Clothes dryers

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What's behind our clothes dryer Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 118 models in clothes dryers to see which ones perform best.
We look for:
  • Overall score
    This score is based primarily on drying performance, drum volume and noise. The displayed score is out of a total of 100 points.
  • Drying performance
    This score combines performance on three types of laundry loads of different sizes and fabric mixes: A 12-lb. load, predominantly cotton, representing a family's large weekly load; an 8-lb. load of cotton/polyester blend clothing; and a 3-lb. load of synthetic delicates, women's pajamas, nightgowns, bras and underwear.
  • Capacity
    Among the models we tested, drum volume varied from about 6 to 8.0 cu. ft.
  • Convenience
    For this measurement, we judged controls and ergonomics, such as ease of loading and unloading, servicing the lint filter, whether the door could clear a tall basket, and whether the machine has a raised edge to contain spills.
  • Noise
    This score was determined by a panel of judges who listened while machines dried an 8-pound load, measuring both sound quality and volume.

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Recommended clothes dryers

Recommended clothes dryers are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices, weigh features, price, and attributes that matter to you.
Clothes dryers are pretty uncomplicated machines. The major differences in clothes dryers are how they heat the air (gas or electricity) and how they're programmed to shut off once the load is dry (thermostat or moisture sensor). If you're looking for information about clothes dryers, Consumer Reports is your best resource. Consumer Reports’ clothes dryer reviews will give you honest buying advice that you can trust. Use our clothes dryer buying guide to discover which features are most important to consider. We also provide unbiased Ratings and clothes dryer reviews to help you choose the best clothes dryer for your needs.

Recently reviewed clothes dryers

This GE full-sized dryer offers:
• Moisture sensor
• Electronic controls.
• Steam option.
• Stainless steel drum
• On/off end of cycle signal.
• Drum light.
• Drying rack.
• Custom Programming.
• Stackable

Clothes dryer buying guide


While washers have become more efficient in the past decade, dryers haven't changed much. Clothes dryers are relatively simple: Their major differences are how they heat the air (using gas or electricity) and how they're programmed to shut off once the load is dry (thermostat or moisture sensor).

... Read more

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