The 10 Best Clothes Drying Racks of 2024

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Give your laundry day a much-needed upgrade.

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Real Simple / Joy Kim

The right drying rack can seriously enhance your laundry day routine so you don’t have to resort to activewear and other line dry items taking up every inch of your laundry room after wash day. The best clothes drying racks offer enough space to streamline this household chore and keep your clothes in their original condition for as long as possible.

To help you determine which clothes drying racks are worth buying, we rounded up the best ones on the internet based on different laundry needs and preferences and narrowed them down to the top 10 on this list. We also tapped Leslie Reichert, the Green Cleaning Coach and author of The Joy of Green Cleaning, Carmen Lopez, founder of Current Boutique, and Katherine Lawrence, a professional organizer and content creator, for expert insights on what to look for when searching for the best clothes drying racks, so you can feel confident about your decision no matter which one you choose.

It offers ample space, portability, and compactness, all in one.

It may not be sturdy enough to hold heavier clothes.

This Honey-Can-Do drying rack took the Best Overall spot on our list for its ability to hold 18 to 20 garments, its caster wheels for easy portability, and its A-frame design that folds flat to 3 inches for easy storage. We love that the wings fold in and out depending on the size of your load and how much space you need. Its helpful features don’t end there, either—it also includes a flat mesh shelf for more delicate pieces and bottom rack inserts that can hold up to two pairs of shoes.

The thoughtful design makes it versatile and easy to tailor to your needs, and what’s best is that it doesn’t have to be a permanent eyesore in your laundry area. When it comes time to put away your clothes; simply fold the rack and put it away until next time. Its 50-pound weight capacity allows for plenty of items, too, making it worthwhile for most households in terms of space. That said, it is lightweight, so it may not be able to handle heavy sweaters and other items.

Type: Freestanding | Material: Alloy steel | Dimensions: 23.5 x 57 x 37 inches | Weight: 7.3 pounds

Real Simple / Joy Kim

It’s lightweight and sturdy.

It’s a bit bulky when folded.

The Amazon Basics line has proved to be a reliable and affordable option for everyday essentials, and its Folding Laundry Rack is no exception. At under $30, it’s a great choice for those who want a low-priced option that gets the job done. Its accordion-style design folds completely flat for easy storage, and the frame supports up to 32 pounds of clothing. You can also choose from a white or chrome finish, and its simple design makes it a clean and minimal addition to any laundry space.

At less than 5 pounds, it’s easy to carry as well, making it perfect for those who would rather not add yet another heavy household item to their collection. Not only that, but it comes pre-assembled, so you don’t have to worry about putting anything together or reading instructions. Our only caveat is that it’s a bit bulky when folded, so it’s not great for fitting in between small spaces like next to your washer or dryer, so you may have to store it elsewhere.

Type: Freestanding | Material: Steel | Dimensions: 14.5 x 29.5 x 41.8 inches | Weight: 4.3 pounds

It’s built with useful features like freely moving hooks, an extendable rod, and the ability to extend in either direction.

Because it extends out from the wall, it starts to dip when heavier clothing is placed on the end.

If you want to utilize your limited wall space, this laundry space-saver by ZdwCyl is the perfect solution. Despite its small size, it offers 18 hooks, plus an extendable rod at the end for additional pieces. The hooks aren’t set in place, either—you can slide them back and forth or remove them as needed depending on how thick your garments are, making them perfect for holding coats. The tri-folding design also makes it super compact when not in use, and when extended, you can arrange the rods however you’d like, as they bend and fold in both directions.

When fully extended, it offers 51 inches of space and can hold up to 220 pounds of clothing, though keep in mind that it may start to dip when fully extended outward. Because of its aluminum construction though, it’s durable and rust-resistant. Also, the surface area of the attachment piece is only 5 inches tall, making it compact enough to easily install in your closet for additional storage space. We also like how this rack can be installed with or without drilling holes in your wall. If you opt for a drill-free installation, you can instead add glue to the backing, though keep in mind that this method works best with smooth surfaces, like ceramic tiles.

Type: Wall-mounted | Material: Aluminum | Dimensions: 3.3 x 14.4 x 4.9 inches | Weight: 2.5 pounds

It’s a great space-saving alternative to floor racks.

It might sag with wet, heavy, or bulky items.

If you’d like to make your drying rack a permanent addition to your laundry room, this Step Up rack is just what you need. In terms of size and space, you’ve got several options—five rods, six rods, or seven rods. It’s perfect for saving floor space, and it folds away completely when not in use, making it discreet and helpful for keeping your laundry room neat and tidy. Because it’s made of stainless steel, without any plastic or wood, it’s also suitable for outdoor use.

While this drying rack is sturdy and sleek, installing it on the wall may be challenging. And though it claims to hold between 40 and 70 pounds of weight depending on which size you choose, the bars may bend slightly under the weight of wet clothes. That said, we love the great design and overall functionality.

Type: Wall-mounted | Material: Stainless Steel | Dimensions: 28, 40, or 47 inches | Weight: 5, 9, or 12 pounds

It’s discreet and takes up virtually no space.

You have to hang your clothes on hangers first as opposed to laying them flat.

For a drying rack that acts more like extra closet space than just an additional laundry gadget, the InstaHanger Collapsible should be your go-to. One helpful feature is that you can opt for either the drying rack on its own or add on an additional over-the-door bracket, so you have the flexibility to choose which makes the most sense for your space.

It offers a 12-inch rod that holds up to 60 pounds, providing enough room for about 10 shirts or 20 to 30 empty hangers. It’s also lightweight at just over one pound, making it less of a hassle to install on your own. This sturdy rack is also able to blend into the wall. It can be folded down when not in use, or, you can leave it open since it takes up very little wall space.

Type: Wall-mounted | Material: Plastic, metal | Dimensions: 3 x 14 x 18 inches | Weight: 1.1 pounds

It is perfect for families or those with a lot of items to air dry.

It’s not super compact when folded.

Bigger families need bigger drying racks, and this Homidec Clothes Drying Rack is just the product to provide enough space for a family-sized load of laundry. This rack offers a four-tier design, with two wings that offer an additional 14 hooks for hanging clothes. There are a total of 24 pillars, providing the space for drying up to 62 articles of clothing. With its stainless steel and thick plastic build with double columns on each side, it’s stable and durable enough to support a large load of laundry.

When not in use, it can be folded to save space. We also love that it's easy to move and easy to lock into place: It has four casters on the rack’s base, and two of those casters have brakes that prevent it from moving when locked—perfect for those with small children. It’s also easy to install—instructions come in the box, and one person can likely assemble it in under 10 minutes. Though it stands out for its large size, keep in mind that it’s a little bulky, even when folded.

Type: Freestanding | Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 19.7 x 49.6 x 67.7 inches | Weight: 10.6 Pounds

It’s perfect for retaining the original shape of your clothes without any creasing.

It doesn’t fold, so it’s not great for those with limited space.

If you have an impressive collection of sweaters, then this Storage Maniac rack will be your new best friend. It includes two or four stackable table-style surfaces with lightweight plastic legs and mesh panels that promote air circulation. Since it’s stackable, you can use each tier individually or pile them on top of each other. The soft mesh won’t scratch or stain your delicate garments, and the 27.95-square-inch panels provide plenty of room for oversized clothing pieces. While each tier stands at 5.7 inches tall, you need to break down the racks to store them, making this a less-than-ideal option for people who want a foldable rack.

Type: Freestanding | Material: Mesh and plastic | Dimensions: 27.95 x 27.95 x 5.7 inches each | Weight: 2.1 pounds

Its 360-degree rotatable design with three arms makes for a lot of vertical space.

Because it stands upright, you have to be mindful of spreading out the clothes so the weight is evenly distributed.

With three rotatable arms for hangers that can hold up to 27 pieces of clothing, this Songmics rack is perfect for quickly hanging or removing clothing (and it’s even a little fun). You can opt for just the one tier or purchase a two- or three-tier model, which adds 24 clips or eight arms and 24 clips, respectively. It has a capacity of up to 35 pounds and is easy to set up and carry around, plus, it also comes in seven parts and offers four legs for maximum stability.

What’s more is that both the arms and the legs fold inward for easy, compact storage, and you can also disassemble it for even more compact storage or to transport it from one place to another. At 2.4 pounds, it’s not too heavy to move around, either. Its stainless steel design makes it strong and durable, but note that the load should be evenly distributed when hanging clothes on the arms, and heavier items should be hung closer toward the center.

Type: Rotary | Material: Stainless steel and plastic | Dimensions: 25.6 x 25.6 x 59 inches | Weight: 2.4 pounds

It offers two height-adjustable rods, a shoe rack, and two extra inserts that can hold up to 620 pounds altogether.

It takes up a lot of space when it’s in use (but it is collapsible).

If you’re looking for a heavy-duty drying rack, this one from Dgedby can handle just about everything. With a weight capacity of 620 pounds, it’s able to hold one large load or even multiple loads of laundry. The double rods are far enough apart to hang clothes side by side, and the sturdy bottom shelf is perfect for holding laundry baskets, shoes, or even suitcases. With two additional inserts that you can move up and down the rack as needed, you can arrange your clothes in a way that works best for you. This rack truly stands out in terms of organization, because instead of one rack with multiple rods, you have different options in terms of height and placement.

Speaking of height, those who are shorter or taller will appreciate being able to adjust the rack instead of having to reach up high or down low. Not only that, but the ends of the rods on either side are also adjustable, so you can extend them when you need more room for additional clothing. We also appreciate the included 360-degree wheels, two of which are lockable, so you can move it around and keep it in place as needed. That said, because it holds so many pieces of clothing, it could also work as a freestanding wardrobe where you need more closet space. Though it’s decent in size, it can be disassembled within 15 minutes and placed under a bed for easy storage.

Type: Freestanding | Material: Metal | Dimensions: ‎42 x 22 x 69 inches | Weight: ‎26.3 pounds

It’s made of durable stainless steel.

Its extra-large size may not be necessary for every household.

The Jauree Clothes Drying Rack is perfect for hanging wet towels, bathing suits, and more outdoors without worry. It’s made of rustproof stainless steel and has a weight capacity of 300 pounds, which also makes it perfect for air-drying heavy duvet covers, comforters, or rugs outside. Its height even makes it possible to dry full-length dresses.

We love that it comes with 20 windproof hooks and anti-slip caps on the legs so that you can worry less about wind while it’s outdoors. It’s foldable for easy portability, allowing you to move it as needed (though a bit bulky), and retractable, so you can adjust its length to fit the size of your load. The four triangular fixed buckles on the rack reinforce stability, so you can feel confident that it can handle whatever you put on it without toppling over. Choose from three lengths (63, 79, and 95 inches) to better customize it to your laundry needs.

Type: Freestanding | Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 27.6 x 94.5 x 51.2 inches | Weight: 9.68 pounds

Our top choice is the Honey-Can-Do Heavy Duty Gullwing Drying Rack for its ample space, portability, and compactness. Its thoughtful design makes it versatile and able to hold 18 to 20 garments, two pairs of shoes, and even more delicate garments on its flat mesh shelf. For a more budget-friendly option, we recommend the Amazon Basics Folding Laundry Rack because it’s lightweight, sturdy, and low-priced. Its accordion-style design also makes it easy to carry and store compactly.

The type of clothing rack you should buy largely depends on the amount of laundry you want to air dry and the size of the items you’re drying. If space is an issue, you might opt for a more discreet and compact option, like the InstaHanger Collapsible Clothes Storage and Drying Rack. If you want to air-dry larger items like rugs or bedding, the Jauree Clothes Drying Rack might be your best bet. There’s an option on this list to suit every need and preference.

For more ideas, Lopez adds, “You might want to look for a rack with a higher height if you frequently need to dry longer items like dresses or pants. Alternatively, you might want to opt for a rack with special spaces for hanging items with hangers, or a wall-mounted or over-the-door-drying rack if you're short on floor space. Space savers, foldable, and collapsible options are also worth considering if you need a rack that's easy to store when not in use.”

By nature, most laundry racks don’t require assembly and are ready to use right out of the box. However, if you’re looking to mount your rack to the wall, some tools and basic DIY knowledge are useful. That said, many racks are easy to assemble and disassemble with just a few simple steps (like pulling the pieces apart and putting them back together), so you can choose the one that best fits your skills and preferences.

“The capacity of a drying rack depends on the types of clothing items being dried,” says Lawrence. “It's essential to consider that bulkier items occupy more space. For instance, three bulky sweaters may take up as much room as 30 pairs of no-show socks.”

When it comes to capacity, the size of your household is also something to take into consideration. For example, single-person or two-person households may not even need to worry about capacity (unless you have an extensive wardrobe). On the other hand, those with large families might have a greater need for a drying rack that can easily support the wardrobe of multiple people, like the Homidec Clothes Drying Rack.

Nevertheless, “when dealing with a small- to medium-size wash load, opting for a large-capacity rotary or gullwing drying rack is recommended, as it allows for better spacing and minimizes overlapping,” says Lawrence.

Reichert recommends laying them flat on top. “Some people like to hang their clothes on a drying rack with a hanger, but I find that they get pulled out of shape by the weight of the wet fabric, and also it leaves hanger marks,” she says. It’s important to dry your clothes properly, as this can actually extend their life because it helps to avoid stretching out the fabric and dealing with any misshapen pieces.

In short, you can dry every type of clothing on a drying rack. There are some items, however, that you should prioritize the most, like delicate items including hand-wash-only garments, fine fabrics, and sweaters, says Reichert. She adds that items made with heavier fabrics should be laid flat in the desired shape you want them to dry in.

To learn how to decode the laundry symbols on clothing tags so you can better understand which pieces of clothing should be air-dried after every wash, see our laundry symbols cheat sheet.

Reichert says the exact amount of time it takes for your clothing to dry can depend on a few factors, including humidity, fabric weight, and airflow in the area. As a general rule, letting your clothes dry overnight and allowing two days for heavier sweaters is a good rule of thumb.

Of course, the best and most obvious place for a clothes drying rack is a laundry room with plenty of floor space. “Unfortunately, not all homes have the luxury of such roominess,” says Lawrence. “In that case, consider using a room where any potential dripping from the clothes will not damage the floors. Good options include a bathroom, kitchen, or even a clean outdoor space that is shielded from direct sunlight."

In short, yes. “Traditional accordion-style drying racks have the potential to stretch clothes, especially when heavier or bulkier items like sweaters are not evenly spread out,” says Lawrence. To avoid this, she recommends distributing the weight of clothing evenly across the rack as best as possible.

This article was written by Camryn Dilger, an associate commerce editor at Real Simple with years of hands-on experience researching, testing, editing, and reviewing dozens of products. To come up with this list, we thoroughly researched the best clothes drying racks on the market and narrowed down the options based on factors like type, assembly, capacity, and more. For expert tips, we spoke to a panel of laundry experts including Leslie Reichert, the Green Cleaning Coach and author of the book The Joy of Green Cleaning, Carmen Lopez, founder of Current Boutique, and Katherine Lawrence, a professional organizer and content creator.