No matter the size of your wardrobe, good clothes hangers are a necessity that can help to prolong the life of your clothing, keep your closet tidy, as well as make it easier to find the items you're searching for. A great set of hangers is a worthwhile investment that offers an elegant storage solution. It’s time to upgrade and choose the best clothes hangers for your wardrobe, in order to help keep your clothes wrinkle-free and away from the 'floordrobe'.

How to Choose the Best Clothes Hangers

Before you choose the best hanger, consider the types of clothing you plan to hang, how many garments you will need to hang, and the amount of space you have available in your wardrobe. These will all impact the type of hangers you should opt for. Hangers are made from assorted materials which are suitable for different types of clothing. For example, hangers for pants are quite different to the best hangers for sweaters. To choose the best set for your clothing, you should learn the differences.

Tips for Choosing New Clothes Hangers

• If you're especially short on space, you may need to be selective about the items you choose to hang. Clothing items such as jeans, T-shirts and some sweaters and jumpers can be folded to help save on hanging space.
• Try to avoid poor quality hangers that can break easily and potentially damage your clothing.
• Avoid hanging items made from stretchy material as hanging them can potentially cause them to lose their shape.
• Choosing the correct-sized hanger is important as a hanger that is too small can ruin the shape of your clothing after long enough. A hanger that is too large can stretch your garments out, and a hanger that is too narrow can cause indents on the shoulders of your shirts.
• Hangers with a wide shoulder yoke are ideal for supporting heavy garments such as coats and suits.
• It's a good idea to hang the following items: dresses, trousers (dress and casual), dress shirts, blouses, flowing items, satin, silk, cotton, linen, sweatshirts, pleated items, lightweight items, blazers, jackets, coats and any items of clothing that are prone to wrinkling.
• It's possible to fold the following items: knitwear and thick sweaters, jersey, cardigans, shorts, gym clothes, Lycra, cashmere, T-shirts of synthetic materials, stretchy clothes and embellished items.

Popular Hanger Materials

Wardrobe hangers come in a large variety of materials including wood, velvet, metal and plastic. Each type of hanger is better suited to certain types of clothing, especially if you're trying to keep your clothing in good shape while saving on space. To choose the best clothes hanger, you need to consider the best material first.

Plastic

Plastic clothes hangers are the most cost-effective, space-saving and easiest hangers to find. These wardrobe hangers come in a broad range of shapes, sizes and even colours. Unfortunately, many plastic hangers aren't as durable as those made from other materials, particularly when it comes to hanging heavy items of clothing. Plastic hangers are best suited for lightweight clothes.

Acrylic

The best clothes hangers to give your wardrobe a boutique look are acrylic hangers. This is due to their clear design, which creates a polished aesthetic. Acrylic is a reinforced material that is stronger than plastic and can be made to accommodate a variety of clothing items ranging from skirts to coats and more.

Wooden

The best wooden clothes hangers are durable and long-lasting. Wood hangers don't bend under the weight of heavy suits and jackets and can also help to prevent your clothes from stretching. It's important to know that wooden hangers have a higher price point and tend to take up more space than others. If you'd like some fancier clothes hanger, wood is an attractive option that comes in a range of styles and colours, making wooden hangers a favourite for open-style wardrobes

Cedar

Wooden hangers made from cedar work the same as regular wood in terms of strength and aesthetic, but also come with additional properties. Cedar is the best wooden hanger for pests and moisture. This is because cedar is a natural pest-repellent and also works to absorb additional moisture. As an added bonus, cedar hangers tend to release a fresh and enjoyable scent.

Metal

If you're looking for a slim hanger, consider metal. These hangers are durable and usually won't become warped by heavy items of clothing, particularly winter jackets and coats. Though they may have a higher price point, metal hangers create a modern aesthetic in your wardrobe as they come in a range of attractive colours and finishes.

Velvet

Another great slim, space-saving hanger material is velvet. Velvet clothes hanger's come with a thin profile. The material not only makes for fancy clothes hangers, velvet hangers are also some of the best hangers for delicate items and accessories such as lingerie, ties and scarves. Their soft texture helps to prevent clothes from ripping, stretching and sliding off.

Satin

Satin hangers are particularly good for delicate knitwear, evening wear, satin, silk and even costumes. There are many design options available, with many satin hangers offering additional padding to keep from damaging your clothing. These padded hangers are however, not suitable for heavy items as they can break under their weight and they also come at a higher price point then most other hanger materials.

Hanger Features

Along with the hanger materials, consider the features that are most appropriate for the garments you will be hanging. Not only do these features help you store your clothing properly, but they can also help to make getting ready just that much easier by keeping your closet in order.

Multilayer

Multilayer hangers are some of the best hangers for small wardrobes or wardrobes with limited access to space. These hangers have one hook to go over the closet rod and multiple layers or descending bars from which several items can be hung. These open-ended, multilayer hangers are the best hangers for pants, as they allow for pants to easily slide on and off from the open ends. Something to bear in mind though, is that these hangers may require an item to be removed in order to get to the bottom layer.

Cascading

Similar to multilayer hangers, cascading hangers help to optimise a smaller wardrobe space by hanging items vertically. Often consisting of one main hanger which then hosts descending hooks for additional hangers, cascading hangers require enough space below the closet railing in order for your clothing to hang freely.

Clips

The best hanger for skirts has clips which hold the clothing in place. These hangers are most commonly found in clothing stores as they help to prevent wrinkles and creases on clothing items. These clothing hangers can also be used for trousers. It's important that the clips are sturdy but don't pinch too hard as they can cause marks that need to be ironed out. Hangers that come with vinyl or rubber on the interior of the clips are the best way to prevent these indents.

Nonslip Hangers

Nonslip clothes hangers are usually made from velvet or metal that has a rubber-covered arm to prevent clothes from falling off. These are some of the best hangers for slippery fabrics such as silk or satin, as well as strappy tops and dresses. Notches on these hangers' sides are also ideal for keeping straps from falling off.

Moisture & Insect-Repellent Hangers

Most moisture and insect-repellent hangers are manufactured from cedar wood. This is because cedar wood has properties that repel pests such as moths, and is also able to absorb excess moisture. This is especially helpful if you live in a humid environment or store your clothing in a damp location.

Intended Use of Hangers

Since some hangers are more suited to specific clothing, while others can function as multipurpose, it may be a little easier to choose yours based on the particular items of clothing. If you're unsure of what the best hanger for your wardrobe is, consider the specific items you wish to hang up.

Delicates

The best hangers for delicates such as baby clothes, luxury fabrics and formal wear, are those made of satin and velvet. These gentle materials help to preserve the integrity of your finespun garments. The padding found in many satin hangers also works to ensure that your delicates are not damaged by the hanger itself.

Dresses, Shirts & Sweaters

There are a number of clothes hangers that are suitable for dresses, shirts and jumpers. Whether you choose velvet, wood, metal or satin, it's the clothing item itself that will help to dictate which type of hanger is best. For example, dresses often need notches on the hangers for the straps to hang from, where shirts do well with rounded hangers to prevent stretching in the shoulders. Jumpers can be hung, though they do take up a large amount of space.

Skirts & Pants

The best hangers for trousers and skirts usually have clips to allow you to hang them up; this helps you avoid those creases that occur when they aren't properly folded. They're great if you have a lot of wardrobe space. If you don't have ample space, then multilayer hangers are a great alternative for hanging pants as they allow you to easily slide the folded pants out from the open end of the hanger. Hangers with a bar can also be used to accommodate skirts and trousers.

Suits & Coats

Suits and coats are heavy items that require a sturdy hanger. More often than not, the best hangers for these winter items are made from durable wood that is stiff and rigid and will not take on the shape of the clothing but rather support it and help it maintain its shape. Thick and curved hangers are also good for suits and coats as the curves protect the form of the garment while providing the support these heavier items require.

Hangers for Accessories

Hangers for accessories usually look a little different to regular hangers.

Ties & Belts

Hangers for ties and belts usually comprise multiple rods to easily slide the accessories on and off. Alternatively, they may have hooks for the belts to thread through.

Scarves

Much the same as multilayer hangers, scarf hangers offer multiple levels from which to hang scarves. It's also possible to get good hangers for scarves that are shaped as hoops or hooks so that the scarves can easily be pulled through.

Bags

Much smaller than any other type, hangers for bags are often rounded or curved without the long arms found on a regular hanger. Instead, they are made from sturdy plastic to support the weight of a single or multiple bags in a smaller space while keeping them all together.

Hanger Sizes

The size of the hangers you choose depends on both the items you will be hanging as well as the space you have available.

Baby Clothes

Hangers for baby clothes are under 28cm wide. Their smaller size allows them to be gentle on baby clothes due to the fact that larger hangers can stretch the clothes out. Baby clothes hangers help to keep their clothing ordered and easy to browse. No new parent wants to rifle through packed drawers when trying to dress their little one.

Kids Clothes

Hangers for kids clothes range between 30cm and 35cm wide. They're also made for smaller-sized clothes. Appropriately sized hangers for kids' clothes can help them last longer by preventing stretching. These hangers often feature hooks and slots that are great for the loops on kids clothing or accessories.

Petite

Petite hangers range between 38cm and 40cm wide. These hangers are specifically sized to fit petite fashion items as well as delicates and lingerie. Petite hangers are designed to save and protect your more fragile clothing items.

Standard

The most common, or standard-sized hanger is usually between 43cm and 45cm wide. These hangers are all-purpose and intended for most types of clothing. Standard hangers come in a wide range of materials and designs, allowing you to be more selective with which ones you choose.

Oversized

At 48cm wide and wider, oversized hangers are good for heavy coats as they're sturdy and broad, making them less likely to bend under the weight of these items. Oversized hangers also help to maintain the shape of these jackets and coats.

Tip: For more tips and advice on clothing and wardrobe organisation, check out our The Art of Organising Your Wardrobe and Easy Yet Effective Ways to Keep Your Chest of Drawers Organised guides.