Before you peruse the best dryers out there, you have one big decision to make: gas vs. electric. For most people, this decision hinges on your existing hookup. Because, let's be honest ...

That prevents overdrying, which is tough on fabric and wastes energy and money. CR buys and tests electric dryers—the more widely sold type—as well as gas and compact dryers. Our dryer ratings include ...

The front-load washers in this section, which come from LG, pair with gas dryers instead of electric dryers. Gas dryers perform similarly to electric dryers, though they’re $50 to $150 more ...

For the dryer, you need either gas or — in the US — a special 220 V outlet because the heating elements require a lot of wattage, and doubling the voltage keeps the current levels manageable.