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A laundry basket or hamper can help keep piles of dirty clothes organized, allowing you to not only be prepared for laundry but also deal with the chaos of everyday life.
We spent over 50 hours researching and testing 22 different sizes and materials of laundry baskets, bins, sorters and backpacks.
Ultimately, we’ve selected six of the most durable, breathable, washable, and portable options to make countless laundry days as easy and simple as possible.
This plastic basket holds a large amount of laundry securely, will last for years, is well ventilated and easy to clean.
This affordable and durable plastic curved basket not only holds a lot of laundry, but is also super easy to clean, making it a favorite among those who like the curved, hip-hugging style.
Three reinforced clothing compartments make it easy to sort items by type, and the wheels are ideal for those who push rather than lift heavy items.
This well-ventilated laundry basket features a lid that keeps trash out of sight while still keeping the basket portable.
This compact steel basket isn’t cheap, but its simple design is perfect for display and for those who do small (or frequent) loads of laundry.
This durable laundry backpack features adjustable, padded shoulder straps to provide a comfortable fit for all body sizes and accommodate a large amount of clothing.
This plastic basket holds a large amount of laundry securely, will last for years, is well ventilated and easy to clean.
Since 2017, Wirecutter staffers have been raving about the Sterilite plastic laundry hamper. It holds 1.5 bushels/53 liters, which is enough for a load of laundry (about 21 pounds), is well-ventilated, and wipes down with a damp cloth. The flexible, extended handle makes it easy to hold a full hamper, reducing the number of trips to the washer on wash day.
This affordable and durable plastic curved basket not only holds a lot of laundry, but is also super easy to clean, making it a favorite among those who like the curved, hip-hugging style.
The Sterilite 1.25 Bushel High Waist Basket features three sturdy handles with a curved edge on one side, allowing you to hold it in two ways. The curved design makes it easy to keep the weight of your clothes on your hips, so even climbing stairs with a full basket (44 liters, extra-large capacity weighs about 21 pounds) is no longer a chore.
Three reinforced clothing compartments make it easy to sort items by type, and the wheels are ideal for those who push rather than lift heavy items.
If you have more space or a dedicated laundry area and want to pre-sort your laundry, the Honey-Can-Do SRT-01235 Heavy-Duty Three-Tier Laundry Sorter is a great choice. The sturdy metal frame has wheels and holds three removable polycotton laundry bags that attach to metal rods and can be easily removed to load your laundry directly into the washer. Each laundry bag holds about 11 pounds of laundry, for a total of over 30 pounds. While this sorter isn’t very large, it’s not the most compact of our recommendations, so if you have limited space or don’t need to sort and wheel your laundry around, a laundry bin or bin may be a better option.
This well-ventilated laundry basket features a lid that keeps trash out of sight while still keeping the basket portable.
While laundry baskets can hold laundry just like hampers, they are typically taller and are used to keep laundry out of sight during the workday. The Mind Reader 50-quart laundry basket is made of woven plastic with a lid, holds a very large amount of laundry at 21 pounds (about the same as our recommended laundry baskets), and is virtually indestructible. We easily carried it into the laundry room using the two sturdy built-in handles on the sides, but its tall shape can make it a little difficult to move.
This compact steel basket isn’t cheap, but its simple design is perfect for display and for those who do small (or frequent) loads of laundry.
The Tosca White Powder Coated Steel Wire Large Laundry Hamper features a removable handle that fits easily over the crook of your elbow, making it easy to carry small loads of laundry without using your hands. This laundry hamper is also ideal for people who live in a small space and want a laundry hamper to hold groceries, mail, or diapers. This is the smallest hamper we recommend, holding 33 liters (about 8.8 pounds), which is about the size of an average load of laundry. Unlike our plastic laundry hamper, it doesn’t have a solid bottom, so it’s not as good for carrying wet laundry.
This durable laundry backpack features adjustable, padded shoulder straps to provide a comfortable fit for all body sizes and accommodate a large amount of clothing.
The Azhido Washable Laundry Backpack has a capacity of up to 115 liters and easily holds two large bags of even the bulkiest clothes. Additionally, there is a front Velcro pocket for detergent and dryer sheets. The padded and adjustable straps allow college students or city dwellers to easily access the laundry room, leaving both hands free to hold onto the stair railing or push a stroller.
I’ve been writing about home and interior design for more than a decade. During that time, I’ve done laundry in a variety of places, including a small studio apartment (with a shared laundry room in the basement), a coin-operated laundromat at an extended-stay hotel, and most recently a single-family home in Massachusetts with a cramped, outdated laundry room. As a mom, I do laundry an average of 11 times a week — and most of it is always dirty, slippery, or covered in germs.
To make this guide comprehensive and useful, I researched the best ways to do laundry while living in student housing, how to load and unload laundry for people in wheelchairs, and how to do laundry while staying put. This guide also builds on work done by Chris Heinonen in 2017, who evaluated more than 30 models and tested eight laundry baskets and laundry bins.
Although laundry baskets and laundry hampers serve the same function, they differ in shape and purpose. A laundry basket is open at the top, is usually wider than it is tall, and is used to transport laundry from one place to another.
Laundry baskets are commonly placed in closets and bedrooms to collect daily dirty clothes. They are usually taller than hampers, take up less floor space, and sometimes come with lids.
If you only do your laundry once a week (or even less) and want to “hide” your clothes under a cover, you might want to consider investing in a laundry basket. The best laundry baskets not only allow air to pass through, but they also hide sweat stains from your workout clothes and lingering odors. Since laundry baskets come in a wider variety of materials and textures, they’re also more attractive than regular baskets.
For some, the right answer may be to purchase a few hampers and laundry bins, or perhaps even a laundry sorter on wheels to sort kids’ laundry, work or school clothes, or sort laundry by color.
To create this guide, I reviewed numerous reviews of our baskets and gift sets over the years, as well as reviews on Reddit, Amazon, Target, and Walmart.
After reviewing reviews and product specifications, we came to the conclusion that when choosing a durable laundry basket or laundry container, you need to consider the following characteristics:
Materials: Large amounts of clothing can put a lot of stress on the stitching, seams, and handles. This means that a laundry basket that can handle that much weight must be made of a material strong enough to not bend, tear, or break under the constant pressure.
Portability: We were looking for laundry baskets and bins that would be easy to move for people of all sizes and ages. The biggest problem is that the handle is not strong enough, it takes a lot of stress and needs to not only be securely attached but also fit comfortably in the hand.
Easy to clean: Mold is a fungus that loves damp clothes. The easiest way to avoid mold is to air dry wet and dirty clothes before putting them in a laundry basket or closet. But not everyone has the time or space to do this every time their child gets a tummy tuck or their socks get snowed in. We prefer laundry baskets and drawers that are well ventilated and easy to wipe down or wash.
Design: We considered both aesthetic and functional aspects, such as making the vents wide enough to allow small items of clothing to pass through. We also considered whether this washing machine would look aesthetically pleasing if placed in an open space in a bedroom or bathroom and filled with dirty clothes.
After reviewing laundry baskets and bins using the criteria above, I compiled a list of 41 models to test, then narrowed the list down to 22 models to test in my home. Our selections were based on availability, reviews, and recommendations from current Wirecutter staffers.
I tested each laundry basket by loading it with five loads of laundry. The average weight of a large laundry basket in the United States is 11 pounds, so I filled each basket with about that amount of laundry and assessed how easy it would be to carry it up and down several flights of stairs.
I asked another tester (a friend) to check the comfort level. I’m 5’11″ and wanted to know if she (who is taller and has longer arms) would rate portability and comfort differently.
The handles were the biggest drawback of many models. In some cases, the handles broke right away, and in other cases, they seemed loose, which called into question their long-term reliability.
To assess how easy they are to clean, I cleaned each washing machine after five washes, following the manufacturer’s instructions (if available). I assessed whether they could be completely cleaned by wiping with a damp cloth and, for fabric models, their durability in the washing machine.
Finally, I did an informal folding test. Personally, I find that neatly folded clean laundry gives me a sense of calm and control, and I prefer a basket that is wide enough to return the folded laundry to the dresser.
This plastic basket holds a large amount of laundry securely, will last for years, is well ventilated and easy to clean.
Sterilite Stacking Laundry Baskets are affordable, durable, easily stack to save space when not in use, and clean thoroughly with a damp, soapy cloth.
It holds a lot of clothes. The basket holds 1.5 bushels/53 liters (about 27 pounds) of laundry, which is about the same amount of laundry my standard front-loading washing machine holds, plus a small load.
We’ve been loving it since 2017. This basket has been recommended by Wirecutter since 2017, so we know it’s built to last. I tested it myself for two months with canned goods, a toddler, library books, and 40 pounds of other items, and the basket never cracked or lost its shape.
While writing this guide, I retested the latest version to make sure nothing had changed, so we think it’s still a good choice. One of our assistant editors also tested this cart and wrote an ode to this cart, explaining why she loves it.
They are easy to stack and store. If you have a large family, you may want to purchase several baskets that can be easily stacked on top of each other when not in use. You can also buy baskets in boxes of six.
It is well designed and easy to carry. This rectangular laundry basket has slightly curved sides, allowing you to place it in front of you, resting it on your stomach. Large square openings on all four sides provide good ventilation and prevent mold. The bottom of the laundry basket is strong and durable: even if you put wet or dirty clothes in it, water will not drip on your body or the floor.
Features a convenient removable handle. While other baskets I tested had handles cut into the plastic, this basket features a unique removable gray handle that attaches with a plastic hinge. The handle is smooth and comfortable, and because it’s removable, it can be used by people with different arm lengths and body types. We also know from years of use that they won’t budge.
This affordable and durable plastic curved basket not only holds a lot of laundry, but is also super easy to clean, making it a favorite among those who like the curved, hip-hugging style.
The Sterilite Ultra HipHold 1.25 Bushel Laundry Hamper is easy to load and unload and easily holds an extra large volume (approximately 21 pounds or 44 liters) of laundry – both dirty and clean.