How to Measure the Size of a Clothes Dryer

Measuring a clothes dryer, just as for any major appliance, is an absolute necessity before any dryer purchases are made. Because of the expense of the purchase and the effort required to deliver and install the clothes dryer, purchasing a dryer without measuring the appliance and the installation space beforehand is necessary to avoid making a costly mistake. Record your installation space measurements on paper and refer to the information when shopping for a clothes dryer. If the size of the dryer is not provided by the retailer, measure the dryer in the store before making a buying commitment.

• 1

  Hold the measuring tape against the top edge of the right side of the clothes dryer and stretch the tape across the dryer's top until the measuring tape touches the top edge of the left side. This is the width measurement. Record the measurement. Dryer measurements are often given in cubic feet on boxes. Cubic feet is determined by multiplying the width, height and depth measurements to yield the dimensions of a cube. The cubic feet given for clothes dryers often refers to the capacity of the inner drum that holds the clothes. So, a 3 cubic feet clothes dryer is able to dry and hold 3 cubic feet of clothing. According to Whirlpool, you need to know the measurements of the clothes dryer: the width, height and depth.

• 2

  Stand facing the left side of the dryer so the front of the dryer is on your left and the back of the dryer is at your right.

• 3

  Place the measuring tape against the top corner of the left side of the clothes dryer. Stretch the measuring tape across the left side of the dryer until the tape touches the right edge of the side of the dryer connected to the dryer's back. This is the depth of the dryer. The depth is sometimes more than the width because of added components to the back of the dryer. Record your measurement.

• 4

  Put the end of the measuring tape along the bottom edge of the back of the clothes dryer. Stretch the measuring tape up to the top edge of the dryer's back. This is the highest point of the dryer and contains the controls. Some dryers are flat on top. According to Whirlpool, if you have limited installation space, purchase a stacking washing machine and clothes dryer combination appliance. This type of unit usually fits in a space of about 3 feet in width and length but will be taller requiring more top space. Record the height measurement.