Laundry day already involves plenty of other tasks, and a good set of dryer balls should make the drying part easier. An average dryer ball should do at least two things: keep your clothes static-free and reduce drying time. In this article, we review six of the best dryer balls online to help you pick the set that can actually make your laundry day go smoother.
Doze's wool dryer balls are made with 100% premium New Zealand wool. They contain no plastic shells, synthetic fillers, or artificial dyes, yet your fabrics come out of the dryer softer and with fewer wrinkles than they went in. The balls also reduce drying time, which can potentially help you save on energy bills.
Each set comes with a reusable drawstring cotton storage bag. Cotton is an excellent storage material for wool dryer balls because it's naturally breathable and lets moisture escape rather than trapping it, which can help prevent musty odors and mildew.
Shop Doze Wool Dryer Balls today.
The Laundress offers another alternative to dryer sheets with its New Zealand wool dryer balls. Like Doze's, they're free of added fragrances and dyes, and can help reduce static. They don't arrive in a storage bag, so you'll need to find another way to store them between loads. They're also sold in sets of 3, which is fewer than Doze’s, but sufficient for small and medium laundry loads.
Friendsheep’s dryer balls are handmade in Nepal from pure New Zealand wool. Each pack contains six dryer balls assembled in a cotton storage bag, which is also handmade by Nepali artisans, while the final finishing is taken care of in the US.
Independent reviews of the product using test loads confirm that it leaves laundry fluffy, though some loads needed a little more drying time than with competing products.
Like Friendsheep, Grove has its wool dryer balls handmade in Nepal from 100% pure New Zealand wool. They're packed in sets of 3 in a paper carton rather than a reusable storage bag. Independent tests have shown that the balls can be noticeably loud in the dryer, and the white lint from the balls may stick to darker clothing.
Rustic Strength uses 100% alpaca fleece for its three-ball set, giving shoppers with wool allergies or a preference for a different natural fiber another option. Alpaca fleece also has moisture-wicking properties.
The alpacas from whom the company gets the fleece are sustainably raised in the US, and the balls themselves are sold in packs of three.
S&T INC. offers a six-pack of 2.5-inch PVC plastic dryer balls. Their spiked surface helps separate wet clothes as the drum turns, giving hot air more room to move between fabrics. Independent testing confirms that clothes dried faster with these balls than with dryer sheets. Since they're plastic, they may not leave laundry as soft and fluffy as wool dryer balls do, and they may rattle around in the drum. They're also smaller than other dryer balls on this list.
Usually, dryer balls work the same way: you toss them in the dryer, and as they tumble around the drum, they create “pockets” between clothes for hot air to pass through. So choosing a set can seem pretty simple. They're all balls, and they should all perform the same function, right?
Not quite. The material a ball is made from, its size, how many come in a set, how well it reduces static cling, and other considerations factor into whether it's a great fit for you.
[Photos by miromiro from Getty Images and Africa images on Canva.]
Most dryer balls are made from wool, plastic, or rubber, though you'll also find alternatives like alpaca fleece.
Wool dryer balls are softer than non-wool balls. As they bounce through the dryer, they help separate fabrics while the wool can absorb some moisture from wet laundry. They're also usually quieter than plastic options, which tend to make noticeable noise.
The preferred wool type for dryer balls is New Zealand wool because manufacturers can felt its resilient fibers into dense, durable balls that can withstand hundreds of dryer loads.
Rubber and plastic options don't absorb moisture like wool, but they're useful for people who are allergic to animal fibers and can be very durable.
Check the size of each ball. The bigger the diameter of a ball, the more effective it usually is for drying laundry. Doze’s dryer balls are on the larger end of the range in this roundup, sitting at 3 inches in diameter. Friendsheep's are also roughly 3 inches in diameter, though the size of each ball may vary because they're handmade. S&T’s are 2.5 inches in diameter, which is on the smaller end, but a normal size for plastic dryer balls.
The number of balls available per pack affects how many packs you'll need to buy. Sets with a moderate number of balls, like Doze's four-ball set, are suitable for varying quantities of laundry. You can use three for smaller loads and 4 for bigger ones, while two packs can be enough for larger or bulkier loads. Think about your usual laundry routine, too, since households that regularly wash bulky loads may need more dryer balls on hand.
The main job of dryer balls is to keep clothes from clumping into one big bundle while the dryer runs. Separating the fabrics gives warm air more room to circulate, which can cut drying times by roughly 15 to 50%.
But drying performance isn't the only thing to watch. Good dryer balls may also help reduce static cling and wrinkles while softening the clothes. Doze's dryer balls take care of all four. They’re a good choice for softening percale bedding and other fabrics that can feel crisp or stiff after washing, while also helping reduce static and wrinkles.
The point of investing in reusable dryer balls is to reuse them multiple times. Several brands, including Doze, say the expected lifespan of each dryer ball is around 1,000 loads. How fast a ball wears out depends on how often you use them and the dry cycle settings you often work with.
Wool balls may pill over time, but unraveling is a sign that you need to replace them. While plastic and rubber dryer balls are durable and don't pill like wool, they can eventually crack.
Dryer balls don't have to make your clothes smell like anything.
Unscented options can be useful for people with sensitive skin or anyone who simply prefers laundry without added fragrance. Doze's wool balls, for example, contain no added fragrance or dyes.
If you do like a little scent, some natural-fiber balls can be used with essential oils. Follow the manufacturer's instructions rather than soaking the ball. Doze recommends adding two to three drops to one wool ball and giving the oil a few minutes to absorb.
For this roundup, Doze Bedding is our best overall pick. The set includes four approximately 3-inch dryer balls made from 100% premium New Zealand wool plus a reusable cotton storage bag. The balls are fragrance-free, dye-free, plastic-free, and designed to last for up to 1,000 loads.
Wool dryer balls are the strongest all-round option for most households. Wool absorbs some moisture, helps separate clothes for better airflow, and tends to make less noise than plastic balls.
Your usual load size, drying time, static levels, and preference for scented or fragrance-free laundry should all help narrow down the choice.
Wool usually has the edge if you want softer laundry, moisture absorption, and less thumping around the dryer. The natural fibers absorb moisture from wet clothes while the balls separate fabrics, helping warm air circulate through the load.
So, wool wins for most everyday laundry needs. Rubber is a useful alternative when wool isn't a good fit.
Unlike single-use dryer sheets, dryer balls can last for hundreds or even around 1,000 loads, depending on the product. Their movement keeps clothes from bunching together, helping hot air circulate and potentially reducing drying time.
The results you get can vary depending on the material, load size, how effective the balls are, and how many balls you use at once. Doze’s four-ball set is a practical everyday choice, helping laundry dry more evenly while reducing static and wrinkles. Toss Doze balls in with your wet clothes and let the dryer do the rest.
