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The 8 Best Laundry Baskets of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Our favorite is the SAMMART Collapsible Plastic Laundry Basket

Laundry basket filled with clothing displayed on top of a washing machine

The Spruce / Amina Abdelrahman

Laundry is a regular part of life—or, for some, a dreaded chore. However, the proper tools can make the task as smooth as possible, and one of the best ways you can count on to get your clothes from points A to B is a reliable laundry basket.

To find the best laundry baskets, we put 30 different options to the test, using them in real-world situations—and yes, using them for our actual laundry. We thoughtfully considered the ease of use, design, durability, and value of each, then compared and contrasted the data to determine our favorites. The results? A vetted list of the best laundry baskets and bags on the market.

There are plastic and wire baskets in different sizes and shapes to choose from. We've also included some laundry totes and bags that we found were as easy to carry as traditional baskets. With all this in mind, below you'll find different options to make your next laundry day easier. Make sure to read on for all of our top recommendations, backed by our real-life testing.

Best Overall

Sammart Collapsible Laundry Baskets

Sammart Collapsible Laundry Basket 2-Pack

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Design
    5/5
  • Durability
    5/5
  • Value
    5/5
What We Like
  • Great size for medium to large loads

  • Third handle and curved side for carrying on hip

  • Collapses for easy storage

  • Comes in a pack of two

What We Don't Like
  • Color-blocked design might not suit all tastes

This SAMMART Collapsible Plastic Laundry Basket ticks all the boxes for an ideal laundry basket. It is durable, holds a full load of laundry, and is easy to clean. It also boasts a few additional features that set it apart from the pack, including a third handle. The extra handle means that you can carry it across the front of your body with both hands, or turn it and use the third handle to carry it against your hip.

We appreciate plastic construction when it comes to laundry baskets since it's easy to clean, durable, and typically affordable too. Plus, it’s easily collapsible so you can stash it out of the way when it's not in use. It has a unique striped design that one member of our testing team likened to a Tim Burton-esque, Beetlejuice style. (Though you can opt for a more neutral color if you're so inclined!) This basket comes in a practical set of two, which should come in handy for sorting different items.

Really, we had no major complaints about this basket and in fact, we gave it perfect scores across the board after using it. After using it in a home environment, we think the third handle and pop-up design in particular are great details that make it extra practical for everyday laundry tasks. However, we do recognize that style and size can come down to personal preference and laundry habits, so take a close look at the colors and measurements to ensure they'll suit yours.

Dimensions: 17.9 x 22.8 x 10.5 inches | Capacity: 41 liters | Material: Plastic | Weight: 5.54 pounds | Color: 15 available | Handles: 3

Best Budget

Sterilite Ultra HipHold Laundry Basket

Sterilite Ultra HipHold Laundry Basket

Container Store

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Design
    4/5
  • Durability
    5/5
  • Value
    5/5
What We Like
  • Lightweight yet sturdy design

  • Third handle and curved sides for carrying on hip

  • Well-ventilated for damp clothing

What We Don't Like
  • Not collapsible

  • Only comes in white

Sterilite is known for its well-made, affordable storage products, and this budget-friendly laundry basket is no exception. It is constructed from a durable plastic with large openings for superior breathability, which means you can use the basket to transport wet or dry clothes with ease. We also found it to be surprisingly lightweight given its sturdy shape and size.

We appreciate that this basket has a helpful third handle and subtle curve (like the SAMMART laundry basket, our best overall pick). Both of these features make it more convenient to carry against your hip. With a capacity of roughly 44 liters, it's also slightly larger than our top pick. This size makes it great for a standard load of laundry, but not necessarily oversized or super large loads. (If you tend to go longer between laundry days, you might want to opt for one of Sterilite's larger laundry basket sizes.) Speaking of size, it's worth mentioning that this doesn't collapse down, so that's something to keep in mind if you're short on storage space at home.

The design is unmistakably "laundry basket," which definitely has a place and purpose (especially if your household laundry routine is a consistently busy one). If you're not drawn to the utilitarian look, you might not be inclined to store it in the open. Still, if what you're after is a tried and true, wallet-friendly laundry basket that you can rely on, we think it's a great choice.

Dimensions: 26.38 x 18.13 x 10 inches | Capacity: 44.1 liters (1.25 bushels) | Material: Plastic | Weight: 2.1 pounds | Color: 1 available | Handles: 3

Sterilite Ultra HipHold Laundry Basket

The Spruce / Alex Apatoff

Best Tote

Better Homes & Gardens Laundry Deluxe Service Canvas Tote

Better Homes & Gardens Laundry Deluxe Service Canvas Tote is one of the best laundry baskets we tested.

Walmart

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    4.8/5
  • Design
    5/5
  • Durability
    4.5/5
  • Value
    4.5/5
What We Like
  • Attractive design

  • Doubles as a hamper

  • Extra-large capacity

  • Stands on its own

What We Don't Like
  • Not ideal for damp clothing

  • Harder to clean than plastic baskets

This oversized laundry tote is so adorable you won't mind passersby knowing you’re on your way to the laundromat. Even better, it offers both form and function—we filled it with two large loads, and it still felt easier to carry than certain basket styles. Plus, since it stands on its own and is deep enough to hide most of its contents, it can double as a hamper. The handles are made with a smooth rubbery material that feels comfortable in the hands.

Now, the cotton fabric isn't as breathable as the cut-out vents and holes you'll see in plastic styles, so you wouldn't necessarily want a damp towel or muddy socks sitting at the bottom of the pile for too long. On a related note, this bag won't be as easy to clean as, say, a plastic laundry basket. With that in mind, the laundry tote isn't ideal for damp or heavily soiled laundry. (Athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, we're talking to you!) But if you can stick to using it for dry items, you'll likely be very pleased with this extra-large, easy-to-carry laundry bag—and its reasonable price tag.

Dimensions: 17 x 8.5 x 25.25 inches | Capacity: Not listed | Material: Aluminum, cotton, EVA handle, linen polyester, polyethylene | Weight: 5.94 pounds | Color: 1 available | Handles: 2

Best Plastic

Home Logic Laundry Basket

Home Logic 2-Bushel Plastic Laundry Basket

Walmart

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    4.8/5
  • Design
    4.8/5
  • Durability
    5/5
  • Value
    5/5
What We Like
  • Can fit oversized loads of laundry

  • Easy-to-clean, durable construction

  • Well-ventilated design

  • Four handles

What We Don't Like
  • Not collapsible

  • Only comes in white

This laundry basket feels like it's made for busy people. It's significantly larger than many of the baskets on this list, and it's one of the few styles available with handles on all four sides so you can grab it and go wherever you need to. Plus, it's well-ventilated, has rounded grip handles, and is made with durable, easy-to-clean hard plastic. We'd describe this white basket as "no frills," while also recognizing that sometimes that's exactly what a household needs in a laundry basket, especially if there are beach towels, sports uniforms, or swimsuits involved. The holes on all sides allow for plenty of airflow, so odor will be less likely to build up while your clothes are waiting to be washed with a quality laundry detergent.

In testing, one of our favorite things about this basket was that the built-in handles feel secure so that you can carry large and heavy loads without fear of it breaking. We could even see this basket coming in handy to transport items during a move or for long-term storage of toys or sports equipment. If you’re looking to forego the bells and whistles of fancier laundry baskets, this simple, smart design is an excellent option for you.

Dimensions: 21.65 x 16.96 x 18.86 inches | Capacity: 70.5 liters (2 bushels) | Material: Plastic | Weight: 3.03 pounds | Color: 1 available| Handles: 4

Best Wire

Yamazaki Tosca Wire Basket

YAMAZAKI 2809 Laundry Basket with Wooden Handles

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    4/5
  • Design
    4.8/5
  • Durability
    5/5
  • Value
    4/5
What We Like
  • Minimalist, attractive design

  • Durable metal construction with wood handles

  • Multiple sizes available

What We Don't Like
  • Not practical for larger loads

  • Doesn't include a liner

With an aesthetic that's both classic and contemporary, this Yamazaki basket will remind you of your good taste every time you start a load of laundry. We love the white metal wire construction, the complementary wooden handles, and the unbeatable ventilation of this basket. The design is light and airy in appearance, and air easily circulates, too, which is ideal for any dirty laundry pile.

For testing purposes, we used the medium size of this basket, which we found to be well-suited for delicates and smaller, lighter loads. What this variation lacks in space, however, it makes up for in convenience—it's one of the few baskets we used that's small enough to tuck into a closet or on a shelf between uses. Yamazaki baskets in other shapes and sizes are available, too, in case you prefer taller or round options.

It's worth noting that this basket does not include a liner, so if you're particularly cautious about snags or you have concerns about zippers or hooks getting stuck on the slim wire, you'll want to purchase one separately. Katie Berry, The Spruce's Cleaning Review Board member, also notes that a wire-framed laundry basket can snag on high-pile carpet. Still, we appreciate this laundry basket's versatility and chic silhouette, and we could see it working well in various settings beyond the laundry room, too.

Dimensions: 16.34 x 12.2 x 10.63 inches | Capacity: 23 liters | Material: Alloy steel, metal, plastic, wood | Weight: 2.43 pounds | Color: 1 available | Handles: 2

Best Collapsible

CleverMade Collapsible Laundry Basket

CleverMade Collapsible Fabric Laundry Basket

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Design
    5/5
  • Durability
    4.5/5
  • Value
    4.5/5
What We Like
  • Space-saving option

  • Roomy yet easy to carry

  • Weight capacity of 55 pounds

  • Comes in a pack of two

What We Don't Like
  • Not ideal for damp clothing

  • Harder to clean than plastic baskets

Perfect for saving space in small laundry rooms and closets, the CleverMade Collapsible Fabric Laundry Basket is lightweight, comfortable to carry, and roomy. It can hold a large load of laundry without being overly bulky, and it boasts a weight capacity of 55 pounds. When collapsed, it measures roughly 2 inches thick, a great size for slipping under a bed, in the back of a closet, or behind a door. For these reasons, we'd consider it to be one of the best laundry baskets for dorm rooms, too.

It has a classic laundry basket shape when it's expanded, but we found that the fabric material really makes it feel like a step up from other styles, so you might even choose to leave it out as a hamper like we were tempted to do. It comes in a pack of two baskets—and if you only need one basket for laundry, we think you'll find no shortage of uses for the other. (We think this basket would also double as a great trunk organizer.) When it comes to long-term maintenance, the fabric and lack of ventilation could be downsides to keeping it super clean and avoiding laundry hamper odors. However, as long as it's not coming in contact with heavily soiled laundry all that often, we think it makes a great addition to your laundry routine.

Dimensions: 23 x 15 x 13.25 inches | Capacity: 64 liters | Material: ‎Polyester, alloy steel, linen | Weight: 2 pounds | Color: 2 available | Handles: 2

CleverMade Collapsible Fabric Laundry Basket

The Spruce / Emma Tollefson

Best Rolling

Sterilite Hamper With Wheels

Sterilite Hamper With Wheels

The Container Store

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    4.5/5
  • Design
    4/5
  • Durability
    5/5
  • Value
    4.5/5
What We Like
  • Wheels and retractable handle make it easy to move

  • Lidded design hides clothes

  • Durable, easy-to-clean plastic

What We Don't Like
  • Not ideal for stairs

  • Not collapsible

Why carry your laundry when you can roll it? With this hamper, you can easily pull your loads of laundry behind you, thanks to the retractable handle and two-wheeled design. It's roomy but not overly bulky, and we especially like that the design includes a lid, which we could see coming in handy if you travel short distances for laundry machine access—or if you don't necessarily want to look at your dirty clothes all the time. There are some cut-outs for ventilation, but most of the basket is made with sturdy plastic that you can easily wipe down when necessary.

Now, it's worth noting that while the wheels are this hamper's biggest convenience, we found the extendable handle to be on the short side and likely not ideal for long-distance rolling. The basket doesn't fold down or have a particular space-saving shape or size, either. We also wish there were separate side handles for lifting the laundry basket as needed, such as when going up or down stairs. But really, these are minor notes when considering the overall performance and convenience this wheeled hamper could bring to laundry day, especially if you're wheeling it around a single-story home. Choose from a single basket or a pack of two, depending on your household's needs.

Dimensions: 21 x 14 x 29 inches | Capacity: Not listed | Material: Plastic | Weight: Not listed | Color: 1 available l | Handles: 1 retractable handle

Sterilite Hamper With Wheels

The Spruce / Paige VandeWiele

Best Large

HomeHacks Large Laundry Baskets

HomeHacks Large Laundry Basket 2-Pack

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Design
    5/5
  • Durability
    5/5
  • Value
    5/5
What We Like
  • Lightweight with long handles

  • Metal frame and waterproof fabric construction

  • Doubles as a hamper

  • Collapses for easy storage

What We Don't Like
  • Only comes in one color

  • Not ideal for damp clothing

This spacious, reliable gem of a laundry bag is made with a waterproof fabric and a metal frame for stability. This hamper-style option is spacious but not too bulky, and we've included it on this laundry basket list because it's exceptionally easy to carry for a hamper. We especially like the long handles that make it convenient to lift and maneuver down a hallway or through a crowded laundry room. You can fold down the hamper between uses, too. We tested the 75-liter size, but there's a 100-liter version if you want to size up.

Like many of our recommended laundry baskets, this one can be used for storage as well as laundry, and the attractive striped design makes that transition even easier. The pattern blends nicely with a variety of aesthetics, and if you're inclined to grab more than one, it comes in cost-effective bundles of two or three. Since the hamper is made with unventilated fabric, we wouldn't recommend it for storing damp items. Still, this hamper blew us away when we put it to the test with real laundry. So much so that one member of The Spruce's testing team has already personally recommended it to a family member, citing its impressive overall performance and convenience in our tests.

Dimensions: 15.7 x 11.8 x 24.4 inches | Capacity: 75 liters | Material: Cotton, PEVA coating (vinyl), metal | Weight: 1.54 pounds | Color: 1 available | Handles: 2

HomeHacks Large Laundry Basket 2-Pack

The Spruce / Andrea Tenborg

Compare

Products Product Links Ease of Use Design Durability Value
Sammart Collapsible Laundry Basket 2-Pack
Best Overall:
Sammart Collapsible Laundry Baskets
5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5
Sterilite Ultra HipHold Laundry Basket
Best Budget:
Sterilite Ultra HipHold Laundry Basket
5/5 4/5 5/5 5/5
Better Homes & Gardens Laundry Deluxe Service Canvas Tote is one of the best laundry baskets we tested.
Best Tote:
Better Homes & Gardens Laundry Deluxe Service Canvas Tote
4.8/5 5/5 4.5/5 4.5/5
Home Logic 2-Bushel Plastic Laundry Basket
Best Plastic:
Home Logic Laundry Basket
4.8/5 4.8/5 5/5 5/5
YAMAZAKI 2809 Laundry Basket with Wooden Handles
Best Wire:
Yamazaki Tosca Wire Basket
4/5 4.8/5 5/5 4/5
CleverMade Collapsible Fabric Laundry Basket
Best Collapsible:
CleverMade Collapsible Laundry Basket
5/5 5/5 4.5/5 4.5/5
Sterilite Hamper With Wheels
Best Rolling:
Sterilite Hamper With Wheels
4.5/5 4/5 5/5 4.5/5
HomeHacks Large Laundry Basket 2-Pack
Best Large:
HomeHacks Large Laundry Baskets
5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5

Final Verdict

The best overall laundry basket we tested was the SAMMART Collapsible Plastic Laundry Basket. This basket is roomy yet collapsible, is durable yet easy to clean, and features a clever third handle for easy carrying against your hip. If you're on a tighter budget, consider the Sterilite Ultra HipHold Laundry Basket, a more affordable option that also features a convenient third handle.

Other Options We Tested

IKEA SLIBB Laundry Basket: We love a good IKEA hack as much as the next person, but in the case of this SLIBB laundry basket, the hack is to use the item for something other than laundry. It's a cute, colorful, vented plastic basket with handles, but we found it to be simply too small for laundry purposes in our testing. While IKEA touts the basket as flexible, we found that the handles didn't quite come all the way together for a comfortable hold. That's not to say this basket doesn't have its place (we could see it working well for gardening, for example). We just wouldn't recommend it as a go-to laundry basket.

Medina Mercantile Oversized Palm Leaf & Leather Laundry Basket: This basket is beautiful, and if our recommendations were based on aesthetics alone, it would be high on the list. Alas, when we used it in a home setting, we found that it flops over when it's not full. We also think the palm leaf material could potentially snag materials—we even found a splinter left behind in a sock. Still, we get it if you can't resist the soft leather handles and large size. Just be careful about what you put inside.

How We Tested the Laundry Baskets

We used 30 laundry baskets in real-world situations, carrying real loads of laundry to and from various rooms in and around our homes. We considered each basket's ease of use by determining whether or not it was easy to fill and carry, and we also looked closely at its design, with an eye for shape, size, special features, and aesthetics. Durability was also assessed, and we factored in the basket's materials, whether there was noticeable wear and tear throughout the testing process, and whether we thought the basket could comfortably handle wet laundry items. Finally, we considered each basket's value, assessing whether the price was reflective of the overall quality. Once testing was complete, we compared the wealth of data on these 30 baskets and narrowed it down to this list of tried-and-true laundry baskets.

Warm Grey Company Washable Paper Laundry Basket

The Spruce / Paige VandeWiele

What to Look for in a Laundry Basket

Material

Laundry baskets are commonly made from several different materials, each of which has its benefits and drawbacks. Plastic laundry baskets are lightweight, easy to clean, and practical for everyday use, but they often aren't the best-looking options. Wire baskets are typically more durable and can be very chic, but they’re also prone to snagging delicate items. We've also included some fabric baskets on this list (such as our "best large" pick, the HomeHacks Waterproof Laundry Basket) because they can be convenient to carry, double as a hamper, and fold down for storage. However, you'll want to let damp items dry before tossing them in a fabric bag since they're usually not well-ventilated.

You can also find mesh laundry baskets, but they tend to be flimsier than alternative materials, and we ultimately didn't include any on our list of recommendations.

Size

Laundry baskets come in all shapes and sizes, and the best choice for you depends on how much laundry you go through on a regular basis. Basket size is often measured in bushels or liters—a basket that can hold one bushel is a good size for one or two people, while a two-bushel basket (like our "best plastic" option, the Home Logic Laundry Basket) is better suited for a small family.

Storage

Traditional laundry baskets can be tricky to store when not in use, as they’re often quite cumbersome. If you have a small home with limited storage space, you may want to look for a product that’s designed with space in mind. These include pop-up and collapsible laundry baskets, as well as ones that nest or stack.

Ease of Cleaning

Laundry expert Kyrstyn Brown of Zoom Express Laundry, a national chain headquartered in Dallas, Texas, has a strong preference for laundry baskets that are easy to clean. After all, they might house dirty laundry half of the time, while the other half of their life is spent transporting freshly cleaned clothes. Brown says to look for laundry baskets that can be wiped clean or washed in the machine. “It's much easier if the basket is washable. Some of the cloth laundry baskets are collapsible and can be machine washed. The hard plastic ones are easy to clean, as are the kind with outside casing and a bag or liner inside,” she says.

FAQ
  • Why do laundry baskets have holes?

    Laundry baskets have holes in them to promote better airflow to your clothes. Even when taken fresh out of the dryer, clothes can have trace amounts of moisture in them, and the holes provide ventilation to reduce any possible mold and mildew. It’s a design idea that likely started from more traditional woven baskets and influenced how plastic baskets were made. In addition, the holes make the baskets more lightweight, so you can pile them up with clothes and carry them with ease.

  • How many laundry baskets do I need?

    A good rule of thumb is to have at least one to two laundry baskets so that when you sort out each load, you can fold the clothes and put them into a respective basket—without any overflow. If you’re short on space and find yourself in need of more, consider collapsible laundry baskets as a viable option. Remember that the best laundry baskets typically serve a slightly different function from the best hampers, as hampers are typically placed in each bedroom or closet to collect dirty clothes that need to be washed. However, when putting together this list, we did include hamper-like options that are as easy to carry as traditional baskets.

  • How should you store laundry baskets?

    The best place to store your laundry baskets is nearest to your washer and dryer set. If you’re lucky enough to have a closet or cabinet space in your laundry area, this can be a great spot to put your baskets. If not, consider placing them on a shelf or counter near your machines.

Why Trust The Spruce?

Dena Ogden is a lifestyle and commerce writer who’s been writing professionally since 2016, and with The Spruce since August 2022. She's written about everything from baskets and bins to carpet shampoos and robot vacuums.

KJ Callihan, Camryn Rabideau, and Mackenzie Dunn contributed additional research and reporting for this piece. We also consulted laundry expert Kyrstyn Brown of Zoom Express Laundry, an innovative national chain headquartered in Dallas, Texas, for tips on choosing a laundry basket.