How Many Dryer Balls Should You Use Per Load? (Yes, There's an Exact Number!)

Reprint from:

Abby Wolner

March 10, 2025

Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson

The Handy Laundry Wool Dryer Ball cut drying time by about 33% and eliminated static.

Dryer balls are an easy-to-use sustainable laundry product that have been on the shelves for years. They're toted by some as a replacement for dryer sheets—but what exactly do they do, and how many are you supposed to use?

Hannah Yokoji, head of marketing at The Laundress, is sharing everything you need to know about these little laundry helpers. She shares the best way to use them, and how many you should put in each load of laundry for ideal results. Plus, find out whether these products are actually a comparable swap for traditional dryer sheets.

How Many Dryer Balls Should You Use?

"Wool dryer balls are the perfect tool to help reduce static on clothing and linens while making your drying cycle more efficient," Yokoji says. "They can help prevent fabrics—especially bedding—from clumping in the dryer, stopping frustrating tangles and improving air circulation."

By agitating the clothes and creating space between them, dryer balls lead to soft, fluffy laundry that dries on time. To achieve this result, you need at least three dryer balls (most packages come with three). "They’re designed to work together, so be sure to use at least three when completing your dry cycle," Yokoji says.

There are cases when you'll want to use more than three dryer balls. Use up to six dryer balls when drying large or bulky items to improve the efficiency of your dry cycle. This might include coats, duvets, blankets, or rugs.

How Many Dryer Balls Is Too Many?

It is possible to use too many dryer balls. Doing so can not only slow down drying times by over-stuffing the dryer, but it can also damage the dryer's drum. Stick to three dryer balls for typical loads and up to six for large items. Also, be sure to keep your loads a reasonable size for your dryer.

Should Dryer Balls Replace Dryer Sheets?

Dryer balls are a good replacement for dryer sheets in most cases. "Instead of single-use, fragranced dryer sheets that can cause buildup on fabrics, wool dryer balls can be used over and over to enhance your drying routine," Yokoji says. Dryer balls soften clothes like dryer sheets, and they help reduce static. Lastly, unlike dryer sheets, wool dryer balls absorb moisture, which helps clothes dry faster. In most cases, you won't regret swapping your dryer sheets for sustainable dryer balls.

The exception to this rule is if you live in a cold, dry climate. In such a setting, wool dryer balls may be too drying and actually increase static. When the weather and humidity drops, opt for dryer sheets or a shorter drying cycle to keep static down.

Click Dryer Balls which are available on our website. May be used in conjunction with our Natural Laundry Soap.