Capacity and Measurements

• The smallest electric dryers hold around 4 cubic feet of laundry. They stand 33 1/4 to 33 1/2 inches high, 23 1/2 to 24 inches wide and 24 1/2 to 26 inches deep. Large dryers can hold 5.7 to 6.7 cubic feet of laundry. They may measure 37 to 46 inches high, 27 to 29 inches wide and 25 1/2 to 32 inches deep. Super-capacity dryers have capacities of 7 cubic feet or more. They can stand 36 to 45 inches high, 27 inches wide and 28 1/4 to 34 1/2 inches deep.
  
  

Colors and Weight

• Gone are the days when electric clothes dryers featured only white finishes. Today, you can purchase them in red, silver, black, blue, gray and champagne shades. Small clothes dryers may weigh 84 to 95 pounds, while large models weigh 100 to 126 pounds. Super-capacity dryers rank among the heaviest, weighing 121 to 133 pounds.
  
  

Features and Cycles

• The number of drying cycles available to consumers varies by model, with smaller and cheaper appliances typically offering fewer options. Some dryers have only three drying settings, while others offer as many as 14 cycles. Manufacturers may also list cycle counts as "multiple," leaving consumers to examine the instruction manual or appliance controls for details on what settings are available. Dryers may come with mechanical or electronic controls. Steam technology on some models may reduce wrinkles and odors.
  
  

Warranty and Prices

• While many electric clothes dryers offer a one-year warranty for parts and labor, at least one model has a two-year warranty. Low-capacity dryers carried manufacturers' suggested prices of $630 to $1,270 in March 2011, while large dryers cost $320 to $900. Super-capacity dryers start around $650 and climb to $1,680.