Best Overall
Handy Laundry Wool Dryer Balls
AMAZON
- Performance5/5
- Durability5/5
- Noise Level5/5
- Value5/5
- We voted these as the best of what we tested thanks to a drastic reduction in drying time and the elimination of static in laundry loads.
We voted these as the best of what we tested thanks to a drastic reduction in drying time and the elimination of static in laundry loads.
- You’ll likely have to reapply essential oils after each use—the scent fades after one wash.
You’ll likely have to reapply essential oils after each use—the scent fades after one wash.
During the lab test, the Handy Laundry dryer balls stood out in every way. Most notably, they were incredibly quiet both with towels and in an empty dryer. They also had no noticeable smell, didn’t pill after a first use, and are completely made of wool down to the core.
When we brought these home for the one-month test, it became clear that they improved the performance of the dryer. They cut drying time by about 33% (per our estimation), and eliminated static from the fabric completely. After a month we saw minimal pilling and no decrease in performance overall.
The Handy Laundry dryer balls are made from 100% New Zealand wool, rolled and felted into tight balls. They’re also compatible with the use of essential oils, so users can apply their scent of choice before use. You would likely need to reapply each time, as we only noticed a light scent in the first load after adding a few drops of oil.
Product Details: Quantity: 6-Pack | Material: Wool | Scent: Safe for Use With Essential Oils | Size: 10-inch circumference
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
Best for Drying Time
Kainga Recka Wool Dryer Balls
WALMART
- Performance5/5
- Durability5/5
- Noise Level4.5/5
- Value5/5
- Our testing showed that these dryer balls decreased the moisture level of a wet towel dramatically, in 30 minutes.
Our testing showed that these dryer balls decreased the moisture level of a wet towel dramatically, in 30 minutes.
- These can be a bit loud in the dryer.
These can be a bit loud in the dryer.
In our tests, we found that the Kainga Recka pick exceeded our expectations when it came to reducing drying time. When measuring the difference between the fully wet towel and the towel after 30 minutes in the dryer, the moisture content had decreased 33.49%. For comparison, some of the other dryer balls showed changes as small as -2%.
When used at home we continued to observe that the balls cut down considerably on dry time. We also noticed a significant decrease in static, as well as a tangible difference in softness to dryer loads. There was no significant decrease in quality over the one month of use, and the cute sheep designs on each ball add a touch of fun.
The biggest downside is the noise level of the dryer balls—they produced a “dull, droney sound” that was slightly annoying. Like our top pick, these are compatible with essential oils, which added a light scent to the towels when applied. The smell wasn’t overpowering and considerably less than a dryer sheet.
The core of the dryer balls were also all wool as well, and were made from 100% New Zealand organic wool. After one use, some loose strands were visible.
Product Details: Quantity: 8-Pack | Material: Wool | Scent: Safe for Use With Essential Oils | Size: 8.5-inch circumference
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
Best for Wrinkles
Smart Sheep Wool Dryer Balls
AMAZON
- Performance5/5
- Durability4.5/5
- Noise Level5/5
- Value4.5/5
- Ease of Use5/5
- These reduced static and wrinkles almost completely on everything from towels to clothing.
These reduced static and wrinkles almost completely on everything from towels to clothing.
- After a month of use, there was some visible pilling and loose strands.
After a month of use, there was some visible pilling and loose strands.
Over a month of using the Smart Sheep dryer balls, we noticed how wrinkle-free our laundry was—the results were comparable to a dryer sheet when it came to reducing and eliminating both static and wrinkles in everything from towels to clothing.
While clothes did dry faster, the wrinkle reduction factor made these dryer balls stand out among those we tested. During lab tests, towel moisture was reduced by 19.34 percent after 30 minutes, and the towels came out evenly dried, too.
After multiple washes, these dryer balls got visibly fuzzier with noticeable pilling. By the end of the month we noticed a small rip in one. The brand does claim the Smart Sheep dryer balls should last for over 1000 loads, but it is possible they’ll wear down sooner than that—although we saw no change in effectiveness.
The Smart Sheep dryer balls have been declared climate neutral by ClimatePartner, and the brand uses ethical fair trade practices to humanely source its wool in Nepal.
Product Details: Quantity: 6-Pack | Material: Wool | Scent: Safe for Use With Essential Oils | Size: 9.25-inch circumference
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
Best for Static
Grove Co. Wool Dryer Balls and Essential Oil Set
GROVE CO.
- Performance5/5
- Durability5/5
- Noise Level4.5/5
- Value4/5
- These dryer balls completely eliminated static and clothing cling during the one-month performance test, cutting down on ironing and steaming time.
These dryer balls completely eliminated static and clothing cling during the one-month performance test, cutting down on ironing and steaming time.
- We found them loud enough to avoid using during nap time.
We found them loud enough to avoid using during nap time.
We dried everything from bedding to more delicate items and found the Grove Co. dryer balls to be exceptional when it came to eliminating static—something we’d previously struggled with during laundry time. In fact, it made such a change that we didn’t have one issue with clothes clinging together since.
They also did a good job on reducing wrinkles, which led to less time ironing and steaming clothing. The dryer balls reduced dry time, but we found the static results to be more noticeable. At the end of the month, the balls performed the same and looked similar, with only some pilling and attached lint.
We found them loud enough to not want to use them while napping. Though the scent of the included eucalyptus oil wasn’t noticeable on the towels in the lab, we did detect a light but pleasant scent on clothing when the oil was used at home.
Product Details: Quantity: 3-Pack | Material: Wool | Scent: Eucalyptus Essential Oil Included | Size: 9.5-inch circumference
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
Best Oversized
Woolzies Wool Dryer Balls + Essential Oil
AMAZON
- Performance4.8/5
- Durability4.5/5
- Noise Level4.5/5
- Value4.5/5
- The extra-large dryer balls did a great job separating bigger, bulkier loads like towels or bedding.
The extra-large dryer balls did a great job separating bigger, bulkier loads like towels or bedding.
- You’ll need more than a few drops of the included essential oils to detect the scent.
You’ll need more than a few drops of the included essential oils to detect the scent.
These dryer balls from Woolzies are about the size of a baseball and are made from 100% organic New Zealand wool. The three-pack includes a choice of essential oils such as lavender, orange, or lemon.
During one month of testing, they performed the best when it came to decreasing drying time of larger items like bath towels or comforters that tend to get balled up during the drying cycle. In the lab, we found a 22% decrease in moisture content after the 30-minute dry time was complete.
The included essential oil was pleasant, but we needed to add more than a few drops for the scent to transfer. We found no static detected on laundry during the duration of the test. After the month was up, we noticed some visible pilling but performance remained the same.
Product Details: Quantity: 3-Pack | Material: Wool | Scent: Lavender Essential Oil Included | Size: 9.5-inch circumference
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
Best Plastic
World Market Hedgehog Dryer Balls
WORLD MARKET
- Performance5/5
- Durability4.5/5
- Noise Level5/5
- Value4.5/5
- These dryer balls are affordable alternatives for wool—and because of their texture and material, they’re easier to find in the dryer when done with a load.
These dryer balls are affordable alternatives for wool—and because of their texture and material, they’re easier to find in the dryer when done with a load.
- These might sound louder than wool options.
These might sound louder than wool options.
Plastic dryer balls can be a bit easier to find in the dryer than wool balls because of the obvious difference in texture, and those who don’t care about adding essential oils might prefer them. The best laundry balls made from plastic are the World Market Hedgehog dryer balls.
Because they’re plastic, the balls themselves don’t hold onto moisture or wetness. During the one month test, we found that regardless of what we dried, most loads were done in about 40-45 minutes on high or medium heat. Static and wrinkles were both reduced on clothing.
After the first lab test, we reported noticeable wear on the nose of the hedgehog, with some black streaking on the body. Texture was also rough to the touch, which led to some concern that the dryer balls might deteriorate over time.
While we noted the same deterioration of color after a few washes at home, they still functioned well after the test month, with no additional wear. For the most part we found the noise to be minimal, but the lab test found the plastic balls to be louder than wool options.
Product Details: Quantity: 2-Pack | Material: Plastic | Scent: None | Size: 10-inch circumference
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON