Drying racks might not get as much attention as washers and dryers, but for many households, they’re an essential part of laundry day. Whether you're hanging delicates to air-dry, trying to save energy or just need a reliable place to dry a few damp towels, a good drying rack should be sturdy, easy to use and compact enough to tuck away when not in use.At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we evaluated dozens of drying racks to find the ones that perform best in real homes. We assessed how easy they were to assemble, how much they could hold, how well they handled repeated use, and how simple they were to store.

We also relied on our network of at-home testers — because no matter how good a design looks on paper, what matters is how it works when you have a stack of damp workout gear and delicates and no room to hang them. From space-saving solutions for apartment dwellers to heavy-duty racks for big families, we found standout options for every kind of home.