The short answer: the BLACK+DECKER BFLD80ME is the best electric dryer with steam for most people in 2026. It pairs true steam wrinkle release with a large 8 cu. ft. drum, 12 cycle selections, sensor dry and ENERGY STAR certification, and it carries by far the largest body of real owner feedback of any steam dryer we evaluated.
That last point matters more than it sounds. Steam dryers are a narrow slice of the appliance market, and most listings for them have only a handful of customer reviews. When we lined up the seven steam-capable electric dryers available to us, five of them had five reviews or fewer. We still cover every one below, but we weight our recommendations toward machines with enough owners behind them to say something real about durability, noise and wash-day results.
A steam electric dryer is an electric clothes dryer that heats water in an internal boiler and releases it as a fine mist through nozzles into the drum, usually near the end of a cycle. The moisture loosens wrinkles that are already set into fabric, then the heat sets them back down smooth. On the models here that system shows up under brand names: Steam Sanitize+ and Multi-Steam Technology on Samsung, TurboSteam on LG, Hygiene Steam on GE Profile, or a generic “steam function” on budget machines.
Before you fall for any of them, check one thing: a true steam dryer needs a cold water supply line hooked up behind it, and most of these are 240V machines that need a dedicated circuit. If you rent, or your laundry closet has no water valve behind the machine, that decision is made for you. We explain the full install requirements below.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Electric Dryers With Steam in 2026
BLACK+DECKER BFLD80ME
- 8 cu. ft. front load steam dryer
- Sensor dry with 12 cycles
- ENERGY STAR certified
Samsung DVE45B6300W
- Steam Sanitize+ germ removal
- Multi-Steam wrinkle release
- SmartThings WiFi control
Quick Overview of the Best Electric Dryers With Steam in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| BLACK+DECKER 8.0 cu. Ft. Front Load Steam Dryer BFLD80ME |
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Check Latest Price |
 GE 7.8 cu. Ft. Smart Steam Dryer GFD65ESSVWW |
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| Samsung 7.5 cu. Ft. Steam Sanitize+ Dryer DVE45B6300W |
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 LG 7.4 cu. Ft. TurboSteam Stackable Dryer DLEX6700B |
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 GE Profile 7.4 cu. Ft. Steam Dryer and Washer Combo PTW700BPTDPR |
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 LG 7.3 cu. Ft. TurboWash Steam Dryer and Washer Pair WT8400CBPRK1 |
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 Samsung Bespoke AI Laundry Hub 7.6 cu. Ft. Steam Dryer and Washer WH46DBH100EWA3 |
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Check Latest Price |
1. BLACK+DECKER BFLD80ME 8.0 cu. Ft. Front Load Steam Dryer
BLACK+DECKER 8.0 Cu. Ft. Electric Front Load Dryer with Steam, BFLD80ME
8 cu. ft. front load drum
12 cycles with sensor dry
ENERGY STAR certified
Steam function
Pros
- Largest capacity in this roundup at 8 cu. ft.
- Sensor dry prevents over-drying long loads
- ENERGY STAR certified
- Reversible door fits any layout
- 2825 owners have rated it
Cons
- Professional installation required
- Power cord kit not included
- Rating of 4.1 is the lowest of the well-reviewed models
I keep coming back to this one because of the review volume. When a category has a handful of listings with one or two reviews each, the machines with thousands of ratings become far more useful to you, and the BFLD80ME has 2825 of them averaging 4.1 stars. Owners consistently mention the roomy 8 cu. ft. drum and the digital LED display, which makes cycle selection obvious instead of guesswork.
The technical package is solid for the money. Twelve cycle selections run through sensor dry technology, which is the part that actually matters day to day: moisture sensors stop the drum once the load is dry rather than running a fixed timer and cooking your clothes. The aluminized alloy steel drum is a standard, durable choice, and the reversible pull handle door means the unit can face whichever way your laundry room requires.
Two install details are worth flagging before you commit. This is a 240V machine, and the listing specifies that professional installation is required. The power cord kit is not included either, so that cost lands on top of the machine if you are starting from scratch.
What 8 cu. ft. actually buys you
An 8 cu. ft. drum is the biggest in this group, and it shows up in daily use rather than on a spec sheet. It handles a king comforter or a full basket of work clothes in one pass, which is the difference between one cycle and two on a Saturday. Compare that with the 7.4 cu. ft. machines here and the gap is real but not dramatic for a two-person household.
For families doing laundry most days, that capacity is the argument. Fewer loads means fewer cycles, and each of those cycles carries a full steam mist event. If you were worried that steam adds time, larger loads are the offset.
Where it falls short
The 4.1 star average is honest but not flattering, and it sits below the ratings of several machines here. Professional installation is the biggest friction point, and reviewers do mention it. The lack of an included power cord kit adds a small but annoying step to a laundry room build-out.
There is also no WiFi or app control on this model. If you like to start a cycle from your phone or get a notification when the load is finished, this is not the machine. Everything runs from the front panel, which is honestly fine, but it is a real difference from the smart models further down.
2. GE GFD65ESSVWW 7.8 cu. Ft. Smart Steam Dryer with Sanitize
GE 7.8 cu. ft. Smart Front-Load Electric Dryer with Steam and Sanitize Cycle White – GFD65ESSVWW
7.8 cu. ft. front load drum
Steam and sanitize cycles
WiFi with GE Appliances app
ENERGY STAR certified
Pros
- WiFi remote monitoring and app control
- Dedicated steam and sanitize cycles
- ENERGY STAR certified
- Large 7.8 cu. ft. capacity
Cons
- Only one review available so far
- Steam system is not branded or detailed
- Warranty length not stated in the listing
This is the machine to look at if your priority is running laundry from your phone. GE Appliances app control and WiFi enabled remote monitoring let you start a cycle and check progress away from the house, which matters if you are the person who always forgets the laundry is running.
The steam side is straightforward too. It runs both steam cycles and a sanitize cycle, and it carries ENERGY STAR certification with an aluminized steel drum. Capacity is 7.8 cu. ft., which is plenty for a weekly load of family laundry or a comforter.
The honest problem is evidence. This listing has a single customer review at 3 stars, which tells us almost nothing about long-term reliability or how the steam system performs after a year of use. Long-term owners of GE steam machines report that the sensor drying handles king-size comforters well and that clothes come out without needing the steam cycle at all, but that is brand-level feedback rather than this specific unit.
Who this suits
If you already keep your phone in your hand and want the laundry room in an app, this is the model that delivers that cleanly. The sanitize cycle also earns its keep for households washing gym kit or a baby’s bedding, where a hot wash followed by a sanitize pass is genuinely useful.
App control is also helpful in a rental or a multi-level home, since you can confirm a cycle finished without walking down two flights of stairs.
What to watch out for
Buying an appliance with one review is a gamble. The feature list reads well, but nobody outside the manufacturer has confirmed how the steam mist holds up over time or how loud the motor is on a full load.
The listing also does not state a warranty length, which is unusual for a major brand. GE pairs well with its own washers and dryers for parts and service availability, so if you are replacing a GE unit, the fit is natural.
3. Samsung DVE45B6300W 7.5 cu. Ft. Steam Sanitize+ Electric Dryer
Samsung 7.5 cu. ft. Smart Electric Dryer with Steam Sanitize+, White, DVE45B6300W/A3
7.5 cu. ft. front load drum
Steam Sanitize+ rated 99.9 percent
Multi-Steam Technology
ADA compliant
Pros
- Steam Sanitize+ targets 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria
- Multi-Steam handles wrinkles and odors
- Reversible door and ADA compliant design
- SmartThings WiFi connectivity
Cons
- Only five reviews with split ratings
- Not a matched washer and dryer pair
- Premium feature list on a mid-size drum
Samsung’s Steam Sanitize+ is the most specific steam claim in this roundup. The brand states it removes 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria, which makes this the pick for anyone dealing with allergies, immune sensitivity or a lot of shared athletic gear.
Multi-Steam Technology handles the more everyday job, releasing steam at multiple points in the cycle to release wrinkles and odors rather than just at the end. Sensor Dry stops the load based on moisture, and the reversible door keeps installation flexible. At 7.5 cu. ft. it sits in the middle of the capacity range here, and the unit is ADA compliant.
Long-term owners of Samsung steam dryers in appliance forums consistently praise the quiet operation, the cool-down feature and a lint screen that catches lint before it reaches the exhaust duct. That last point is worth something, because lint escaping into the vent is a recurring complaint about some competing designs.
The case for a matched brand
Samsung builds the Steam Sanitize+ cycle around its own washer ecosystems. Buyers who pair a Samsung washer with a Samsung dryer get consistent app control through SmartThings and generally smoother parts and service support than mixing brands.
For a household that already runs a Samsung laundry pair, this dryer slots into that setup without friction. For everyone else, the app works fine but you are not committing to one brand’s ecosystem.
Honest drawbacks
Five reviews at a 3.4 star average is a thin base, and the ratings are split rather than uniformly positive. That pattern usually means the machine works well for some loads and settings but frustrates others, which is common with large sanitize cycles that run long.
There is also no included dryer vent or power cord listed here, so plan for that as a separate purchase. At 7.5 cu. ft. it is smaller than the two largest drums in this roundup, which is a downgrade if you regularly dry king bedding.
4. LG DLEX6700B 7.4 cu. Ft. TurboSteam Stackable Dryer
LG 7.4 cu. ft. Vented Stackable SMART Electric Dryer in Black Steel with TurboSteam and AI Sensor Dry Technology DLEX6700B
7.4 cu. ft. stackable drum
TurboSteam wrinkle release
AI Sensor Dry technology
Vented electric
Pros
- TurboSteam targets wrinkle and odor release
- Stackable design suits tight laundry closets
- AI Sensor Dry adjusts to each load
- Black stainless finish suits modern rooms
Cons
- Only one review so far
- Vented design needs a duct
- Premium pricing for the tier
TurboSteam is LG’s take on the same idea, and the DLEX6700B is the dryer to consider if your laundry space is vertical. It is a stackable unit at 7.4 cu. ft., which means it can sit above or below a washer in a closet without a dedicated floor footprint.
AI Sensor Dry is the differentiator here. Instead of a simple moisture probe, the machine weighs the load and senses how wet it is, then adjusts time and heat so bedding and everyday clothes both finish properly. Owners of LG large-capacity models report that they dry fitted sheets without the bunching and balling you get from an overloaded drum.
The black stainless finish is a design decision rather than a performance one, but it does mean this machine reads as a premium appliance in an open laundry room.
Why stackability changes the decision
If you have a laundry closet rather than a dedicated room, stackability is the single most important spec on the page. A vented stackable still needs a duct run, but it frees up the floor, and that is often the difference between a machine that fits and one that does not.
You can read more about compact layouts in our guide to washers and dryers for small spaces.
Where we would want more proof
One review is not a track record. LG dryers in general draw strong owner feedback on quietness and bedding handling, but this specific model has not been in homes long enough for anyone to report on it over years.
It is also a vented design, so it needs a proper exhaust duct. In a tight closet that is sometimes hard to route, and a condensing or heat pump unit would be easier to place.
5. GE Profile PTW700BPTDPR Washer and 7.4 cu. Ft. Steam Dryer Combo
GE Profile PTW700BPTDPR Gray Top Load High Efficiency Smart 5.4 Cu. Ft. Washer/7.4 Cu. Ft. Electric Steam Dryer Laundry
5.4 cu. ft. top load washer with 7.4 cu. ft. dryer
Hygiene Steam on the dryer
Stainless steel drum
ENERGY STAR certified
Pros
- One unit handles washing and drying
- Hygiene Steam adds a sanitizing pass
- Stainless steel drum resists odor buildup
- ENERGY STAR certified
Cons
- Only five reviews and sharply split ratings
- Reported sensor and lint complaints
- Only three dry cycles listed
- Wash performance is criticized by some owners
Combo machines solve a space problem rather than a performance problem, and this GE Profile is the clearest example in our roundup. A 5.4 cu. ft. top load washer sits on top of a 7.4 cu. ft. electric steam dryer with Hygiene Steam, so one footprint covers both jobs.
The dryer side carries three dry cycles and the Hygiene Steam feature, which is the vapor-based sanitizing pass. The stainless steel drum and ENERGY STAR certification are both welcome, and the dual-compartment dispenser is a small quality touch on the washer side.
Owner feedback is where this one gets complicated. Across five reviews, ratings split almost evenly between enthusiastic and negative. The positives mention capacity and cleaning. The negatives cite stain removal, sensor failures and lint buildup. If you already know you hate doing laundry in two machines, a combo is defensible, but expect to learn its cycles.
Who should buy a combo
Combos make sense in a small apartment, an RV, or any room where a full washer and dryer will not physically fit. If space is your binding constraint and you dry fewer than about two loads a week, one unit is genuinely simpler.
We cover more of the compact appliance options in our roundup of washers and dryers for small spaces and in the electric dryers tested and reviewed.
Where the compromises bite
Three dry cycles is very few. On a standalone dryer you typically get a normal cycle, heavy, towels, delicates, timed dry and a refresh cycle. With three, you are choosing from a short menu, and a combo that cannot run two separate loads at once is a real limit for a family.
The sensor and lint complaints in the reviews deserve attention, because both are reliability items that get expensive. I would want a longer and more consistent review history before committing to this over two standalone machines.
6. LG WT8400CBPRK1 TurboWash and Steam Dryer Pair
LG Matte Black Mega Capacity Top Load Washer and Dryer Pair with TurboWash Technology SmartThinQ WiFi Connectivity Steam Dry Sensor Dry Dryer Vent Power Cable and 12 Month CPS Protection Plan (Black)
Mega capacity washer and dryer pair
TurboWash and sensor dry
Steam dryer function
WiFi via SmartThinQ
Pros
- Washer and dryer delivered as one set
- Includes dryer vent and power cable
- LoDecibel quiet operation
- 12 month protection plan included
- ENERGY STAR certified
Cons
- Only one review so far
- Largest footprint of any model here
- Highest cost in the group
Buying a washer and dryer as a set has one big practical advantage: the vent and power cable are included. On almost every standalone model in this roundup those are extra purchases, and this LG pair at 7.3 cu. ft. includes both in the box, plus a 12 month protection plan.
TurboWash handles the washer side, the dryer carries a steam function alongside sensor dry, and SmartThinQ WiFi connectivity ties both machines to one app. The listing specifies 14 wash cycles and 13 dry cycles, which is far more program choice than the GE Profile combo offers.
LoDecibel quiet operation is a genuine feature rather than marketing language in the LG lineup, and owners of LG dryers frequently call out how much quieter they are than the machines they replaced.
What a pair gets you
A matched pair removes the guesswork from replacement planning. Matching dimensions, drain routing and electrical requirements are already solved, and if you are replacing both appliances at once this is the least complicated path.
The included vent kit and power cable also remove the two most common reasons a laundry room project stalls halfway through.
What it costs you in other ways
This is the largest and most expensive option here. The pair weighs 249 pounds, so floor space and delivery access are real considerations, and you are committing to a single brand ecosystem in both directions.
With a single review, the ownership evidence is thin. The spec sheet is thorough and the bundle is generous, but the durability story has not been tested by owners yet.
7. Samsung Bespoke AI Laundry Hub WH46DBH100EWA3
Samsung Bespoke AI Laundry Hub™ Large Capacity 4.6 cu. ft. Single Unit Washer with Steam Wash and 7.6 cu. ft. Electric Dryer in White, WH46DBH100EWA3
4.6 cu. ft. washer with 7.6 cu. ft. dryer
AI Smart Dial
WiFi SmartThings connectivity
20 year motor warranty
Pros
- Longest warranty coverage in this group at 20 years on the motor
- 7.6 cu. ft. dryer is the second largest here
- Space saving single unit footprint
- AI Smart Dial learns your preferred cycles
- Quiet operation reported by owners
Cons
- Only two reviews
- Washer side is a small 4.6 cu. ft.
- 220V cord sold separately according to one reviewer
- Very tall 74.5 inch profile
The warranty is the headline here. Samsung covers parts and labor for one year, the tub for three years and the motor for 20 years, which is the longest coverage on any machine in this roundup. On a dryer that will sit in your laundry room for a decade, that is a meaningful difference when something fails.
It is also a genuine space saver. The Laundry Hub combines a 4.6 cu. ft. front load washer with Steam Wash and a 7.6 cu. ft. electric dryer in one 74.5 inch tall column, replacing a side by side pair. The AI Smart Dial learns which cycles you pick and starts recommending them, and the Easy Reach control panel sits higher than a normal dryer console.
Steam appears on both halves. The washer runs Steam Wash to lift stains without pretreatment, and the 7.6 cu. ft. dryer handles the drying side. WiFi SmartThings connectivity is built in, so both halves report status to one app.
Owners who have had this unit report the space saving and the quiet operation as the standout features. The two available reviews are both 5 stars, though a sample that small tells you very little beyond the machine working as designed on day one.
When the warranty changes the maths
Dryers last a long time, and repairs on a large appliance are rarely cheap. A 20 year motor warranty means the single most expensive component is covered for most of the machine’s likely service life, which reduces the risk of buying a premium unit over a budget one.
The 7.6 cu. ft. dryer is also large enough for king bedding, so the small 4.6 cu. ft. washer is the compromise rather than the dryer.
Where it gets tight
Four point six cubic feet of washer capacity is genuinely small. Families doing daily laundry will feel it, because a small washer sets the pace for the whole room even when the dryer beside it is roomy.
One owner noted that the 220V cord is sold separately, and the 74.5 inch height will not fit under a standard counter. This is a full height column, so measure the opening before you order.
Steam vs Wrinkle Guard: What Actually Removes Wrinkles
Wrinkle guard tumbles a dried load for several extra minutes after the heat stops. Steam adds a mist of heated water partway through a cycle so the fabric fibers relax before drying again. Those are two different mechanisms, and only one of them handles a shirt that has been sitting crumpled in a basket since morning.
Wrinkle guard is good at one thing: preventing new creases from setting into a load you dried on time. It does very little for existing wrinkles, because there is no moisture to relax the fiber. Steam is what makes a wrinkled shirt wearable again without an iron, and it also reduces static and helps neutralize odors.
This is where buyer expectations often misfire. Plenty of owners report that their machine’s de-wrinkle or wrinkle guard setting works wonders, and some say they have not owned an iron in years. That is genuine, and it is why a good moisture sensor carries more daily value than the steam system does.
But the forum consensus is also blunt: many households simply never run the steam cycle, which means they paid a premium for an unused feature. Our take is that steam earns its cost for people who iron or steam dress clothes several times a week, or who regularly refresh a worn outfit instead of re-washing it. For everyone else, a strong sensor dry and a long wrinkle guard cycle deliver most of the benefit.
Does a Steam Dryer Need a Water Line?
Yes. Every true steam dryer in this roundup needs a cold water supply line connected behind the machine, usually through a shutoff valve within a few feet of the back. The internal boiler heats that water and turns it into the mist that reaches the drum. Without a water connection, the steam cycles simply do not run.
This is the detail most roundups bury, and it is the one that decides whether a steam dryer is possible in your home. A laundry closet in a rental without a water valve means no steam dryer, no matter how good the machine is. Plumbed laundry rooms are fine, and adding a valve is usually a short job for a plumber.
There are two other requirements. All of these are 240V electric machines, which means a dedicated circuit and a four-wire plug rather than a standard 120V outlet. And they are vented units that exhaust through a duct, except the combo designs, which handle their own routing.
Finally, buy a steam dryer with the water hookup in mind rather than the feature list. A sensor dry and a generous wrinkle guard cycle improve every load you will ever run, while the steam cycle only runs when you ask for it.
How We Picked the Best Electric Dryers With Steam
We evaluated every steam-capable electric dryer we could source, then filtered for the criteria that actually change outcomes. First, a real steam system rather than a moisture sensor marketed as one. Second, the capacity to handle realistic loads, judged in cubic feet. Third, sensor dry, because over-drying damages fabric and wastes energy. Fourth, ENERGY STAR certification where the listing confirms it. Fifth, installability, including water hookup, voltage and venting. Sixth, owner feedback, weighted heavily because this category has very little of it.
We also recorded what we could not verify. Where a listing has only one or two reviews, we say so instead of borrowing confidence from reviews of a similar model.
Buying Guide: Capacity, Venting and Steam Systems
Capacity. Capacity is the number that decides whether laundry takes one cycle or two. Roughly 7 cu. ft. suits couples and singles, 7.5 to 8 cu. ft. handles a family of three or four, and anything above 8 cu. ft. is aimed at king bedding and heavy weekly volumes. If you regularly wash a comforter, check that the dryer capacity matches or exceeds your washer, because the washer sets the ceiling.
Vented, condensing or heat pump. A vented dryer pushes hot air through a duct to the outside. It is faster, cheaper and simpler, and every machine here is vented. A condensing or heat pump dryer recirculates air and drains moisture instead, which removes the duct entirely and cuts energy use, at the cost of much longer cycles. If your laundry space has no practical duct route, a ventless unit is worth researching separately, since none of the steam models we evaluated are ventless.
Steam system names. The branded systems are worth knowing because they tell you what a cycle actually does. Samsung calls its sanitizing cycle Steam Sanitize+ and its wrinkle and odor cycle Multi-Steam Technology. LG uses TurboSteam. GE Profile offers Hygiene Steam. Kenmore and other brands use Accela Steam. Where a listing simply says “steam function” without a brand, expect a mist used mainly for wrinkle release rather than a true sanitize cycle.
Sanitize versus refresh. These are different claims. A refresh cycle uses short bursts of steam to release wrinkles and odors in a few minutes. A sanitize cycle runs long and hot with steam and is intended to kill bacteria on fabric. Buy for refresh if you want to avoid ironing. Buy for sanitize only if you wash a lot of gym gear, bedding or infant clothing.
Moisture sensing. Every model here uses some form of sensor dry, from a simple moisture probe to LG’s AI Sensor Dry that weighs the load. This is the single most valuable feature in the list, because it prevents both over-drying and damp loads, and it is what makes large capacity comfortable rather than wasteful.
Noise and lint. Drum noise is the most common complaint in owner threads, and models rated for quiet operation such as the LG pair are worth the premium in a home where the laundry room sits near living space. Lint filter design varies more than most buyers expect, and owners of some designs complain that lint reaches the exhaust duct before the filter catches it, so check filter placement in person if you can.
Warranty. Standard coverage on most of these machines is one year parts and labor. The Samsung Laundry Hub extends the motor to 20 years and the tub to 3, which is the kind of coverage that changes the calculation on a premium machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the steam option on dryers worth it?
Steam is worth it if you iron or steam dress clothes several times a week, or if you regularly refresh a worn outfit instead of re-washing it. It relaxes existing wrinkles, cuts static and neutralizes odors in minutes. For households that do not steam garments often, a good moisture sensor and a long wrinkle guard cycle deliver most of the benefit, and you can spend the difference on a larger drum.
Which dryers have a steam refresh cycle?
Every model in our roundup has a steam cycle. Samsung runs Multi-Steam Technology alongside Steam Sanitize+, LG uses TurboSteam, GE Profile offers Hygiene Steam, and the BLACK+DECKER and GE GFD65ESSVWW list a steam function directly. Refresh cycles release wrinkles and odors in minutes, while sanitize cycles run longer and are intended to kill bacteria on fabric.
Does a steam dryer need a water line?
Yes. A true steam dryer connects to a cold water supply line through a shutoff valve behind the machine and heats that water in an internal boiler. Without a water connection the steam cycles will not run. All of these models also require a 240V dedicated circuit and, since they are vented, an exhaust duct.
Are ventless heat pump dryers any good?
Ventless heat pump dryers recirculate air and drain moisture instead of exhausting it, which removes the duct requirement and cuts energy use substantially. The trade-off is cycle time, since a heat pump drum typically runs 30 to 40 percent longer than a vented machine on the same load. None of the steam dryers we evaluated are ventless, so research that segment separately.
Do steam dryers shrink or damage clothes?
Steam itself will not shrink fabric. The heat will, which is why it matters that the drum runs a moisture sensor and stops the cycle when the load is dry rather than on a fixed timer. Always follow the care label, and avoid steam refresh on wool and silk unless the label specifically permits it.
Conclusion
The best electric dryers with steam are not all equal, and in 2026 the BLACK+DECKER BFLD80ME stands apart because 2825 owners have already told us how it performs. Take the Samsung DVE45B6300W if sanitizing matters most, the LG DLEX6700B if you are stacking, and the Samsung Laundry Hub if warranty length decides it. Check your water line before any of them.
For the wider picture, we also track heat pump dryers and non-steam electric dryer roundups worth reading before you commit.