Types of Dryers: Exploring Options for Your Home

Designed to be hard working and dependable, your dryer is an important component to making laundry a painless task. This guide will walk you through the different types of dryers that are on the market and which option is the best for you and your family.

What types of clothes dryers are on the market today?

The type of clothes dryer you pick will greatly depend not just on your own preferences, but on the space available since some dryers require proper venting. It will also depend on whether you’re looking to buy a gas or electric dryer. There are several types of dryers available including:

Standard vented dryers

A heating element raises the temperature of the air in the dryer and the moisture from the wet clothes is vented through aluminum ducts. They come in gas and electric models, like these available from Maytag. These models require periodic vent cleaning to maximize efficiency.

Ventless dryers

Best for smaller spaces like apartments or closets, they don’t require ducts, and instead, contain the heat and moisture within the machine. Generally, ventless dryers tend to be more efficient than vented dryers.

Condenser dryers

These dryers have heating elements that heat up the incoming air being pulled in from the exterior of the machine. A condenser then cools the air by turning it to water and collecting it, or pumping it out to drain in order to remove moisture. This cycle repeats again until the end of the cycle.

Heat pump dryers

More efficient than standard and condenser dryers, heat pump dryers use about half the energy that a standard model uses. These machines use a refrigerant system with hot and cold coils that air passes through to efficiently dry your load.

Gray Maytag® washer and dryer set in a laundry room

Are different types of dryer capacity options available?

Standard dryers are typically around 27" wide and have ~7 cu. ft. of capacity, while compact models are about 24" wide and have ~4 cu. ft. of space. If you have a larger family that runs through clothing quickly, there are large capacity models available, which can accommodate more than the standard 7 cu. ft.

Stacked Maytag® washer and dryer in laundry room

What types of dryers are best for stacking?

If space is at a premium when it comes to your home’s laundry room, then stacking your washer and dryer is an excellent space-saving option. There are plenty of standalone dryer models that have stacking capabilities and have their own washing machine counterparts, just make sure that it specifically states that it's a stackable model. Stacked laundry centers and washer/dryer combos within a single unit are also available.

You can purchase a stacking kit (like this one available from Maytag) for your existing washer and dryer, though prior to stacking them, ensure they’re stackable and that the washing machine has a larger footprint than your dryer. To ensure that you purchase the proper stacking kit, reference your use and care guide or your installation instructions for specific information.

When looking at tumble dryers, what types of features should I consider?

Consider things like drying cycles, drum capacity, if the door hinges can be attached to either side of the door and energy consumption when looking for your next dryer. Take into consideration the amount of space you have available, and whether you’re simply replacing a dryer that isn't drying anymore or placing a new machine for the first time.

If installing a dryer for the first time, consider whether you have the room/capacity for a duct, since most standard dryers require venting. If this isn’t a possibility based on the location of your dryer, then you’ll want to consider a ventless, condenser or heat pump dryer. Additionally, you’ll also want to consider voltage requirements–gas dryers require a 120V outlet while electric models will require 240V outlet.

Which types of clothes dryers are best for small laundry rooms or closets?

For tight quarters and apartments with limited space where your laundry will be in a closet, you should ideally choose a dryer that is compact and ventless. Oftentimes, closets in apartments and condos can’t have vents, so you’ll want to pick a dryer that can be installed within your space. Additionally, choose a model that has stacking capabilities, since stacking your washer and dryer is a great way to save space.