy efficiency. In generating the heat required to dry clothes, a dryer 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. For the most efficient and eco-friendly dryers, look for those that receive our Green Choice designation.
Learn more about our tests in CR’s clothes dryer buying guide.
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2024, Consumer Reports, Inc.
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