8 Best Clothes Drying Racks
If you own clothes made from delicate fabrics like lace, silk or natural fibers like wool or cashmere, then it’s important that you have a clothes drying rack to air-dry your clothes. Line drying laundry is not only gentler on fabrics it’s also energy efficient!
I use clothes drying racks to dry delicates, sheets, table linens, natural fiber sweaters, and stained baby clothes outside in the sun. As I was researching the best clothes drying racks, build quality and materials were top considerations. Below you will find a list of the best clothes drying racks on the market for every type of living space.
Best Overall: Pennsylvania Woodworks Maple Clothes Drying Rack
Best Compact: exilot Foldable Portable Space Saving Clothes Drying Rack
Best for Large Items: JAUREE Stainless Steel Clothes Drying Rack
Best Wall-Mounted: Pennsylvania Woodworks Wall Mounted Clothes Drying Rack
Best Over-the-Door: Brabantia Over The Door Hanging Clothes Drying Rack
Best Flat Drying: OXO Good Grips Folding Sweater Drying Rack
Best Outdoor: Brabantia Lift-o-Matic Advance Rotary Dryer
Best Budget: Honey-Can-Do Wooden Laundry Drying Rack
Top Clothes Drying Rack Reviews
Best Overall: Pennsylvania Woodworks Maple Clothes Drying Rack
In my opinion, this is the perfect clothes drying rack. Once expanded it offers 37 feet of hanging space. The American made, maple wood construction is not only sturdy, it’s beautiful. Plus I love that there is a center section that offers you the option to flat dry clothes like sweaters.
Let’s talk about the quality of materials used in this clothes drying rack. A lot of wooden clothes drying racks on the market are made from bamboo wood and are priced much more affordably (like this one). Bamboo is a great, relatively sustainable option for wooden homewares.
With that said, so many of the bamboo alternatives I have tried are super flimsy! This drying rack is sturdy and made to last a lifetime. The price point might feel steep at first glance but consider this to be one of those “buy once, cry once” types of purchases. You will never need to buy another clothes drying rack again!
Pros:
- Solid maple wood construction
- Compact when folded
- Center section provides the option for flat drying sweaters
Cons:
- Expensive (but worth it for the quality!)
Specs:
- Capacity: 37 feet
- Dimensions: 17″ D x 36″ W x 52″ H
- Weight: 11 pounds
- Material: Maple Wood
Best Compact: exilot Foldable Portable Space Saving Clothes Drying Rack
When I lived in New York City, my bedroom was so small that I had to sleep in a lofted bed. My bedroom was literally the size of a closet and I had almost zero room to spare for drying racks of any kind. Had I known an option like this existed I would have absolutely made the investment.
Once expanded, this clothes drying rack offers 6 feet of hanging space. This doesn’t sound like much compared to other options, but this drying rack offers some versatility that others do not. You can use this space to hang shirts and pants from hangers or to drape large sheets or blankets over the top.
I would also use a rack like this to help when I pull clothes out to clean out my closet or pack for bigger trips. When it’s not in use, this clothing rack folds up to be extremely compact. It would be easy to store in a corner of a small closet or even in the back of a dresser drawer. Overall it’s a great option for small spaces.
NOTE: Don’t have 6 feet to expand a rack like this in your small space? Here is another great space-saving alternative that expands to act more like a tall, narrow coat rack for hang drying.
Pros:
- Extremely compact and easy to store when collapsed
- Wide enough when expanded to drape larger linens like sheets over top to dry
Cons:
- Requires 6 feet of space to fully expand, which can be tough in some smaller spaces
Specs:
- Capacity: 6 feet hanging space and 110 pounds
- Dimensions: 35″ D x 73″ W x 70″ H extended, 37″ L x 6″ W x 3″ H collapsed
- Weight: 4 pounds
- Material: Metal
Best for Large Items: JAUREE Stainless Steel Clothes Drying Rack
If you plan to line dry a large volume of laundry then you might benefit from the large expanded size of this clothes drying rack. This drying rack works well for items of any size, from baby clothes to sheets and comforters.
When expanded you get 20 feet of hanging space. It collapses down to the size of a 4.5 foot long pole making it easy to store in the corner of a laundry room or linen closet.
With that said, one thing to be mindful of with this clothes drying rack is the possibility of rust developing. It’s the single most common customer complaint, especially from customers who left theirs outdoors.
Pros
- Option to hang dry clothes and linens
- Extendable drying poles can be extended to whatever custom length suits your space
- Compact storage when not in use
Cons
- Some customers complained that rust developed when their drying rack was left outside
Specs
- Capacity: 20 feet and 300 pounds
- Dimensions: 79″ L x 28″ W x 52″ H extended, 56.3“ x 3.9” x 2.4“ collapsed
- Weight: 10 pounds
- Material: Metal
Best Wall Mounted: Pennsylvania Woodworks Wall Mounted Maple Wood Clothes Drying Rack
VIEW ON AMAZON / VIEW ON WALMART
If you are extremely short on floor space but still want the ability to hang dry when necessary, this is a great space-saving option. This clothes drying rack is wall mounted, collapses to a mere 2.5 inch depth when not in use, and still offers 16 feet of hanging space.
You can drape clothes over each extended pole or hang them from hangers to fit more clothing in a single drying session. The construction is incredible. Made from hard maple wood, you can expect this wall mounted drying rack to last a lifetime (or longer!).
I like that this drying rack is natural, beautiful, sturdy, and is small enough to fit in just about any living space or small laundry room.
Pros
- Space-saving, takes up zero floor space
- Made from maple wood with sturdy, long-lasting construction
- Beautiful
Cons
- Requires drilling into a wall to use
Specs
- Capacity: 16 feet
- Dimensions: 27″ D x 22” L x 51″ W extended, 6″ W x 28″ L x 2 1/2″ D collapsed
- Weight: 3.3 pounds
- Material: Maple Wood
Best Over the Door: Brabantia Over The Door Hanging Clothes Drying Rack
VIEW ON AMAZON / VIEW ON WAYFAIR
If you want to enjoy the space-saving benefits of a wall mounted clothes drying rack without the commitment of drilling one into your wall, then consider this over-the-door option.
This over the door drying rack is easy to set up and can be customized to fit any door width. Simply attach the hanging arms to the rack and drape it over your laundry, closet, bathroom, towel rack, or even a shower door. Don’t worry about damaging your doors, there is a soft material on the arms that will keep them protected.
This drying rack offers nearly 15 feet of hanging space. When not in use it folds up and can be stored easily under a bed or in a closet.
Pros
- Versatile hanging options: laundry room door, closet door, bathroom door, shower door, or even a towel rack
- Easy, compact storage when not in use
- No drilling required
Cons
- Door cannot be opened or closed when using this drying rack
Specs
- Capacity: 14.7 feet
- Dimensions: 1.4” H x 26.8” W x 17.3” D
- Weight: 2.6 pounds
- Material: Steel
Best Flat Drying: OXO Good Grips Folding Sweater Drying Rack
VIEW ON AMAZON / VIEW ON CONTAINER STORE / VIEW ON HOME DEPOT
If you own any natural wool or cashmere sweaters, it’s important to shape them after washing and then dry them flat. This simple, stackable mesh drying table is perfect for this purpose.
Because this flat drying rack is stackable, you can purchase as many as you need to wash and properly dry all of your favorite sweaters in a single wash load. When not in use, each stackable drying rack folds flat in half for easy, compact storage.
I like that these are lightweight and can even be stacked on top of a dryer for easy use. If you don’t currently have a good way to flat dry your sweaters then consider adding one or two of these to your collection of laundry tools!
Pros
- Great for sweaters or for flat drying delicates
- Stackable
- Fold flat in half for easy storage
Cons
- Limited to flat drying one clothing item at a time
Specs
- Capacity: 1 Sweater per square
- Dimensions: 26″W x 26”L x 4.5″H
- Weight: Unknown
- Material: Multiple Materials
Best Outdoor: Brabantia Lift-o-Matic Advance Rotary Dryer
If you want to enjoy the benefits of line drying your laundry outdoors without a permanent clothesline fixture, then this could be a perfect solution for you. Before investing, it’s important to know that setup requires inserting a metal “soil spear” somewhere in your lawn or garden.
To use the drying rack, you insert the main pole into the underground soil spear so it can stand vertically. The soil spear underground base is level with the ground (almost invisible) when the drying rack is not in use. Attach the included plastic cover and you can even mow your lawn directly over the top! Once installed, you can insert or remove the umbrella drying rack as needed.
This umbrella clothes drying rack offers an incredible 164 feet of drying space, making it a great option for families or anyone who likes to line dry a majority of their clothing and linens. When not in use, you can contract the umbrella stand and zip a waterproof cover over the top. You can also remove it from the base to store the folded drying rack in a shed, garage, or inside of your home.
Pros
- Impressive 164 feet of drying space
- Great outdoor drying rack option
- Compact storage with waterproof cover when not in use
Cons
- Requires stake in the ground
- Outdoor only
Specs
- Capacity: 164 feet
- Dimensions: 4.33” x 6.1” x 75.79”
- Weight: 17.6 pounds
- Material: Metal
Best Budget: Honey-Can-Do Wooden Laundry Drying Rack
If you’re on a tight budget but still want to enjoy the benefits of air drying delicate laundry, this is a great option. Flat dry sweaters on the top rack, then hang dry everything else on the support poles below.
This wooden clothes drying rack has vinyl coated bars that are mold resistant and prevent clothes from slipping. It folds flat to 3 inches wide when not in use and can be stored underneath a bed, in a small closet, or a laundry room.
With that said, some customers complain that this clothes drying rack can be a bit flimsy and will break more easily than other options on this list. If a low price is your priority then this is a great option. If longevity and quality of materials is your priority then I’d encourage you to consider one of the alternatives on this list.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Simple construction makes it easy to use and easy to store
Cons
- Flimsier construction than higher quality alternatives on this list
Specs
- Capacity: 25 feet
- Dimensions: 29.5” L x 14.5” W x 42” H extended
- Weight: 3 pounds
- Material: Wood
Product Comparison Chart
Helpful Considerations Before Purchasing
Space requirements
Before investing in any clothes drying rack, consider your space. Where do you plan on drying your laundry? Indoors? Outdoors? Do you have a designated space in your laundry room or will this drying rack be on display in your living space?
Consider both the retracted and extended dimensions of the drying rack. Do you have the space to accommodate the fully extended version when you are drying your clothes? Do you have a neat spot to store the drying rack when it’s folded up? Would a retractable clothesline be a better fit for your space?
The answers to these questions might help you determine the type of drying rack and investment that you would like to make.
Air Flow
Successfully air drying laundry requires good air flow between fabrics. Drying racks with poles located very close together makes proper air flow a challenge. Less air flow means longer drying time and a risk of your clothes becoming musty after remaining wet for a long period of time.
It can also be helpful to assemble your clothes drying rack somewhere near a window, a fan, or outdoors where fabrics are exposed to a natural breeze.
Materials
If you consider your clothes drying rack to be a long term investment, then remember the phrase “buy once, cry once.” High quality materials and construction are worth investing in if you don’t want to replace your clothes drying rack every year or two!
Try to look for drying racks made from sustainable, long lasting materials that won’t rust, warp easily, or break down due to flimsy construction.
Best Practices for Using Clothes Drying Racks
If you’re new to air drying your clothes, then here is an extended article all about how to line dry your laundry. For some quick tips, keep reading below.
Ventilation
Great ventilation is essential when air drying your laundry. Make sure there is adequate space between each garment. If possible, assemble your clothes drying rack near an open window, a fan, or outdoors where fabrics can benefit from a natural breeze.
Sun
The sun can act as a natural means of bleaching light or white fabrics so use it to your advantage! Hang dry your whites outdoors in the sun and enjoy the benefits of natural bleach. I like to do this for stained pillowcases, baby clothes, and cloth napkins.
Larger Items
If you plan on air drying larger linens like sheets, comforters, or towels make sure you invest in a clothes drying rack that can accommodate their size and weight. Measure the width and length of your largest linens and compare that to the assembled dimensions of whatever drying rack you’re considering before making a purchase!
FAQs
Is it better to hang dry clothes or use a dryer?
There are pros and cons to each method. Hang drying laundry is gentler on fabrics, is energy-efficient, and eco-friendly. Machine drying laundry can result in softer feeling fabric (especially for towels), and generally takes less time. I like to use a combination of line drying and machine drying with my laundry!
Is it better to hang dry clothes inside or outside?
It depends on the weather! If you’re experiencing warm, dry weather then hang drying clothing outdoors will dry them faster than indoors. If it’s humid, rainy, dewy, or dark then you are better off hanging clothes indoors.
What is the best way to dry clothes indoors?
Choose a spot with good ventilation. Somewhere near a breezy, sunny window or a fan is ideal. Make sure there is enough space between each garment for proper air flow since you won’t be able to benefit from any natural outdoor breeze.
How can I dry my clothes indoors in the winter?
Place a fan near your clothes drying rack for increased ventilation or hang them near a warm furnace to help them dry properly.
