10 Cheap DIY Clothes Drying Rack Ideas (With Pictures)

Using a clothes drying rack to dry your clothes naturally, instead of using electricity or natural gas, can reduce your energy costs significantly over the course of the year, and it’s better for the environment. You will also need a clothes rack for several types of clothing that aren’t dryer safe, but purchasing a commercial model can be expensive. Fortunately, it isn’t too hard to build one with inexpensive items, so keep reading as we list several projects that you can follow.

The 10 Cheap DIY Clothes Drying Rack Ideas

1. Easy Clothes Drying Rack

The Easy Clothes Drying Rack is a great project for first-time builders and anyone who wants to make a clothes drying rack quickly and inexpensively. It requires only a few long pieces of wood and screws. There are no difficult cuts, and most people can complete it with common hand tools. The finished project is durable and attractive and will last many years.

2. Wall Mounted Clothes Drying Rack

The Wall Mounted Clothes Drying rack is an easy-to-build project that creates a large rack for hanging clothes but remains out of the way when you are not using it. It uses an old baby pen, so you don’t need to worry about woodworking or buying tools and supplies. Screws and a wall-hanging plant holder are the only other things that you need to finish this wonderful plan.

3. DIY Laundry Drying Rack

The DIY Laundry Drying Rack is a great project for beginners because you can complete it with simple tools and inexpensive materials, like birch dowel rods and jute twine. The plan is easy to follow because the author explains each step, and there are plenty of images. It requires drilling several holes, but most builders can complete it in a day or two.

4. DIY Fold-Down Drying Rack

The DIY Fold-Down Drying Rack is a great plan that provides a drying rack that folds out of the way when you don’t need it. Many steps are involved, but It’s fairly easy to build if you take your time. It’s primarily made of wood, and you can finish it in different colors to match any environment.

5. Old Fashioned Clothes Drying Rack

The Old Fashioned Clothes Rack mounts to the wall and folds away, so it’s always available. It looks fancy but makes use of pre-cut stair balusters to provide an attractive appearance without being too difficult to build. It provides up to five bars to hang your clothes on, and you can keep the rustic wood appearance or paint it to match your interior.

6. Clothes Airer

The Clothes Airer is a great project that works well and provides a rustic appearance to any room. The project calls for Tasmanian oak, but you can use any wood to create this durable clothes airer. You hang the clothes over a nylon rope that you can replace if gets worn. You’ll need to drill a few holes and make angled cuts, but the project isn’t too difficult to complete.

7. Fold Up Hanging Drying Rack

The Fold Up Hanging Drying Rack is a fun-to-build project that you can finish in different ways to match the interior of your home. The finished result is a fold-away drying rack that won’t take up any space when you don’t need it. There are no difficult cuts, and an experienced woodworker should be able to finish it in a few hours.

8. Hanging Drying Rack

The Hanging Drying Rack is a fun project that you can finish in many different ways to match your interior. It’s fairly easy to build, and the author claims that you can complete it for less than $20. There are no difficult cuts to make. The resulting project is effective and durable enough to hold heavy clothes without falling or warping.

9. Sweater Drying Rack

The Sweater Drying Rack is similar to others on this list, but it recycles old laundry bags to create mesh surfaces to help prevent kinks and bumps in sweaters as they dry. The finished project slides out of its space, so you will only see it when you are using it, and it can double as a great place to fold your clothes and towels.

10. Star Shaped Laundry Drying Rack

The Star Shaped Laundry Drying Rack is an advanced project, but it’s well worth the effort if you have the skill and space. As the name suggests, the plan produces a large star-shaped drying rack that will hold plenty of clothes and look attractive in the yard or a large room. It also folds away when the clothes are dry, so it is easy to store. There are many boards to measure, cut, and drill accurately, but if you are patient and follow the instructions carefully, it isn’t too difficult to build.

Conclusion

Many cheap DIY clothes drying rack plans are available, and most fold or slide out of the way when you are not using them, for the ultimate convenience. If you are new to DIY projects, we recommend starting with one of the easier plans, like the Easy Clothes Drying Rack or the Wall Mounted Clothes Drying Rack. Both projects result in a durable and useful drying rack, while the more challenging projects, like the Star Shaped Laundry Drying Rack, can be fun for experienced builders.

• See also: How to Make Your Own Wall Mounted Clothes Rack – 9 Easy DIY Plans 

Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock