The 9 Best Dryers of 2024

We’ve been testing dryers for over a decade, and we’ve concluded that most of them perform pretty similarly.

If you’re also shopping for a new washing machine, you’ll probably be happy with the dryer that pairs with it.

But if you need only a new dryer, and you don’t care whether it matches your washing machine, we recommend looking for a simple, reliable, sturdy model with access to parts and a decent warranty.

For a basic dryer with consistent performance, we recommend the GE GTD58EBSVWS or the Maytag MED4500 (we also recommend their gas-powered versions).

For an especially durable dryer that you can expect to last for well over a decade, we recommend the pricier Speed Queen DR7.

If you’re looking for a sleeker, more elaborate model with custom fabric-care settings, consider the Electrolux ELFE7637AT or the LG DLEX4000 (or their gas-powered equivalents).

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Our pick

This electric dryer fully dried large loads in our tests and has dampness sensors, a variety of cycles, and an interior light. It costs less than other dryers that offer similar performance and features.

This is the gas-powered version of our pick, which has the same features and functionality as the electric-powered model.

For a dryer that consistently produces dry clothing, even with large, heavy loads, we recommend the GE GTD58EBSVWS. The machine’s large capacity, intuitive controls, and assortment of cycles make it a solid dryer choice.

The GTD58EBSVWS is not Energy Star–certified. It comes with a one-year limited warranty.

We recommend the matching GE GTW585BSVWS washer in our guide to matching washers and dryers.

Our pick

This electric dryer is easy to use, and it tackled large loads effectively in our tests.

This gas-powered version of our pick is similarly easy to use and effective at drying large loads.

The Maytag MED4500 is a basic, reliable electric dryer that has fewer frills than other, pricier options but dries just as well.

With easy-to-use dial controls and straightforward cycles, it’s a great choice if you dislike fiddling with buttons and settings.

It takes a little longer to dry than our other picks, and it lacks a speed-dry option, but it gets the job done and costs several hundred dollars less than similar dryers.

The MED4500 is not Energy Star–certified. It comes with a one-year warranty.

The Maytag MVW4505MW is this machine’s matching top-loading washer.

Upgrade pick

This electric dryer is effective and reliable, and it offers extras you won’t find in other machines, such as a longer warranty and a cycle that can reduce lingering pet hair. However, those bonuses come with a steeper price tag.

If you’re looking for a well-made dryer with a longer warranty and extra features, the Speed Queen DR7 is a time-tested choice.

Speed Queen’s washers and dryers are heavy-duty machines made to last for decades and typically built for laundromats, but you can buy them for your home too. The durability of Speed Queen machines is admirable, but it comes with a steeper price tag.

The DR7 is Energy Star–certified and has cycles that are hard to find in other machines, such as antistatic safeguards and a pet-hair cycle that removed a fair amount of golden retriever fur during our testing. It comes with a seven-year warranty, the longest of our picks.

Also great

Unlike other sensor-driven dryers we tested, this dryer accurately predicted dry times every time. But Electrolux’s customer service is merely okay.

The gas-powered version of our also-great pick has the same effective and accurate sensor-dry settings as its electric-powered counterpart.

The Electrolux ELFE7637AT performed well in our testing, consistently producing dry laundry without overheating it. With a capacity of 8 cubic feet—the largest of our recommendations—this machine easily handled a king-size comforter and many other mixed laundry loads.

It features a reversible door, and in our tests, its sensor-dry setting delivered dry items every time. Unlike other sensor-driven dryers we tested, the ELFE7637AT accurately predicted the dry time within 90 seconds of starting a cycle, which is convenient for planning ahead.

It’s also Energy Star–certified and backed by a one-year warranty

We recommend the matching, stackable Electrolux ELFW7637A washer in our guide to matching washers and dryers.

Also great

This electric dryer is well built and effective. But LG’s customer service can be unreliable.

The gas-powered version of our also-great pick is essentially the same well-built and effective machine.

The LG DLEX4000 is one of the fastest and most thorough dryers we tested. This Wi-Fi–enabled model connects to LG’s ThinQ app, which allows you to monitor cycles, receive maintenance alerts, and start the machine remotely.

LG washers and dryers are developing a robust reliability track record; we hear the fewest reader complaints about LG machines, too.

The DLEX4000 has been known to perform well for years, and we’ve been recommending LG washer and dryer models since 2016.

But LG’s customer service is not as strong as that of other brands whose appliances we recommend.

The DLEX4000 is Energy Star–certified and comes with a one-year warranty.

We recommend the matching, stackable LG WM4000H washer in our guide to matching washers and dryers.