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These baskets bring form and function to the laundry room.

Laundry day doesn’t have to feel like a chore. With the right laundry basket—one that is sturdy, can withstand your and your family’s use and abuse, while still looking presentable—you’re well on your way to a more pleasant task. Think of the hamper as a tool: In addition to having a good washer and dryer, and efficient soap, you need a dependable vessel to carry your items in. A hamper, at its best, will be strong, can hold wet or dry clothes, dirty and clean items and be the right size for your needs.

Laundry baskets vary more than you might expect, and are often created with a certain type of user in mind. We’ve outlined key variables to think about before clicking “buy.”

Baskets versus Hampers: While most people (including us) use the terms interchangeably, they’re different. A hamper is generally taller and narrower than a basket, and has a lid. A basket can be used to store and carry laundry around. You may want one of each.

Size: Some laundry baskets are built for one, others are built for large families. Also keep in mind how much real estate they will take up in your closet, bedroom, bathroom or laundry room—and whether you can spare it.

Material: Several of our selections are comprised of malleable plastic, with venting for airflow. If you work out a lot or like to stick wet clothes in your hamper, you’ll want to consider one of those options. But if you are more interested in aesthetics, you may go for a different kind of material (woven, polyester, cotton, etc.).

We considered all of the ways people like to do laundry, and their different needs. Some people have laundry facilities in their residence, while others may need to carry (or wheel) their laundry quite a distance. We picked a variety of critically acclaimed styles and types of baskets, at a variety of our price points. We also looked at thousands of consumer comments before picking the best options, below.

This plastic, flexible hamper is strong, malleable and well-ventilated, so wet and sweaty clothes won’t get moldy. The sizable handles also mean it’s easy to carry up and down stairs. This hamper is roomy enough (17.75 by 17.25 by 26 inches) to hold two loads of laundry. 

Reviewers raved about how perfectly the hamper “fits the bill. The holes in the sides are perfect for grabbing ahold of.” Others note that it is “not beautiful,” or something they’d want “out when guests visit.”

This polyester laundry basket comes in a range of fun patterns (stripes, polka-dots, floral), and can be set upright and stretched out for laundry intake, and then drawn closed and collapsed when not in use. 

At about 17.7 by 13.7 by 13.7 inches, it’s a smallish basket that will hold one load, and is easy to carry around and transport. The basket is ideal for small spaces, baby nurseries, kids’ rooms and college dorms, and thanks to its waterproof coating it will keep combat mold. 

Reviewers say they love the “cute laundry basket,” especially if you have “a lot of stairs to go up and down. Laundry can be heavy,” but this one is “just the right size.”

This set of six baskets are super sturdy and the perfect choice for busy families who have a lot of laundry to do. Each basket can hold one enormous load of laundry, and the airflow provided by the patterned plastic sides allows for ventilation for wet and sweaty clothes. 

The 19 by 19 by 13.88–inch baskets are made in the U.S.A. and come with comfortable handles, especially helpful in houses with a lot of stairs. 

Reviewers love these baskets, saying they “hold up great to wear and tear.” Several use them for more than laundry too, saying they’re a great way to haul packages around and store toys in playrooms.

For those who value style as much as substance, this sleep modern wire Yamazaki basket is both a pleasure to look at, and fantastically functional. The airy metal frame provides maximum airflow, and the collapsible wooden handles make the 12.2 by 16.3 by 10.6–inch basket around. The hamper will hold a medium-sized load of laundry. 

Reviewers say it’s pretty enough to keep out “all the time.” One notes that because it’s “not huge, it’s easy to get up and down the stairs. It’s very well made and should last a lifetime.”

If you have a picture of a laundry basket in your mind’s eye, chances are, it looks like this one. With a 40-liter capacity, it will fit a large load of laundry (and more), and at 14.8 by 23.25 by 10.5 inches, it is still manageable when hauling up and down stairs. The roomy, malleable plastic laundry basket also has built in comfort handles and plenty of vents to prevent damp clothes from getting moldy. 

Reviewers say they are “so happy” with this “extremely well-constructed” basket with “lots of space, good handles for carrying and just the right height.”

This hamper is a looker. If your laundry hamper has to be on display (or you just happen to like beautiful things), this hand-woven double hamper is a great option. 

The 22.75 by 13 by 24–inch hamper features two bins, which also makes it practical for big families and sorting. Plus, the hamper comes lined with a removable canvas bag, which makes transporting it to the laundry room much easier. 

One reviewer enthused that this “hamper changed me as a person. I’ve lived the $7 collapsible laundry hamper life … this hamper is beautiful. It smells good. I experience joy when I lift up the little wicker flaps.”

This bargain laundry hamper may not be much to look at it, but it does its job so well, it earned 4.7 stars on average from more than 35,600 reviewers on Amazon. This sturdy mesh hamper is ideal for small spaces and travel; the 14 by 14 by 24–inch hamper stores flat, and is easy to carry and pack. 

Reviewers love this hamper, saying it has a “wide opening at the top for easy access,” is “large and sturdy” and is “the best value.” Others warn to always use the handles, otherwise the mesh will be over-stressed and tear.

This rolling laundry hamper comes with a removable, washable, polyester bag on four wheels. It measures 33 by 19.25 by 17.37 inches, and makes it easy to move room to room (on one floor) collecting laundry en route to the washer. 

Reviewers praise the “cute” design and “efficient” way to get laundry from point A to point B. Others point out that the wheels make it ideal for city dwellers who need to haul their laundry a few blocks to do the wash.

This four-compartment laundry hamper is great for big families or laundry perfectionists who don’t want to mix their darks with their whites. The sturdy frame is built from steel with durable bronze finish, and each durable bag holds 11 gallons of clothes. This four-compartment sorter also comes on wheels; all told, the setup is 32.25 by 17.5 by 33 inches. 

Reviewers say that assembling the basket takes about 30 minutes, but is “smooth” and “easy.” Others say the sorter “simplifies” the process of doing laundry for their family, and is sturdy and “better” than they expected.

This space-saving hanging hamper comes with a patented design that can be hung on a doorknob or in closets. The 6 by 16 by 27–inch hamper keeps your laundry off the floor, and is great for apartments, dorms, closets and traveling. The heavy-duty polyester and cotton bag is machine washable. 

Reviewers love these “good quality” canvas bags, saying they are “very sturdy,” and perfect for “small laundry rooms.”