Clothes Dryer Dimensions and Capacity
Dryer sizes for every format sold in North America and Europe, with the extra room a dryer needs that a washer does not: space for the vent duct, a power supply that fits the plug, and air to breathe in a closet.
A standard full-size dryer is 27 in (68.6 cm) wide, 38 to 39.75 in (97 to 101 cm) tall and 28 to 32 in (71 to 81 cm) deep, with a drum of 7.0 to 7.8 cu ft (198 to 221 L). Compact dryers are 24 in (61 cm) wide and about 33.5 in (85 cm) tall with 4.0 to 4.5 cu ft drums. European dryers are 60 × 85 × 60 to 65 cm.
- Width
- 27 in (68.6 cm)
- Height
- 38-39.75 in
- Depth
- 28-32 in (71-81 cm)
- Drum
- 7.0-7.8 cu ft
On this page
Dryer sizes chart
Dryers are built to match washers, so the widths mirror washer widths. What changes between types is drum volume and, for top-load-style dryers, height.
| Type | Width | Height | Depth | Drum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-size front-load | 27 in 68.6 cm | 38 to 39.75 in 97 to 101 cm | 28 to 32 in 71 to 81 cm | 7.0 to 7.8 cu ft 198 to 221 L |
| Large-capacity front-load | 27 in | 39 to 40 in | 30 to 34 in 76 to 86 cm | 8.0 to 9.2 cu ft 227 to 261 L |
| Top-load-pair dryer (rear console) | 27 to 29 in 69 to 74 cm | 42 to 45 in to console top | 28 to 31 in | 7.0 to 7.4 cu ft |
| Compact, vented or ventless | 23.5 to 24 in 60 to 61 cm | 33.5 to 34 in 85 to 86 cm | 22 to 25 in 56 to 64 cm | 3.5 to 4.5 cu ft 99 to 127 L |
| European freestanding | 59.5 to 60 cm 23.4 to 23.6 in | 84 to 85 cm 33.1 to 33.5 in | 60 to 65 cm 23.6 to 25.6 in | 7 to 10 kg rated load |
Spec-sheet depth is measured with the door closed and normally excludes the vent connection. With the door open 90 degrees, a full-size front-load dryer needs about 50 to 55 in (127 to 140 cm) from the wall. Dryers weigh about 100 to 150 lb (45 to 68 kg), much less than washers because they have no counterweights.
Why some dryers are 29 inches wide
Dryers sold to sit next to top-load washers often have a rear control console and a 29 in wide cabinet, and their tops reach 42 to 45 in to line up with the washer's console. They cannot be stacked. If you are replacing one with a front-load style dryer, you gain about 2 in of width and 4 to 6 in of height above the machine.
Dryer capacity and matching it to the washer
A dryer drum needs roughly 1.6 to 1.8 times the volume of the washer drum. Wet clothes from a full washer need space to tumble open, otherwise they dry slowly and wrinkle.
| Washer | Dryer | Dryer in liters |
|---|---|---|
| 2.2 to 2.6 cu ft compact | 4.0 to 4.5 cu ft | 113 to 127 L |
| 3.5 to 4.0 cu ft | 6.5 to 7.0 cu ft | 184 to 198 L |
| 4.5 cu ft | 7.3 to 7.5 cu ft | 207 to 212 L |
| 5.0 cu ft and larger | 7.8 to 9.2 cu ft | 221 to 261 L |
European dryers are rated in kg of dry cotton, like washers. Buy a dryer with the same or a slightly higher kg rating than the washer: a 9 kg washer pairs with an 8 or 9 kg dryer, since a full wash load loses only water in the dryer. Washer sizes in both systems are in the washing machine dimensions guide.
Electric vs gas dryer requirements
Gas and electric versions of the same model normally share the same cabinet, so the choice affects the hookup rather than the space.
- Electric (full-size): 240 V on a 30 A circuit. New installations use a 4-prong NEMA 14-30 outlet; homes wired before the 1996 National Electrical Code change may still have a 3-prong NEMA 10-30. The power cord is bought to match the outlet.
- Electric (compact): many 24 in models also need 240 V, but some vented and ventless compacts plug into a standard 120 V outlet. The 120 V versions have much less heating power and take longer per load.
- Gas: a gas shutoff valve behind the dryer plus an ordinary 120 V outlet for the drum motor and controls. Natural gas and propane need different burner orifices, so order the right version or a conversion kit.
Dryer vent size and maximum length
A vented dryer pushes moist, lint-laden air through a 4 in (102 mm) duct to the outdoors. The duct's length decides how well the dryer works and how much space you need behind it.
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Maximum duct length | 35 ft (10.7 m) of straight run, unless the dryer maker allows more |
| Each 90° elbow (4 in mitered) | Subtract 5 ft |
| Each 45° elbow (4 in mitered) | Subtract 2 ft 6 in |
| Duct material | Rigid metal, at least 0.016 in thick, smooth inside, joints not fastened with screws that reach into the duct |
| Transition duct (dryer to wall) | Listed flexible metal, no more than 8 ft long, not hidden inside walls |
| Outside termination | Backdraft damper, no screen, at least 3 ft from doors, windows and other openings |
A run with two 90° elbows therefore has 25 ft of straight duct left. Long-vent dryer models publish their own longer limits, which the code allows, and some installations add a listed booster fan. The transition duct does not count toward the 35 ft.
A standard elbow and flexible metal transition duct need about 5 to 6 in behind the cabinet. A slim periscope duct, which runs flat between dryer and wall, brings that down to about 2 to 3 in. Many dryers can also vent out of the left, right or bottom, sometimes with a kit, which helps when the wall outlet is to one side.
Ventless dryers: condenser and heat pump
Ventless dryers condense the moisture out of the air and either collect it in a tank or pump it into the washer's drain. They need no duct, so they fit closets, apartments and interior rooms where a vent cannot reach outside.
- Sizes: mostly 24 in compacts in North America, with a growing number of 27 in heat pump and hybrid models. In Europe, heat pump dryers are the norm in the standard 60 cm format.
- Clearance: about 1 in behind, but they release warmth and some humidity into the room, so a closed closet still needs ventilation openings.
- Drain: plan for the drain hose to reach the washer standpipe or a sink, or for emptying a 4 to 5 L water tank on models without a drain connection.
- Time: expect longer cycles than a vented dryer of the same drum size, especially with condenser models.
Stacking a dryer on a washer
Only front-load dryers stack, and only on a front-load washer of the same width, using the maker's stacking kit. A full-size stack is about 76 to 80 in (193 to 203 cm) tall; a 24 in compact stack is about 67 to 68 in. Before you stack, check that the dryer can be reached for the lint filter and controls, and reverse its door if it would open against a wall. Closet dimensions, door swing and ventilation for stacked and side-by-side pairs are in the laundry space planning guide.
How to measure for a dryer
- Width: the opening needs at least 1 in more than the dryer, or 2 in in a closet.
- Depth: measure from the wall (or the vent outlet if it protrudes) to the front edge of any door frame. Add 5 to 6 in to the dryer's listed depth for a standard vent, or 1 in for a ventless model.
- Height: measure to the lowest shelf or cabinet. A rear-console dryer needs 42 to 45 in plus clearance; a front-control dryer about 40 in.
- Vent position: note where the wall duct comes out. If it is low and directly behind, a bottom or side exit on the dryer may be the only way to push the machine back.
- Outlet type: a 3-prong or 4-prong 240 V outlet, or a gas valve. The cord or gas connector is usually sold separately.
Laundry baskets that go with the pair are covered in the laundry basket size guide, and shelving above the machines in closet organizer sizes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the size of a standard clothes dryer?
27 in wide, about 39 in tall and 28 to 32 in deep (68.6 × 99 × 71 to 81 cm), with a 7.0 to 7.8 cu ft drum. Dryers made to sit beside top-load washers are often 29 in wide and 42 to 45 in tall to the top of the control panel.
Are dryers bigger than washers?
The cabinet is the same width and nearly the same height, but the drum is much larger: a 4.5 cu ft washer is normally paired with a 7.3 to 7.5 cu ft dryer. Clothes need room to tumble and air to flow through them, so dryer drums are about 1.6 to 1.8 times the washer's volume.
Are gas dryers the same size as electric dryers?
Yes. Most models come in gas and electric versions with identical cabinets. The difference is behind the machine: a gas dryer needs a gas shutoff valve and a regular 120 V outlet, while an electric dryer needs a 240 V, 30 A outlet.
How much space do you need behind a dryer?
With a standard 4 in vent and elbow, plan about 5 to 6 in (13 to 15 cm) between the dryer back and the wall. A slim periscope duct reduces that to around 2 to 3 in, and a ventless dryer needs only about 1 in. Check the minimum in your model's installation guide.
What size is a compact dryer?
Compact dryers are 23.5 to 24 in wide, 33.5 to 34 in tall and about 22 to 25 in deep, holding 3.5 to 4.5 cu ft. Vented compacts may run on 240 V or 120 V, and the 120 V versions take noticeably longer per load. Ventless heat pump compacts are about the same size.