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7 best clothes airers and drying racks, tried and tested
We’ve found the best clothes horses to suit your space
Tested by Blossom BoothroydHomes Testing Manager
Whether you’re trying to remove stains from your favourite white shirt, or your towels are in desperate need of a freshening 30 degree cycle, most of us find ourselves in a constant state of “popping a wash on”.
That’s why buying the right clothes horse, airer or drying rack is a more important household decision than you may think — especially if you don’t have enough (or any) outdoor space to hang a washing line or room indoors for a tumble dryer.
In fact, the right design can mean faster drying (although if you're looking for a really speedy dryer, especially when it's colder, a heated airer is the way to go) and can slot into any space, even in the smallest of homes.
To help you choose the best option for your household, these are the best clothes airers you can buy now, as tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute, but scroll on for our experts' full reviews.
Best clothes airers
Joint best clothes airer and best for drying bedding or towels
Brabantia Tower Drying Rack
Read review
How to dry your clothes fast
Drying laundry fast can be a challenge, especially if it's been raining a lot (this is the UK after all). It may sound obvious, but no matter which clothes airer you invest in, if your washing isn’t properly spread out, then it will take longer to dry. Giving each item of clothing enough space will allow everything to dry more quickly, and crucially, without any nasty damp smells.
On that topic, if you use a clothes horse regularly then it may be a good idea to invest in a dehumidifier to prevent damp in your home. As well as removing excess moisture from the air, positioning one by your airer has the added benefit of making your clothes dry more quickly. Some even have laundry modes for that very reason.
What are the different types of clothes airer?
The best clothes airer for you will vary depending on the space you have available, and how you approach your laundry. In terms of shape, these are the different styles available and the best uses for each.
Tiered
Tiered airers have several levels, four feet and a signature concertina criss-cross look. They’re assembled in one swift pulling motion and pushed down to revert them to folded. These multi-level airers come in different sizes but they tend to have enough space to hang everyday loads of washing including hand towels, T-shirts, shorts, trousers and delicates.
Gated
Another concertina design, gated airers are even more simple than tiered options. They pull out to create a long zigzag with spacious rungs. Thanks to their fuss-free design, gated airers are popular among students as they tend to be the cheapest option available and fold down to just a few centimetres wide, meaning they can easily be stored behind a bed or wardrobe.
Winged
Usually suitable for standing in the bathtub or on a balcony, they have two large fold-out wings that are perfect for hanging longer items such as towels, trousers and maxi dresses. Most winged models also have flat sections — either between the wings or between the leg rungs — that are great for drying delicates and smaller items. Due to their large wings, they tend to be quite tall even when folded down.
Bathtub
These are great for those with no floor space to spare. Some have legs and long wings to make the most of the space above a standard UK bath, but you can also find smaller tent-style designs that attach to the rim of the bath instead.
Tower
Generally taller and larger than most other airers, a tower airer comprises several horizontal flat sections and some also have hooks at the top for hanging shirts and dresses. Due to their size, they’re great for hanging double or king-size bedding, as well as heavy bath towels.
Radiator
These small airers have hooks that you clip onto the top of radiators with an attached flat section of rungs for hanging washing. Due to their small capacity, radiator airers are great for hand towels or dish cloths, or as a second smaller area when only one or two items need drying. Radiator airers are also handy if you need something dried quickly.
Heated
Though a considerably pricier purchase, a heated airer means a wash load can dry more quickly without needing to rely on central heating or a tumble dryer.
A traditional metal clothes horse should suit most households, but if you do multiple washes in one day (or need a boost in winter), then consult our heated clothes airer buying guide for our top expert-tested picks.
What should I look for in a clothes drying rack?
As well as the design of your drying rack, these are the extra features you should look out for to make doing the laundry even easier.
Drying space or wash load capacity: This lets you know how many metres of potential space the drying rack has for hanging various items. Some airers will tell you how many wash loads they can dry instead.
Hanging corners: These are a great addition to provide extra space for items to dry – some airers can hold up to four items on each corner.
Lock mechanism: This prevents a drying rack from collapsing if you’re loading it with damp and heavy towels or jeans. It keeps the frame safe around children too, meaning if it ever gets knocked, it won’t accidentally fold down.
Fold down dimensions and floor space: Keep in mind the size of the airer when it’s folded down so that you have room to store it. That said, most are compact and will take up minimal space.
How we test clothes airers
Our Good Housekeeping Institute experts assess each clothes drying rack and airer on design, how easy it is to assemble, how stable the main frame feels, how strong the individual rungs are, and how compact it is once folded.
We also test various loads of washing on each drying rack, including a king-size bed sheet and duvet cover, delicates, towels and clothes, to see how long they take to dry.
Minky 3 Tier Plus Indoor Airer with 21m Drying Space
Score: 91/100
There’s a lot of drying space here, with four extended hanging corners that each fit up to two items. In our tests, we found it easily held a load of double bedding or two smaller laundry loads. It’s portable and lightweight, and, at only 59cm wide when open, it takes up minimal floor space, so is ideal for small homes.
The airer is great value for money too, as it has several features that make drying laundry easier, including 21m of drying space and a fairly quick to assemble frame. Testers noted that it isn’t obvious how to collapse it though, and it folds down quickly, so be careful with how you position your hands when your laundry has dried.
Key specifications
| Type | Tier |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Safety lock | Yes |
Brabantia Tower Drying Rack
Score: 91/100
This was the heaviest airer on test at 6kg, but it has a stable and secure frame with strong, thick rungs that support wet, heavy loads. There’s a decent amount of drying area too, with four flat sections that you can either keep up or fold down, depending on the size of your laundry load. The longer top rack is a clever design feature too, as any washing that drapes over the edges won’t touch the items on the smaller racks beneath.
We think it’s the best option for bedding or towels, as a folded king-size duvet cover fits over the top rack with the sheet placed through the middle. It only needed turning once and dried quickly when left in a warm and airy room.
Key specifications
| Type | Tower |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Safety lock | Yes |
Score: 90/100
It’s easy for your laundry to chase the sun (and therefore dry more quickly) with this wheeled airer – testers found it sturdy to move, even with 5kg of wet laundry hanging from its rails.
There's 20 metres of drying space on offer, but it still folds away compactly (although its legs don’t lock in once down, so you need to watch out for any flapping if you’re carrying it far). Its wings lock securely in place when expanded though, and it’s very sturdy. It didn’t leave any crease marks on our clothing either.
Key specifications
| Type | Winged |
|---|---|
| Total drying space | 20 metres |
| Drying capacity | More than one wash load |
| Size when open (cm) | 112(H) x 174(W) x 56(D) cm |
| Weight | 3.05kg |
| Hanging corners | No |
| Safety lock | Yes |
Score: 90/100
This “X-wing" airer has multi-position arms, so you can hang longer items up high, or position them so they lie flatter for delicates. There’s a secure lock and four hanging corners, too. Plus, the frame is lightweight.
Testers found the strong, well-spaced rungs did a good job of holding all types of washing, from bed sheets to clothing. There aren't any rubber feet to grip the floor though, which means it can slip easily.
Key specifications
| Type | Winged / bathtub |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Safety lock | No |
Score: 89/100
This compact airer is the lightest model on our list, weighing less than 2kg – under half the weight of some of the other airers. It also has a slim "X-wing" design that lets you move its adjustable wings (complete with 26 rungs and four hanging corners) to three different positions. All this makes it well-suited to one or two person households, smaller spaces, or even as a second airer if you have hanging space elsewhere.
You can fit tea towels across the narrow rungs, while T-shirts are best draped over the end. Be careful with big loads of anything much larger, however, as items may start to overlap. That said, it can be configured with a flat section for delicates, or so that it's tall enough to drape a bath towel over. A single duvet cover or sheet could also fit over the whole frame.
Key specifications
| Type | Winged |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Safety lock | Yes |
Vileda Mixer 3 Tower Airer
Score: 88/100
With 30m of drying space available, this tall tower airer is made for holding larger loads. If you’re drying fewer items, you can also use it folded in half to save space. And despite its height, it’s lightweight and easy to assemble.
Testers found that the rungs could bend under the weight of notably heavy items (although the frame itself is sturdy), making it better suited to clothes than drenched bath sheets. Small items can lie flat across the wide and spacious racks for quicker drying and there’s also a useful sock hook and two hanging pegs with space for four items on each. It has convenient attachable wheels, too.
Key specifications
| Type | Tower |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Safety lock | No |
Leifheit Pegasus 12m Bathtub Dryer
Score: 83/100
Designed to sit inside a bathtub, this airer has a 35cm-deep base and strong, secure rungs, which hold damp and heavy items well. Despite its space-saving design, there’s enough room for large bath towels and double bedding when draped over the whole frame.
The flat design is ideal for drying smaller garments, but testers noted that the legs were stiff and wobbly at times. Suitable for smaller homes and households, it’s ideal if you want to leave your clothes to dry somewhere out of the way.
Key specifications
| Type | Winged / bathtub |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Safety lock | No |
Our verdict on clothes airers
The best clothes airer for your home will come down to the space you have to play with. If you've got ample room, Minky's Three Tier Plus Clothes Airer, one of our joint winners, is sturdy and well priced, with enough room for more than one load of laundry.
If space is tight, however, this bath tub airer from Leifheit is a smart buy. While it's compact, it's still designed to hold a load's worth of clothes. Note, though, that because of its height, it's less suited to sheets and towels. But if you have a washer dryer or tumble dryer then that'd be little bother.
Why you should trust the Good Housekeeping Institute
It's no exaggeration to say we're laundry experts here at the GHI. Our homes testing team (headed up by Blossom Boothroyd) has tried out everything from washing machines to fabric shavers to laundry detergents in our quest to make sure your clothes get the TLC they deserve.
Our homes writer, Megan Geall, then takes their testing, asking all the same questions you have at home, and translates it into informative reviews, so you can find the best buy for you.
Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s senior homes and lifestyle writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market and has written hundreds of product reviews on everything from the best vacuum cleaners and coffee machines to the best ice cream makers and robot window cleaners.
When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her running every distance from 5km to 100km or relaxing at home with her cat – there really is no in between.
Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, Women's Health, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall.
Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.
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