Fit the dryer to the laundry you actually run, not to the machine on the showroom floor. Before you look at any model, write down how much laundry leaves the house in a normal week, what kinds of items go in, and who runs the machines. That list is the input. The rest of this walk-through checks the machine against it.
Write the load down first
Start with a plain tally. Note how many loads go through the dryer in a typical week, and whether they cluster on one day or spread across the week. Note the bulky items: bedding, towels, outdoor gear, work uniforms, anything that fills a drum fast. A household that dries heavy items every day has a different need from one that dries light loads now and then. Also note who does the laundry and at what hours, because a dryer that runs back to back at the end of the day fits differently from one that runs in the morning.
Read the drum volume as a measurement, not a slogan
Makers state drum capacity as a volume figure, and the wording on the box is not a measurement. Compare the stated volumes of the models in the same category, and treat each number as a guide to size rather than a promise about load. Then check the door opening, because a large drum with a small opening will still make bedding hard to load. Picture a full comforter going through the door. If you cannot picture it, the drum is too small for the way you dry.
Match the cycle to the rhythm
A larger drum does not always mean a faster dry. Cycle length, moisture sensing, and the heat settings all change how long each load takes. If the household runs several loads in a row, ask how the cycle behaves when the drum is full and how the sensor decides a load is done. If most drying happens during a busy evening, the cycle length matters more than the drum size. Write down the cycle you use most and confirm the model offers it.
Measure the vent run before you choose
The vent is set by the house, not by the machine. Measure the path from the back of the dryer to the outside wall, counting every bend and the length of any flexible duct. Note the exterior hood and whether it sits clear of the ground and the wall. Long runs and tight bends slow the airflow and make the dryer work harder, so a machine that fits the space may still dry poorly if the vent is undersized or crowded. Ask the installer to confirm the total run in writing, and ask what the maker's listing allows for length and bends.
Match the fuel and the hookup
An electric dryer and a gas dryer need different connections, and the outlet or gas line already at the location decides which one you can install without changing the house. Check the outlet type and the gas supply at the spot. Do not assume the old machine's hookup matches the new one's. If the hookup does not match, the change to the house is a separate job with its own scope, and it should be priced and written up separately.
Check the space and the swing
Measure the width, depth, and height of the alcove, and the clearance behind the machine for the hose and the vent connection. Note the door swing for the dryer and for any washer beside it. If you plan to stack the machines, confirm the model supports a stacking kit and check the stacked height against the ceiling and your reach to the controls. Leave room for the hose to bend without kinking, because a kinked hose restricts airflow.
Questions to put to the seller or installer
Ask these before you order:
What is the drum volume and the usable door opening, measured the way the maker measures them?
What hookup does the model need, and does the current location already provide it?
What vent run length and bend count does the listing allow, and who confirms the run on site?
Which cycles does the model offer, and how does the moisture sensor end a load?
What does the warranty cover in writing, and what does it leave out? Read those terms before you sign and keep a copy with the receipt.
Compare on paper
Put the models side by side on one sheet: drum volume, door opening, cycle list, vent requirement, hookup, and clearances. Compare each row against the household load you wrote down at the start, not against the other models' marketing. The service life figures for dryers are published on the Clothes Dryer: typical service life and when to plan page, and that page is the place to check them. Once the unit is in, keep the vent measurements and the hookup notes with the install record so the next person can see what was set and why.