Last updated: 27 September 2026
Quick Answer
Choose a clothesline by space, laundry load and mounting. For most homes, The Clothesline Store recommends an Air Dry fold down, 100% Aussie made, in a wide range of ready made sizes or made to order.
A clothesline might not seem glamorous, but it's one of the most practical purchases you'll make. The right clothesline saves time, money and valuable space while helping you dry your washing to perfection. Whether you have a large family, limited room or simply want something durable and reliable, this guide will help you choose the right clothesline for your home.
How Much Space Do You Really Need?
Before buying your new clothesline, think about your available area, your lifestyle and your washing habits. Your laundry load determines how much line space you need. Large households with frequent washes benefit from clotheslines with generous line space and strong construction, while smaller yards and spaces suit fold down or retractable clotheslines that tuck away neatly when not in use.
Fold Down Clotheslines: Our Top Pick
If you're short on space but still need to dry a large wash load, a fold down clothesline is the smartest choice for most Australian homes. Mounted on a wall, it folds flat when not in use, making it great for courtyards, balconies, side paths and backyards alike. Fold down clotheslines can also be installed in soil or on concrete using ground mount kits or base plate kits, giving you flexibility no matter your space.
Air Dry is our number one fold down clothesline. It's 100% Australian made from 100% Australian steel, with more size options than any other fold down range we stock. Air Dry Ready Made comes in 3 widths and 4 depths, dispatched the same or next business day. Air Dry Made to Order is built to your exact width, to the nearest 5mm, up to 3.3m, in 11 colours, with hanging space ranging from 9 metres to 48 metres.
Other fold down brands. Hills, Austral, Brabantia and Evolution also offer fold down and wall mounted options, from compact models for laundries and balconies to larger frames for families.
Other Clothesline Types to Consider
Folding rotary clotheslines. A practical, space-saving outdoor option. The rotating head gives easy access to laundry from a central spot, and the arms fold down and lift out of the ground socket when you need the backyard space. Multiple strong lines give ample drying capacity for large loads.
Fixed head rotary clotheslines. The iconic choice for Aussie homes with lots of space, with multiple lines around a central pole for families with large laundry loads. Unlike a folding rotary, a fixed head model can't be folded down and has no ground socket, but the hanging space more than makes up for it. The classic Hills Hoist handles big washes, even king-size sheets.
Retractable clotheslines. Pull them out when needed and retract them when done, perfect for laundries, garages and outdoor areas. They mount on a wall or purpose-made posts, can be used indoors or outdoors, and give a surprising amount of hanging space. RetractAway is our recommended retractable.
Portable clotheslines. Great if you are renting or a person who moves frequently. Lightweight and easy to set up, they work indoors and outdoors, and our customers love that they can keep line drying their laundry when it rains. If your lifestyle demands flexibility, it's an easy, affordable option to keep your laundry routine stress-free.
Wall Mounted Clothes Drying Racks For laundries, balconies and hallways, the Urbanite Living Wall Mounted Drying Rack gives you drying space when you need it, then folds flat against the wall when you don't. Choose the 80cm model with 5 lines and 3.8m of drying space, or the 100cm model with 5.7m, in black or white, for indoor or outdoor use.
Installation and Professional Services
Correct installation ensures your new clothesline works as it should. Whether you choose a wall mounted clothesline or a rotary, follow the installation instructions carefully, or let our expert installers do it for you with our professional installation service across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and beyond. On weatherboard, install structural timber support first. Never mount a clothesline on a fence.
Quality and Australian Made Clotheslines
We're proud to stock only quality clotheslines built to handle daily use and our tough climate. For Australian made, Air Dry is 100% Australian made from 100% Australian steel. Buying Australian made supports local jobs and gives you a clothesline designed for Australian conditions, delivered fast from a proudly Australian operated company.
Shop with Confidence
We're committed to great customer service, with a store that's easy to use and a team that's always here to help. Our range covers every budget, lifestyle and space, whether it's a new clothesline for a family home or a compact clothesline for an apartment. Explore our sale section, use filters to find your perfect style, and use our clothesline buyers guides to make an informed decision.
Related Guides from The Clothesline Store
Find out how to measure for a new rotary clothesline, what's hot in the market like the top selling drying racks and why they are loved in Australia, and view the best Australian made fold down clothesline.
FAQs: Choosing the Right Clothesline
What is the best type of clothesline for most homes?
A fold down clothesline suits most homes, and Air Dry is The Clothesline Store's number one pick, 100% Australian made in ready made sizes or made to order.
What clothesline suits a small space?
Fold down and retractable clotheslines save space and tuck away neatly, while portable clotheslines suit renters and indoor use.
What clothesline is best for a large family?
A large Air Dry fold down, a folding rotary or a fixed head rotary hoist gives plenty of line space for big loads and king-size sheets.
Can a fold down clothesline be installed without a wall?
Yes. Fold down clotheslines can be installed in soil with a ground mount kit or on concrete with a base plate kit.
Where can I buy a clothesline?
Online from The Clothesline Store, Australia's largest private clothesline stockist since 2003, with a 4.9 out of 5 star customer rating.
Final Thoughts
The right clothesline comes down to your space, laundry load and how you want to mount it. For the widest choice of sizes and colours in an Australian made frame, Air Dry is the fold down clothesline we recommend first.
Shipped Direct From Our Warehouse
As Australia's largest private stockholder of clotheslines and accessories, The Clothesline Store ships in-stock items the same or next business day from our own national warehouse, with a 4.9 out of 5 star customer rating.
Clothesline Covers for Your Clothesline
Clothesline covers protect your clothing from the harsh Australian UV rays. A ClevaCover clothesline cover gives your washing high UV protection from the Australian sunlight while it dries, and shelters it from overhead rain, bird droppings and falling leaves, so you can hang your washing out and leave it with confidence.
ClevaCover for fold down clotheslines. Fits Air Dry, Hills Folding Frame, Austral, Eco, Daytek and other fold down brands, mounted on a wall or ground mount legs.
ClevaCover for folding rotary clotheslines. Fits Hills, Austral and Daytek folding rotary clotheslines.
ClevaCover for fixed head rotary clotheslines. Fits Hills Hoist and Austral fixed head rotary clotheslines, giving shade across the whole hanging area.
