The 5 Best Portable Clothes Dryers [Ranked]
Portable dryers provide a compact and mobile means of drying your clothes.
There are a couple different styles to choose from.
The Different Options
The 4-Ever Alternative dryer is actually a miniature countertop spin dryer.
The Bismi actually includes both a washing machine and a dryer, and the Manatee, Dr. Dry and Panda portable dryers function almost as laundry steam bags.
They enclose your clothes as hot air circulates from the bottom filtering up through the included drying racks and hangers.
Our Top Pick: The Manatee
The Manatee portable clothes dryer is our top pick.
It is a digital option that can work via remote control up to 8 meters and features a negative ion function that helps to sanitize clothes against mold, pet dander, cigarette smoke, spores, pollen, bacteria, dust and other dangerous airborne items.
It can be used to dry clothes, store them as well as disinfect them- and it includes horizontal racks as well as space to hang your T-shirts and business button downs.
Manatee Video Review
The Manatee portable clothes dryer also folds up so when it's not in use it's easily stored.
Users, on the whole, and are fairly satisfied with this option, saying that the ionic disinfection feature helps to neutralize distasteful smells on clothing articles- and it's not just the usual marketing gimmick.
One user did say that he wishes he had more space- but over time he removed the middle bar to create a bit more room and he discovered new ways of folding his clothes and arranging them inside the portable dryer to get the effect he wanted.
Generally, he loads up the Manatee portable clothes dryer before he goes to bed and sets it for its longest available drying time which is around 240 minutes.
So when he wakes up in the morning everything is dried, and sometimes he doesn't even need to press shirts. He also comments that it takes up a very small amount of energy- this is great because it keeps energy costs incredibly low.
Other users say that they had previously air dried clothes in their hotel rooms while they were traveling, but were concerned about mold spore growth, as well as the inconvenience of wearing mildly damp clothing the next day.
This portable clothes dryer provided a handy solution to these issues- it's great for business travelers, campers and even within residences where sometimes it just makes sense to have an extra close dryer situated in a different area of the house besides the basement.
Let's take a look at five of the best-selling portable clothesline dryers in the market today and see how they compare.
Contents
Comparing The Options
- The compact clothes dryer Foldable, portable, small size, light weight easy to assemble and disassemble, ultimate space saver.
- It's perfect to use as the primary dryer in an apartment, condominium and other small living spaces.
- PORTABLE & POWERFUL: This compact dryer (23.6” x 21.5” x 27.5”) is ideal for smaller spaces and apartments. At 49.5 lbs., this clothes dryer has an impressive load volume of 13.2 lbs., inside capacity of 3.5 cu. ft., and requires no electrical hard writing with a 3-prong plug and access to a standard 120V standard outlet.
- 3-Tier Foldable Clothes Dryer Rack - The portable dryer has 3-tier rack design. The stainless steel allows for up to 33lb of clothing to be in the portable dryer at one time.When it is not in use, it can be folded without disassembly.
- Portable clothes dryer is a two-layer stainless steel structure, which can dry 15 kg of clothes at a time. When the clothes dryer is not used, it can be used as a wardrobe to store clothes.
The Five Best Portable Clothes Dryers For 2023
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
The 8.5 lb, 9.5” x 11.2” x 21” Panda Portable Ventless Clothes Drying Machine is an effective option that can hold up to 22 lbs of clothing. Its users like that it is very portable and easy to assemble and take down, but also note that the timer dial may get broken easily.
It works on 110-120 V outlets and has a 900 W power consumption. The heater produces gentle warm airwaves to dry clothes, which minimizes wrinkling and makes ironing easier. The folding clothes rack can hold up to 18 hangers – 3 hangers per extension. The tube cover is made of heat-insulated material and opens and closes with a zipper.
The timer can be set at a maximum of 180 minutes. It is backed by a 1-year warranty. This clothes dryer is a good option if you are looking for a portable drying machine with a heater.
Users of this product generally agree that it works quite well in drying clothes, but only if they have been spun dry beforehand. The fact that it does its job quietly is another good point of this dryer. Users also love its compact design which fits in the corner of a room, as well as how nice and easy it is to set up.
However, long clothing items, like trousers and PJs, do not fit well inside the tent.
Panda portable dryer video review
Pros
- Easy to assemble and disassemble
- Compact design
- Quiet operation
Cons
- May consume too much electricity when left for long
- Does not fit long items of clothing
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
The 8.2 lb, 14.7” x 11.8” x 10.2” Dr. Dry Portable Clothes Dryer is a decent option that has a clear heat-insulated plastic cover. Its users love how it works effectively, but also note that it uses 1000 W of power.
It has two rack levels — upper for clothes on hangers, lower for towels — each with 6 metal rods. Its motor produces heat quietly, runs on 110 V and has a frequency of 60 Hz. A timer dial can be set to a maximum of 180 minutes.
It comes with a 2-year warranty. This clothes dryer is a nice option if you are looking for a compact portable dryer that does not crease clothes.
Users find this product effective and useful, especially for people who travel a lot or have small apartment space. One user says it dried thick cotton hoodies, jeans, and sweaters in a shorter time than her regular clothes dryer.
However, some users say that they needed to put the timer on twice to get thick clothes to dry completely. Users like that it is quite easy to assemble and simple to use, and is quite sturdy once set up.
Dr. Dry portable dryer video review
Pros
- Effectively dries at a fraction of the time that some regular clothes dryer do
- Easy to assemble and disassemble
- Portable enough for travel
Cons
- Electric consumption is a bit high
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
The 13 lb 28.5” x 10.6” x 8.7” Portable Clothes Dryer Electric Laundry Drying Rack is a well-designed option that has an ion sterilizing ability. Its users like that it has a remote control that can be operated up to 8 meters away, but also note that assembly might be a bit awkward.
Its heating machine runs on 100 V and uses 1000 W of electricity, and comes with energy saving technology. It is dust-proof, easy to clean, and the machine is noiseless. It has two modes — quick dry and efficient mode — and its timer can be set up to 240 minutes.
The multi-function design allows it to be used for drying, storing, drying and disinfecting clothes. It has a large capacity of 15 KG and has additional horizontal racks where you can put additional clothes to dry at a time, and it can be rolled around with its 4 casters.
A 30-day warranty is provided for this product. This drying rack is a great option if you are looking for an effective, heated clothes dryer with a relatively larger capacity.
Users generally love this clothes dryer because it dries clothes thoroughly. They also like that it can be folded and stored compactly under the bed or behind the bedroom door. The digital timer and remote control are also a nice touch for many users. One user, however, thinks that it needs to be taller because the bottoms of shirts overlap with the middle bar.
Manatee portable dryer video review
Pros
- Very effective
- Large capacity
- Anion sterilizer
- Remote control, digital timer
Cons
- Clothes on upper bar overlap with the middle bar, which can affect drying efficiency
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
The 15 lb 18” x 13” x 13” Mini Portable Countertop Spin Dryer is a compact option that is small enough to sit on top of a table or counter.
Its users like that this spin dryer is quiet, but also note that the hose at the bottom is flimsy and can get torn easily. It has a 2.2 lb capacity and comes with a built-in a timer dial. It works by centrifugal spinning (1750 RPM) that extracts most of the water out of wet clothes.
It runs on 120 Volts and consumes a very low 82 W of power. It is small enough to fit under the kitchen sink for storing. This countertop machine is a good option if you are looking for a highly compact, standalone spin dryer.
Users of this product are happy that it works as advertised. They like that it is quiet, simple, and easy to use, requiring no assembly. One user says that it is not as efficient in extracting water as other spin dryers he tried.
Another user also observes that the spinner inside vibrates strongly when starting, and suggests increasing the load to solve the balancing problems.
Laundry Alternative portable dryer video review
Pros
- Works quietly for a spin dryer
- Compact
- Energy efficient
Cons
- Problem with balance and vibration when the load is too light
1. The Bismi Portable Washing Machine & Dryer Review
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
The 14.6″ x 14.2″ x 20.5″, 28.6 lb Bismi Professional Grade Compact Portable Washing Machine & Dryer is a good option that features a twin tub design — an 8 lb capacity wash compartment and a 5 lb capacity dryer. Its users love that this washing machine/dryer is quite compact, but also note that the hoses are cheaply made.
Water can be directly added into the wash compartment with the water inlet hose and removed by placing the outlet hose in the drain. It has a 110 V and 60 Hz motor that spins at 1300 RPM. It has 3 knobs — a wash timer, a dryer timer, and a switch for standard/soft/drain settings. The dryer compartment helps to remove excess water and does not dry clothes completely.
Water inlet and drain hoses are included. The built-in pump makes draining easy. This 2 in 1 machine is a solid option if you are looking for a compact and effective machine for washing and spin-drying.
Almost everybody who bought this product is happy that it works effectively as a washing machine and as a spin dryer. They are satisfied that it is quite powerful for its size and gets clothes very clean.
The fact that it has a pump for draining, instead of relying on gravity, is another feature that users like. On the negative side, the spinner may get off balanced, but it’s easy enough to balance back.
Pros
- Functions both as a washing machine and spin dryer
- Compact yet powerful
- Has a pump for easier draining
Cons
- Spinner may get off balanced
- Hoses made of cheap material and does not fit certain types of faucets
Buying Guide
If you are in the market for one, you should know that most users prior to purchase evaluate the quality of the laundry steam heater, the different collapsible drying rods that are included, the strength of the lower and upper support poles, different towel racks that come included as well as the dryer legs.
For the most part, assembling the different pieces is not too much work- one Dr. Dryer buyer said that the unit came in 11 pieces and assembly only took about five minutes before it was ready to be used.
This particular unit arrives with a tripod aluminum stand- this will have rubber grips located on the base of each leg, and these individual metal legs are used to support the heater that blows the hot air upward into your wet clothes.
One handy, technologically advanced feature is that the insulating cover has air vents designed to distribute airflow and evenly drying your clothes.
Putting Them To The Test
One enterprising user conducted a test whereby he used the 60 minute time setting on the Dr. Dry to dry six individual articles of clothing just removed from the washing machine soaking wet.
The unit puffed up and became a little warm to the touch- and when the time was up and he unzipped the unit he found that the jeans and shirts were a little damp so he put it on for another 20 minutes or so and found that that did the trick. They were completely dry, although it took a little bit longer than what he had initially anticipated.
Another user who has been drying his clothes with these portable units for some time opined that they are ideal for dormitory rooms in colleges, apartment complexes that lack washing and drying machines, camping and other outdoor recreational activities, and would be especially useful in summer camps.
Users advise that it will take a couple of tries before you get a sense of the drying power and how best to use the portable dryer for your own particular needs.
For example, if you are trying to dry heavy cotton bedding materials, you might find that you need to put the unit on for a longer period of time and at a heavier setting, and perhaps arrange the bedding differently, than you would if you were drying chinos and T-shirts.
For the most part, you won't be able to dry as many articles of clothing or bedding as you would a traditional spin dryer, but most users have found that these portable dryers do fill a niche need for a mobile clothes drying solution.
| The Dryers | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
| The Panda Portable Clothes Dryer | 4.1 | $ |
| The Dr. Dry Portable Clothing Dryer | 4.0 | $ |
| The Manatee Portable Clothes Dryer | 4.6 | $$ |
| The Laundry Alternative Countertop Spin Dryer | 4.3 | $ |
