A laundry basket is probably the most-used item in your home, and one of the least thought-about. You toss clothes in, carry them to the laundry, empty them, and repeat. But if you've ever dealt with a basket that smells after a few days, one that's too heavy to carry when full, or one that doesn't fit the corner you had in mind, you know that the right choice actually matters.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know: materials, styles, sizes, and features, so your next laundry basket actually works for your home.
Laundry Basket vs Laundry Hamper — What's the Difference?
In Australia, the terms are largely interchangeable. That said, "hamper" tends to refer to a more enclosed, often lidded style with a decorative finish, while "basket" covers the broader category, including open, collapsible, and mesh designs. Throughout this guide, we'll use both terms naturally, they mean the same thing.
The Most Common Materials at a Glance
Plastic
Plastic laundry baskets are durable, lightweight, and water-resistant, which means damp towels or sweaty gym gear won't damage them. They're also the easiest to clean — a quick wipe or rinse is usually all it takes. Budget-friendly and practical, plastic is the default choice for bathrooms and laundry rooms where moisture is a factor.
Wicker and Woven Baskets (Rattan, Bamboo, Seagrass)
Wicker and woven laundry baskets look great and coordinate easily with home décor. Their open weave allows airflow, which helps reduce odour build-up in dirty laundry. The downside? They're more porous than plastic; if they get wet or stay damp, they can develop mould or mildew over time. Best suited to drier rooms like bedrooms, away from direct splashes.
According to Good Housekeeping, wicker hampers "look beautiful in any decor but may not be the most durable option in a humid environment." That's a fair trade-off to keep in mind for bathrooms or steamy laundry rooms. (Source: Good Housekeeping)
Fabric and Canvas Baskets
Fabric laundry baskets are lightweight, breathable, and often collapsible — making them a great fit for bedrooms, kids' rooms, and small apartments. The fabric itself needs occasional washing to stay fresh, and the frame can sag if the basket is regularly overloaded. But for everyday use, they're hard to beat on portability.
Metal Baskets
Metal laundry baskets are extremely sturdy and durable — and they suit a more industrial or modern aesthetic. The trade-off is weight: a metal basket loaded with laundry is noticeably heavier than plastic or fabric options. If the coating is chipped or scratched, they can also corrode over time.
Mesh Baskets
Mesh laundry baskets maximise airflow, which makes them excellent for gym gear, towels and anything else that needs to breathe. They often collapse flat for storage and are generally easy to clean. The downside is that the contents are visible, and mesh baskets tend to hold their shape less rigidly than solid-sided options.
Common Styles and Features
Open Baskets vs Lidded Hampers
An open basket allows maximum airflow, reducing the chance of moisture and odour building up inside. A lidded hamper contains smells well, useful if the basket is in a bedroom or shared space, but it does reduce ventilation. If you regularly put damp items straight into a lidded hamper, you're creating conditions for mould.
Collapsible and Pop-Up Designs
Collapsible baskets are full-size when in use and compress down dramatically for storage. A typical collapsible basket might stand around 27–30 cm tall when expanded and flatten to around 7–10 cm, small enough to slide under a bed, tuck behind a door, or stack on a shelf.
If you're working with limited space, our laundry basket range includes collapsible and compact options designed exactly for this kind of flexible storage.
Baskets with Wheels
Wheeled laundry baskets and trolleys make it much easier to move heavy loads between rooms or floors, particularly useful in multi-storey homes or for anyone who finds carrying a full basket difficult.
Divided and Multi-Compartment Sorters
A divided laundry sorter lets you pre-sort as clothes go in, typically into two or three sections for colours, darks and delicates. It's a practical all-in-one alternative to running multiple separate baskets.
Baskets with Handles
Handles seem like a small thing, but they make a real difference when you're carrying a full basket. Cutout handles on plastic baskets, fabric loops on canvas designs, or woven handles on wicker hampers all serve the same purpose, making the load easier to manage.
Sizing — How Big Do You Actually Need?
Capacity is usually measured in litres. Here's a rough guide:
• Individuals or apartment dwellers who do laundry frequently: around 35–50L suits most people in this group.
• Couples and small households washing weekly: 50–75L, or two medium baskets (around 45L each) for sorting by colour.
• Families with children: one larger basket (75L+) or multiple medium baskets — kids generate a disproportionate amount of laundry relative to their size, and distributing the load across smaller baskets makes carrying much easier.
As a rough machine-load guide, baskets up to about 35L typically hold one small wash load, while baskets in the 60–90L range can hold a full load or more.
Where Do Laundry Baskets Live in Your Home?
Most households use more than one basket in different rooms:
• Bedrooms: a smaller basket for daily dirty clothes, often a lidded hamper to contain smells.
• Bathrooms: a plastic or mesh basket that handles moisture well.
• Laundry room: the main collection point, where a larger or divided basket often lives.
• Walk-in wardrobes: a compact or collapsible design that doesn't eat into hanging or shelving space.
Setting up multiple baskets in different rooms is the foundation of a good sorting system, something we cover in detail in our guide to how to sort laundry like a pro.
Quick Summary
The right laundry basket depends on your household size, your space and your routine. Plastic and mesh are the most practical for damp or high-use areas. Wicker and fabric work beautifully in bedrooms and living spaces. Collapsible designs solve small-space problems. And the right capacity means you're doing laundry at a sensible cadence — not stuffing an oversized hamper or filling a tiny one twice a day.
From here, you might want to look at how to set up an effective sorting system, how to keep your basket fresh and mould-free, what to look for when buying a new one, or how to make baskets work in a small space. We've covered all of that in this cluster — start with whichever is most useful to you right now.