The Best Dryers of 2026

If you do not have a dryer vent, or you just want the lowest power bill of any machine on this list, the pick is the LG DLHC5502W ($1,349.00). Its dual inverter heat pump tests at a combined energy factor (CEF) of 9.0 in the EPA’s ENERGY STAR certified dryer database, more than double a standard electric dryer, and it still holds a 7.8 cu ft drum. If you have 240V vented ductwork already in place and want the single largest drum here, the LG DLEX8900B ($1,399.00) holds 9.0 cu ft and adds a 10 minute TurboSteam refresh cycle.

Three more picks round out the list at different budgets and fuel types. The Maytag MGD6230HW ($1,033.00) is the pick for a home with a gas line, backed by a 10 year limited warranty on the motor and drum. The Samsung DVE45B6300W ($1,049.00) adds a Steam Sanitize+ cycle at a mid-range price. The Amana NED4655EW ($519.99) is the cheapest dryer on this list, a straightforward rotary-dial machine with no moisture sensor, best for a rental unit or a light laundry load. Every pick below is built from published specs, the ENERGY STAR certified-product database, the CPSC recall database and named test data, not a lab we run ourselves. Full method: /how-we-score/.

How we picked

We scored five weighted criteria: capacity and drying cycles (30%), ENERGY STAR combined energy factor or CEF (20%), sensor-dry technology and features (15%), warranty and reliability signals (15%), and documented 3 year cost to own (20%). None of the five dryers on this list scored below 6.0 out of 10, and the highest scoring product, the LG DLHC5502W, is the one named first above.

Prices and specs came from each brand’s own product page (LG.com, Samsung.com) or a major retailer (Best Buy, Homery, AAA Appliance Center), checked Sep 16, 2026. CEF and annual energy use came from the EPA’s ENERGY STAR certified clothes dryers database, not brand marketing copy. Independent notes on features came from Consumer Reports’ public specification tables. Owner sentiment came from Best Buy’s published customer review counts on the exact model page. Every model on this list was checked against the CPSC’s SaferProducts.gov recall database; none of the five returned a match as of Sep 16, 2026. This is a specs and data based list, built without a lab of our own. Full scoring method: /how-we-score/.

What to look for

• CEF of at least 3.73 if you want a dryer that clears the ENERGY STAR bar for a standard electric model. A ventless heat pump model with a CEF near 9, like the LG DLHC5502W above, uses well under half the electricity of a standard resistance dryer.
• A drum of at least 7.0 cu ft if you regularly wash king-size bedding or bulky jackets in one load. Drop to 6.5 cu ft only if you are drying smaller loads or have a tight laundry closet, like the Amana NED4655EW here.
• A multi-sensor moisture system, not a single timer-only dry setting. Maytag’s Advanced Moisture Sensing and Samsung’s Sensor Dry both use more than one sensor; Consumer Reports’ public spec table shows the Amana NED4655EW skips a moisture sensor entirely, which is the main reason it scores lowest on features here.
• A 240V, 30A outlet already in place for any electric model on this list, or a gas line and an existing vent for a gas model like the Maytag MGD6230HW. Confirm this before you order, since installation cost is not included in any price above.
• At least a 1 year parts and labor warranty plus a separate multi-year warranty on the motor and drum. Ten years on those two parts, which both Maytag and LG offer on the models here, is a reasonable floor for a full-size dryer.
• Ventless installation only in a dryer built for it. A standard vented electric or gas dryer run without a proper vent is a lint fire and, for gas models, a carbon monoxide risk; only buy a ventless model, like the LG DLHC5502W, if it is designed as one.

FAQ

Do heat pump dryers really use less electricity than standard dryers?

Yes, based on the EPA’s own test numbers. The LG DLHC5502W heat pump model in this list is rated at 266 kWh per year and a CEF of 9.0 in the ENERGY STAR certified clothes dryer database, against 607 kWh per year and a CEF of 3.94 for the standard vented LG DLEX8900B. At $0.17 per kWh, that is roughly a $136 versus $310 difference in electricity cost over 3 years for these two specific models, before any other factor.

What is the real difference between a vented and a ventless dryer?

A vented dryer, like the LG DLEX8900B, Samsung DVE45B6300W, Amana NED4655EW and Maytag MGD6230HW on this list, pushes hot moist air outside through ductwork. A ventless heat pump dryer, like the LG DLHC5502W, recirculates air through a heat pump loop and collects the moisture in a drain line or removable tank, so it can sit in a closet or apartment with no outside vent at all. Ventless heat pump cycles generally run longer than a vented electric cycle, which is one tradeoff for the lower energy use.

Is a gas dryer cheaper to run than an electric one?

Usually yes for the heating itself, since natural gas is typically priced lower per unit of heat than electricity in most U.S. markets, but neither ENERGY STAR nor the retailers checked for this list publish a verified annual operating cost figure for the Maytag MGD6230HW gas model, so that figure is left out of its 3 year cost table here rather than estimated. A gas model still needs roughly the same 120 to 240V household circuit as an electric one to run its drum motor and controls, plus an existing gas line.

Should I buy a dryer that is not ENERGY STAR certified?

It can still be a reasonable buy if the price is right, but go in with the tradeoff clear. Three of the five dryers here (the Samsung DVE45B6300W, Amana NED4655EW and Maytag MGD6230HW) do not appear in the EPA’s certified clothes dryer database as of Sep 16, 2026, which means there is no independently verified CEF or annual energy figure for them; that is exactly why the Amana, at $519.99, scores highest on documented 3 year cost but only 6.18 out of 10 overall once efficiency and features are weighted in.

How long should a clothes dryer last, and what voids the warranty?

Most full-size dryers are built for roughly 10 to 13 years of typical household use, which is why the motor and drum warranties on this list matter more than the base 1 year parts and labor coverage. Overloading the drum past its rated capacity, running it on an extension cord instead of a dedicated circuit, or skipping regular lint trap and vent cleaning are the most common ways owners void or shorten that coverage. If you are shopping the washer at the same time, see our best washing machines list for a matching pair.