Best clothes airers and drying racks 2020 Leave a comment

Lightweight and portable with quick set-up and decent drying space, this classic rack ticks a lot of boxes. It doesn’t take up too much floor space either — ideal if you’re trying to squish it into your bedroom.

Key specs
Total drying space: 21 metres
Drying capacity: More than 1 wash load
Size when open (cm): 137(H) x 58(W) x 51(D)
Weight: 3.4kg
Hanging corners: Yes

With 30m of drying space, this beast of a clothes rack should handle your last ASOS splurge with ease. It’s clever though, because although it packs loads on, the tall, lightweight structure means it doesn’t take up too much space, and it can be folded in half for smaller loads. With attachable wheels, you can even move it out of view ahead of your next zoom meeting.

Key specs
Total drying space: 30 metres
Drying capacity: Not specified
Size when open (cm): 132(H) x 69.5(W) x 69.5(D)
Weight: 3.4kg
Hanging corners: Yes

If you’re not fussed about annoying your flatmates, or you really are tight on space, this airer is designed to sit in the tub. There’s plenty of space for large bath towels and bedding, and the rungs held their own. It’s a simple design, but we found the legs a bit wobbly at times.

Key specs
Total drying space: 12 metres
Drying capacity: 1 wash load (12kg)
Size when open (cm): 91(H) x 147(W) x 43(D)
Weight: 2.9kg
Hanging corners: No

From the same brand as our winning dryer, but with an ‘X-wing’ set up, this one’s best for hanging longer items like leggings up high, with lower rungs better suited to knickers. It’s also lightweight and easy to move around.

Key specs
Total drying space: 15 metres
Drying capacity: More than one wash load
Size when open (cm): 126(H) x 103(W) x 78(D)
Weight: 2.9kg
Hanging corners: Yes

With our bedrooms currently functioning as a workspace/makeshift gym/entertainment area, we could really do with the most compact clothes dryer on the market. Ta-daaa — don’t say we don’t offer up space-saving solutions! The narrow rungs are fine for t-shirts but don’t expect a double sheet to fit without overlap. That said, it’s slim enough to slide down the side of your wardrobe when not in use.

Key specs
Total drying space: 10 metres
Drying capacity: One wash load
Size when open (cm): 108(H) x 115(W) x 40.5(D)
Weight: 1.8kg
Hanging corners: Yes

If we’re honest, we probably don’t wash them enough (sorry mum!) but this rack is ideal for bulky bedding or towels. It’s heavy but secure with strong rungs, which won’t warp under soaking-wet loads, and the top rack is big enough for a folded king-size duvet. 

Key specs
Total drying space: 20-25 metres
Drying capacity: Two wash loads
Size when open (cm): 131(H) x 85(W) x 61(D)
Weight: 6kg
Hanging corners: No

Ok, now we’re getting fancy. It’s definitely not the cheapest but if you don’t have a tumble dryer then it’s the best way to dry clothes quickly. Be warned, it heats up to 50C, so be careful not to burn your bum while shimmying past. It’s fairly bulky but comes with three tiers and a shoe hook at the base for warming slippers – take our money!

Key specs
Total drying space: 15 metres plus four shoe hooks
Drying capacity: One to two wash loads (15kg)
Size when open (cm): 135(H) x 65.5(W) x 71(D)
Weight: 5.5kg
Hanging corners: No

If you’d rather save your dough for the clothes you’ll be hanging on the airer, this no-frills two-pack should do the job. It hooks over your radiator, with four sturdy bars and metres of space to hang smaller items. And when you’re done, it’s small enough to stash under the bed!

Key specs

Total drying space: unspecified
Drying capacity: One wash load
Size when open (cm): 36(H) x 51(W) x 17(D)
Weight: kg
Hanging corners: No