32 Different Types of Hangers

One of the most common items found in the home, and one that we cannot seem to live without, is the clothing hanger. If you’re anything like me, no matter how many hangers you purchase, you never seem to have enough. And, if you’ve ever gone out to purchase some hangers, you’ve likely noticed the many different kinds of options available. In fact, there are types of hangers based on material, clothing items, pricing, and even special features.

Each type of hanger uses a distinct design and materials to care for your clothes without resulting in tears, wrinkling, or unsightly stretching. To keep your clothes in good condition, it’s important that you choose the right type of hanger. Of course, with all the options out there, it can be difficult to navigate and determine which clothes hanger is best. Hangers can be categorized based on material, with wooden, plastic, metal, and wire being among the most common. They can also be broken down based on their intended use, and the additional features that some offer.

With that said, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on hanger types, including which one you need for everything from suits to lingerie. We’ll also take a look at the individual features of each, along with some pros and cons. That way, you can make an informed decision on which hanger style is best for your purposes.

When compared to other alternatives, wooden clothes hangers tend to be more durable and look more appealing in a closet or wardrobe. Although different wood species can create a distinct look in your closet space, the benefits of these types of hangers go far beyond aesthetics.

Wood hangers are traditionally very wide and hold their shape incredibly well. This means that an especially heavy garment won’t cause the hanger to sag. Additionally, they have a pretty long lifespan. There is no risk of sagging like thin wire hangers or snapping in half like the plastic variety. Although wood hangers tend to be more expensive than alternative options, having hangers that last a long time can actually save you money over the long term.

Your wooden hangers may even have natural pest-repelling properties, depending on the type of wood used in the construction. These hangers are best used for heaving clothing items or other pieces that need to retain their shape. They’re also a great choice if you want a closet that is aesthetically pleasing.

Although plastic hangers do little for the aesthetics in a wardrobe, there are still plenty of reasons why people choose them over any other alternative. They are one of the most common types of hangers, and likely because they are widely available and very affordable. Plastic hangers also come in a range of styles, colors, and sizes, including widths designed for child and infant’ clothing.

Plastic hangers are also very easy to clean, only require a quick wipe with a damp cloth if they ever become dirty. Unlike some other options, these types of hangers are not susceptible to rust or growing mold, or mildew. However, plastic hangers tend to have a much shorter lifespan and can snap easily.

Also, when they break and must be disposed of, they cannot be recycled. This makes plastic hangers not environmentally friendly, as they will ultimately end up in a landfill.

Tubular hangers are the most common plastic hanger available on the market, but not the only plastic option. For instance, retail stores tend to use thick plastic hangers that have a swivel wire hook at the top. Although thicker plastic hangers with wire hooks are much more durable than tubular models, they are considerably less aesthetically pleasing.

Over time, plastic hangers are notorious for buckling and breaking. As a result, you’ll often find yourself replacing them on a regular basis. Unfortunately, if you don’t closely monitor your plastic hangers, you might not even notice that they are starting to deform and your clothes can greatly suffer from that.

Velvet hangers are a gentle solution for hanging clothing that greatly reduces the risk of damage. They offer a slight amount of friction to the clothing item, which prevents them from slipping off the hanger when they’re hung up. In most cases, velvet hangers feature small indents on the arms that can be used for hanging strappy dresses or tops without them falling off.

The main consideration with velvet hangers is that your clothing must be dry before hanging. If an item is still wet, the color of the velvet can transfer onto and stain your clothes. Velvet hangers can be found in several variations, including those with clips for hanging pants or skirts, and, more commonly, those with notches for thin straps. They also come in a wide range of colors, which allows you to personalize the look of your wardrobe.

These types of hangers are best suited for delicate pieces of clothing, silk, other slippery materials, and if you’re trying to achieve a visually pleasing closet.

Metal hangers tend to vary considerably, especially since they often serve as art pieces and are custom-made. These hand-forged items will present less of the issues associated with thinner wire models. They are traditionally made out of iron, though some are constructed using copper. Since these materials are much thicker than wire hangers, there is little risk of these types of metal hangers bending.

You won’t have to worry about creases and undesirable bulges in your clothing when using metal hangers for an extended period of time. These hangers are also not susceptible to rusting if they get wet, are incredibly heavy-duty, and are built to last. Because of their robust strength, metal hangers are ideal for hanging bulky winter coats, as they will not be affected by the increase in weight – unlike their wire counterparts.

To locate metal hangers, you’ll likely have to look beyond conventional home supply stores. Though, you may be able to find some heavy-duty versions of the traditional wire hanger that function similarly.

Bamboo is a great choice if you’re looking for hangers that are both environmentally friendly and durable. Although bamboo hangers may look strikingly similar to wooden hangers, checking the weight will usually help you distinguish between the two. Bamboo tends to be much more lightweight than wood, and also has a lower price point. However, these hangers are more expensive than wire or plastic.

For environmentally-conscious individuals, bamboo hangers are the ideal option as the material is biodegradable. While these hangers might not have the colorful appeal of plastic or the luxurious look of velvet, authentic bamboo can complement your natural, rustic, or neutral-toned décor. Bamboo hangers are best suited for supporting lightweight items or if you want to create a natural aesthetic in your closet.

Wire hangers are commonly seen in dry cleaning shops since they are very easy to find and incredibly inexpensive. If you’ve ever had your clothes dry cleaned, they’ve likely come home hung on wire hangers. Or, you may have found these types of hangers in your hotel room closet. However, the main issue with wire hangers is that they tend to vary considerably in terms of quality.

Although these thin wire hangers will last you a while, they won’t hold their shape very long. This can cause your clothing to become distorted when they’re hung for an extended period of time. In the past, folks started covering wire hangers in plastic or yarn to help protect their clothes from becoming misshapen. Wire hangers also don’t offer the ability to hold especially wide tops or tops with thin straps.

If you have children, you’ve likely donated a couple of wire hangers over the years for various craft or science fair projects. Wire hangers are best suited for temporary hanging situations or for ultra-lightweight clothing items.

Satin clothes hangers feature contoured padding to protect clothing against creasing and other damage. The padding is covered in a satin fabric and these types of hangers come in a range of design options and colors. They are ideal for hanging special event outfits, delicate dresses, and anything else that may be especially prone to creasing. However, satin hangers are not suited for heavy clothing such as outwear or suits.

The major advantage of satin hangers is the fact that they will look very sophisticated in your wardrobe. Some satin hangers even come outfitted with bows or other designs that increase the visual appeal even further. Only use satin hangers for aesthetic appeal, or for hanging delicate or special occasion clothing items.

Fabric hangers offer a unique look for your wardrobe, encompassing custom hangers that are wrapped in fabric and also those that use canvas or another material for padding. Similar to satin hangers, fabric hangers typically feature a layer of padding that is designed to prevent damage to clothing. Most of the time, fabric hangers come in fun prints and have additional features such as clips or hanging hooks

These hangers are considered a specialty variety that can be created yourself or custom ordered. You can find padded options come in a range of fabrics, canvas hangers, and also wooden or plastic hangers that feature fabric embellishments. The major downside to this type of hanger is the fact that they can be pretty expensive, especially if you custom order them.

Fabric hangers are ideal for a variety of clothing types, depending on the material that is covered by the fabric. They are a wonderful way to infuse more color into your closet.

Flocked hangers are characterized by their solid frame that is covered in a softshell. They are relatively similar to padded hangers, but tend to be much more durable. These hangers offer both stability and protection for your clothes. Flocked hangers are thinner than other fabric options and are, therefore, considered a slim style of hanger.

Their ultra-slim design helps to optimize the space in your closet. These hangers also hold their shape very well, are less susceptible to bending, and can be a great choice for hanging heavier clothing items.

Huggable hangers are an excellent choice if you are limited on closet space, as they take up half the amount of space required by traditionally plastic hangers. Their exterior is velvet-like, which creates a non-slip surface to prevent your clothes from falling onto the floor. Huggable hangers come in a wide array of colors, offering the ability to color coordinate or just stick with one color that matches your space best.

They are designed in a particular way that reduces the risk of unsightly bumps forming on your clothing. Huggable hangers also offer a range of additional accessories, such as clips, to further enhance their usefulness.

When you select the proper hanger, preserving your expensive suit is a breeze. Suit hangers are made using durable materials, consist of crease-free features, and have enough shape to support the outline of the suit. To select the right suit hanger for you, you should consider the shape, material, and overall durability of all your options.

Suit hangers come in a wide array of finishes, wood types, and widths. Sizing is incredibly important, as opting for the wrong size can cause your suit to look deformed or it could lead to damage over time. Most suits are outfitted with padding in the shoulders, so you’ll want to choose a hanger that will properly support the padding without damaging or stretching it excessively.

Generally speaking, you’ll want to avoid thin wire hangers that will sag. Even if your suit comes home from the dry cleaner in a wire hanger, make sure you transfer it to a hanger that is meant for heavier clothing items.

Whether you need to hang your neatly pressed work slacks or several pairs of jeans, it’s best to use pants hangers. Pant hangers usually involve folding the pants and sliding them along a flat or rounded hanger surface. Some types of pant hangers offer the ability to hang multiple pairs vertically, which takes up less space in your closet.

Specialized pant hangers are durable enough to withstand the weight of hanging slacks, without any risk of bending over time. Instead of simply draping your pants over a wire or plastic hanger, it’s recommended to consider a more robust metal or wood alternative. Pant hangers may have a straight design, a zigzag shape to prevent pants from sliding off, or even a fabric coating to limit the risk of marks.

In some cases, pant hangers might be outfitted with clips for holding the waistband to the hanger. These types of hangers are best suited for jeans or any other pants with a thick waistband that won’t wrinkle under the compression of the clips.

Dresses and tops can be hung on many different types of hangers, though, a structured variation that features notches is the ideal choice. Both plastic and thin wire hangers are notorious for stretching out fabrics and, as such, should not be used for delicate or lightweight fabrics.

For dresses that have thin straps or a wide neck, you’ll want to use a hanger that has notches to prevent the item from falling to the floor. Fortunately, there are numerous options for hanging shirts and dresses, including satin hangers for, especially delicate fabrics.

Since sweaters are often made of delicate materials and require safe handling, they can be especially difficult to hang up. In fact, many choose to fold them and place them indoors instead of hanging them in their closet. However, there are specific hangers that are designed for those sweaters that you don’t want to fold and tuck away.

These types of hangers feature a narrow flair at the shoulder that won’t cause unsightly bumps in the fabric. Of course, you may have to adapt your hanging method depending on the particular sweater design or fabric material.

An excellent way to organize your scarf collection is to use specialized scarf hangers. These types of hangers feature individual loops containing each scarf. Whether you own lightweight silk scarves or hefty winter scarves, there is a scarf hanging solution that is perfect for you.

Most scarf hangers are made out of plastic, metal, or wood, and are covered in either a silk or velvet material. This fabric covering helps to keep your scarves in good-looking condition until you are ready to take them out of the closet and put them to use. To use scarf hangers, simply untie your scarf, smooth it out, and hang it up!

Finding a storage solution for ties can be a bit of a challenge, but there are some excellent ways to organize them in your closet. For starters, they should be untied to keep them wrinkle-free in storage. Although rolling up ties is one storage option, using a tie hanger is another. Tie hangers can make a useful addition to your closet, especially if you have a collection of ties that you switch between throughout the workweek.

Both tie hangers and belt hangers have quite a bit in common, as they typically have fabric or rubber-covered hooks to hold each item. These hangers allow you to store multiple items on one rack, which eliminates the need for bulky hangers in your closet. Instead of stuffing your ties into a drawer, you can let them hang freely and ensure that they stay in good condition until they are ready to be used.

Opt for a tie hanger that has a swivel top, that way you can rotate it easily to gain access to a particular tie without causing any others to slip off.

If you own several belts, you know how difficult it can be to find a home for all of them in your wardrobe and still have them be easily accessible. Fortunately, dedicated belt hangers help to simplify the storage of your belt collection. They keep all of them organized, while also making it easy to find the one you’re looking for when you need it.

There are a variety of belt hanger styles, with some designed to have the belts hang from their buckles and others featuring a rack that the belt loops over. Belt hangers are typically made out of plastic or metal, many of which feature some sort of velvet or rubber non-slip coating to keep the belts in place.

Factor in the style of the belt that you wear most often when you’re trying to determine which belt hanger is best for your closet.

Although it may sound strange to store your shoes by hanging them, this solution can be helpful if you own a lot of shoes and do not sufficient space to keep them in boxes. There are many different varieties of shoe hangers, while some feature pockets and are attached to the back of your bedroom or closet door there are others that use rounded hooks for the shoes to slide over.

Using shoe hangers, you can store your shoes side by side, in pairs, and even suspend multiple pairs underneath each other to maximize the space. Regardless of the type, the purpose of a shoe hanger is to keep all your shoes in a centralized location and save on space in your home.

Of course, the type of shoe hanger that you choose will depend on the style of the shoes that you need to store. So, make sure that you consider this when you’re deciding on which type of shoe hanger to go with.

Due to the slippery, silky nature of the material, it can be difficult to hang lingerie. They also typically feature very thin straps that make it challenging to keep them on a hanger without sliding off. Dedicated lingerie hangers are designed with velvet, silk, or other fabric covering that provides a non-slip surface for the garment to remain in place on the hanger.

These fabric coverings not only ensure that your lingerie doesn’t slip off the hanger using friction, but they also keep the items in good condition long term.

Although most hotels provide hangers, there are a number of travel hanger options that often provide much more stable support for your clothing. For easy storage, travel hangers usually offer the ability to fold or telescope them so they can be fit easily into your luggage or even in your carry-on.

If you travel often for business or for leisure and need to keep your clothes looking great and wrinkle-free, travel hangers are an incredibly helpful tool. They help prevent wrinkles, preserve formal attire, and let you avoid having to use undesirable, thin wire hangers that can warp or damage your clothes.

Similar to petite hangers, though usually quite a bit smaller, are nursery hangers. These hangers are designed to fit infant and child clothing and prevent it from becoming stretched out or damaged in a closet. You’ll likely have a hard time finding metal hangers that are small enough to fit children’s clothes, as most nursery hangers are made out of wood, plastic, or velvet.

For special clothing items, look for hangers with padding that will offer more protection. These types of hangers typically come in fun colors to complement the look of your child’s room.

Having notches in the hanger are incredibly helpful for hanging delicate garments or any clothing item that has thin straps. For example, dresses with skinny straps will hang best on a notched hanger, regardless of the type of hanger it is. You’ll typically be able to find notches on wood, plastic, and even some metal hangers.

If you plan on hanging lingerie, skinny-strapped tank tops, or dresses in your closet, strap notches are essential. This feature is also beneficial for any garment that could slide off of the hanger easily – such as wider-neck tops.

Having clips are your hangers are incredibly useful for hanging skirts, pants, scarves, and even linens. This feature guarantees that you won’t ever have to worry about garments falling off of your hangers. Pants and skirts can be hung by clipping the waistband, which will prevent wrinkles.

Virtually any type of hanger can come with clips as an added feature – from plastic to metal to wood – and, oftentimes, you can adjust the width between the clips to suit various pieces of clothing.

Hangers with clips are great for items that are usually more difficult to hang up, like pants that you don’t want to get wrinkled and long, flowy skirts. The main drawback to this feature is that you want to make sure that the clips don’t compress the fabric too much and leave marks. However, this issue can be combatted by opting for hangers with padded clips, or by placing a piece of fabric between the clip and the clothing item.

Most retail stores and department stores use hangers that feature a swivel function, however, you can also buy these for your own home. Swivel hangers are characterized by hanging hooks that can be rotated 360 degrees. This allows you to hang your clothes, either way, you desire by simply swiveling the top hook – unlike traditional plastic hangers that have stationary hooks.

Swivel hangers make it very convenient to hang your clothes without worrying about the direction of the hanger. Many types of hangers come with a swivel function – including metal, wood, and more.

Non-slip hangers are designed to keep your garments in place when they’re hung in your closet. Most fabric hangers are considered to be non-slip, as they implement velvet or some other material to create enough friction to keep clothing from slipping off the hanger. Some plastic hangers may be deemed non-slip if they have pads on both arms.

While plastic hangers with non-slip pads tend to be less visually appealing than other options, they still get the job done. Velvet, and other fabric hangers, on the other hand, look appealing and sophisticated while also preventing your clothes from sliding off onto the floor.

Some types of hangers can be rather bulky, and if you’re limited on space, you may want to consider something else for your closet organization. To determine if a particular hanger with fits into your wardrobe, make sure you take a close look at the profile. There are low-profile varieties available to fit into narrow spaces, which allows you to hang more garments in narrower locations.

You can find metal, wood, and plastic hangers in low-profile models. Though, make sure that you check the hangers’ measurements notated by the manufacturer to obtain the most accurate understanding of how thin or thick they are.

Many clothing items can benefit from being hung on hangers with soft padding. When you use padded hangers for your delicate garments, you won’t have to worry about them becoming deformed or wrinkled over time. Instead of your clothes resting on a hard, thin hanger surface, like plastic or metal hangers, padded hangers offer thicker, soft arms.

Padded hangers avoid scratches, scrapes, and wrinkles on delicate fabric, while also helping your clothing items maintain their shape. If you’re going to be hanging lingerie or silk, lace, or satin clothing, consider opting for hangers with padding.

Travel hangers are wonderful for long trips, when you need to loosen up the wrinkles from your packed clothing items. These types of hangers are foldable, meaning they can easily fit into tight spaces. Once you arrive at your destination, your folding hangers can be quickly unfolded to accommodate virtually any garment you need to hang.

The majority of folding hangers are found in plastic styles, which are best suited for basic items like dresses and tops. On the other hand, some folding hangers are more durable and can accommodate suits or even outerwear. When shopping for travel, or folding, hangers, pay attention to their construction to determine if they will be able to withstand the clothing items you plan on using them for.

Hanging up a suit coat used to be a challenge using traditional clothing hangers, but fortunately, wide shoulder models are now available. Wide shoulder hangers allow you to easily hang up your coats without any risk of them slipping off and falling onto the floor.

These hangers also do a wonderful job of maintaining the shape of your garments. Although wide shoulder hangers don’t’ work well for regular clothing pieces, they are crucial when you need the additional width to hang up a suit coat.

Although it’s not incredibly common to have engraved clothing hangers in your personal closet for hanging your clothing, they are great for special occasions. For weddings, engraved hangers are a wonderful way to display your dress, tuxedo, or even your bridal party’s attire.

Engraving the hanger with the date and the individual’s name adds personalization and makes for a fun keepsake. This is exactly why engraved hangers are incredibly popular among brides, as they serve as a gift for their bridal parties.

Heavy outwear or suits can quickly damage your clothing hangers, often causing them to warp and bend. To hang these types of clothing items, you need to invest in heavy-duty hangers that are designed to withstand a considerable amount of weight without bending under pressure.

While you can certainly use heavy-duty hangers for other lightweight items, like t-shirts and lingerie, it may be a bit overkill. Regardless, these types of hangers are absolutely necessary to keep your heavy or bulky clothing items in great condition.

Related Questions

Are wooden hangers better than plastic?

Generally speaking, wooden hangers are much more durable than both plastic or wire alternatives. They provide better support for your clothes, offer little risk of your clothes fall off, and are longer lasting.

What type of hangers prevents shoulder bumps?

Of course, the best way to prevent shoulder bumps on your clothes from your hangers is to fold the items instead. If hanging your garments is unavoidable, opt for satin or padded hangers instead of wire or plastic varieties to present shoulder bumps on your clothes. These types of hangers can be purchased from a variety of retailers or you can make your own padded hangers.

Do hangers damage clothes?

Although hangers are a great way to store your clothes, they do come with some drawbacks. Depending on the type of hanger, it’s possible for them to cause discoloration, creases, wrinkling, shoulder bumps, and even holes in your garments.

Are wire hangers recyclable?

Whether or not wire hangers are recyclable will depend on where you live. Each municipality makes those determinations based on the recycling equipment that is available. Some equipment simply cannot accept the metal material and the shape of the hangers.However, this does not mean that you don’t still have recycling options. You can always try taking them to a local dry cleaner and see if they will accept them!