The Best Drying Rack - 2021
We looked at the top 13 Drying Racks and dug through the reviews from 101 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Drying Racks.
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Our Picks For The Top Drying Racks
- The Best Drying Rack
- 1. Honey-Can-Do Heavy Duty Gullwing Drying Rack
- 2. Cresnel Gullwing Clothes Drying Rack
- 3. AmazonBasics Foldable Laundry Rack
- 4. BINO Gullwing Collapsing Foldable Laundry Drying Rack
- 5. Home-it Bamboo Clothes Drying Rack
- 6. Surpahs Over The Sink Roll-Up Dish Drying Rack
- 7. Tangkula Clothes Drying Rack
- 8. iSPECLE Stainless 2-Tier Dish Drying Rack
- 9. GENE Laundry Drying Rack
- 10. AmazonBasics Closet Organizer Rack
- 11. Yeshom Clothes Drying Rack
- 12. Newerlives Collapsible Clothes Drying Rack
- 13. Household Essentials Clothes Drying Rack
Folds Up FlatIf space is an issue in your home, this drying rack, which folds up flat, is the best buy.
Added Shoe HooksAlthough this drying rack has plenty of room for your shirts and pants, it also features a few shoe hooks for air drying socks, slippers and sneakers.
Premium Laundry RackThis drying rack is compact and easy to move from a laundry room to the great outdoors on a nice day with a beautiful breeze.
Lightweight Yet SturdyYou can purchase this drying rack in white, silver or black.
Why we recommend these drying racks?
Products Considered
Products Analyzed
Expert Reviews Included
User Opinions Analyzed
Our experts reviewed the top 13 Drying Racks and also dug through the reviews from 101 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Drying Racks.
DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.
The Best Overall
Honey-Can-Do Heavy Duty Gullwing Drying Rack
Our Take
Not only does this drying rack have plenty of space for your clothing, but it also has shoe hooks to dry two pairs of shoes. It's made using steel support arms that are capable of handling heavy garments, including sweaters and winter coats. The unit folds up flat for easy storage when not in use.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
The Best Bang For Your Buck
AmazonBasics Foldable Laundry Rack
Our Take
If you want to air dry your clothes with one of the most durable drying racks on the market, then you'll want to pick up this drying rack. This drying rack is also a top pick for portability. It's made utilizing an accordion design that folds up with ease. Homeowners can store it in a small space and quickly move it indoors or outdoors as needed.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
Our Drying Rack Findings
Honey-Can-Do Heavy Duty Gullwing Drying Rack
What We Liked: Not only does this drying rack have plenty of space for your clothing, but it also has shoe hooks to dry two pairs of shoes. It’s made using steel support arms that are capable of handling heavy garments, including sweaters and winter coats. The unit folds up flat for easy storage when not in use.
Cresnel Gullwing Clothes Drying Rack
What We Liked: While you can use this drying rack indoors, it features a rust-proof construction that makes it an excellent outdoor tool. You can easily adjust the top bars to rest horizontally or at an angle to accommodate the types of clothing you need to dry. As an added bonus, the bars on the bottom of the rack are able to dry shoes, slippers and socks.
AmazonBasics Foldable Laundry Rack
What We Liked: If you want to air dry your clothes with one of the most durable drying racks on the market, then you’ll want to pick up this drying rack. This drying rack is also a top pick for portability. It’s made utilizing an accordion design that folds up with ease. Homeowners can store it in a small space and quickly move it indoors or outdoors as needed.
BINO Gullwing Collapsing Foldable Laundry Drying Rack
What We Liked: If you need to move your drying rack from room to room, this model is your best bet. It’s extremely lightweight, yet made from a sturdy steel. It can be used to dry everything from clothing to bedsheets to a pair of boots.
Home-it Bamboo Clothes Drying Rack
What We Liked: You’ll be able to use this drying rack instantly, as it comes fully assembled. The unit is more vertical than horizontal, so it won’t take up much space when it’s in use. It’s also made from a lightweight bamboo, which makes it portable.
Our Drying Rack Buying Guide
Whether your home is without a dryer, or you simply have a handful of delicates that can’t be dried in high heat, a drying rack is your answer. This handy invention allows clothes to air dry naturally. Since there are several different models for sale, you’ll want to read this guide to know exactly what to look for when you shop.
Decide whether you prefer to dry your clothing indoors or outdoors. Some drying racks are made for both conditions, but others, like the Honey-Can-Do Heavy Duty Gullwing Drying Rack, are labeled for indoor use only. If the unit is safe to take outside, check the material the rack is made out of. You want to ensure it won’t rust after being exposed to the elements.
Next, determine the size rack you require. Singles and couples would do well with a smaller rack, while families would require an oversized drying rack. The AmazonBasics Foldable Laundry Rack holds 32 pounds of laundry, while other racks have a larger 165-pound capacity. That means the larger racks would be a better choice for households of four or more.
Space is another issue you’ll need to consider. Most drying racks are designed to fold up so that they can be stored when not in use. If there isn’t enough room in your laundry area, you may be able to store the rack in a garage or basement.
Look for any extras that might come with the drying rack before making your final decision. The Cresnel Clothes Drying Rack, for example, includes special hooks for drying shoes, socks and slippers.
DWYM Fun Fact
In the early days, clothes weren’t dried by hanging. They were simply laid out on a surface under the sun. Laundry may have been placed on a large rock or simply set over the grass. It wasn’t until the 16th century that drying racks were first spotted in paintings. Even still, the use of clotheslines and drying racks wasn’t widespread until the 1800s. In 1830, Merriam-Webster added the word “clothesline” to their dictionary.
Even though we have machines to dry our clothes today, drying racks are still popular. This is most likely due to environmental awareness and the understanding of how much energy is saved when clothes are dried naturally versus in a dryer.
The Drying Rack Tips and Advice
- Unless you leave your drying rack outdoors, it should only need a dusting with a damp rag once a month. Models that are left outdoors should be cleaned before each use, as they may have a coating of dirt, pollen or even leaves on them that could soil the clean clothes.
- Drying your clothes naturally instead of using a gas or electric dryer can actually save you money over the course of year. In fact, The Old Farmer’s Almanac reports that allowing clothes to air dry actually reduces a household’s carbon footprint by 2,400 pounds per year.
- It can take up to 24 hours for some clothing to dry naturally indoors. During the colder months, you may wish to do laundry more often to account for the extra drying time. You can also run a fan near the drying rack to help cut the drying time down.
- Keep in mind that when you dry your clothing outside, the sun will naturally bleach your whites and make them appear brighter, but it will also fade clothes of color. If you want to take advantage of a nice breeze, you can still place your drying rack draped with colored clothing in the shade (out of the path of direct sunlight).
- When comparing prices, it is important to consider where the drying rack can be used. Since the Cresnel Clothes Drying Rack can be used both indoors and outdoors, it is more expensive than the Honey-Can-Do Heavy Duty Gullwing Drying Rack, which is only labeled for indoor use. The size of the drying rack will also play a role in the overall price. The BINO Gullwing Foldable Laundry Drying Rack is large, so you can expect the price tag to be more than smaller models, like the AmazonBasics Foldable Laundry Rack that holds just 32 lbs. of clothing.
About The Author
Alicia Bodine is a New Jersey-based writer specializing in gardening. She enjoys spending time learning about the latest gadgets that make designing, planting and maintaining a garden a breeze. With more than 15 years of experience, her work has appeared on leading home improvement publications.