Shakes only with towels or bedding
The dryer is fairly calm with normal mixed loads, but bulky items bunch up and the cabinet starts hopping or thumping.
Start here: Start with load balance and leveling before opening the dryer.
Dryer shaking and rattling
Dryer Vibrating
Direct answer: If your dryer is vibrating, start with the floor, leveling feet, and load balance before assuming an internal failure. A dryer that suddenly shakes hard with an empty drum or makes a low rumble usually has a worn support part inside.
Most likely: The most common causes are an unlevel dryer, heavy items bunched on one side of the drum, or worn dryer drum support rollers or glides.
Separate the easy outside causes from the inside wear causes first. If the vibration changes when you redistribute the load or press on a front corner, stay with setup and leveling. If it still thumps or rumbles empty, the drum support parts are the better bet. Reality check: a little movement on a wood floor is normal, but walking, banging, or a new rumble is not. Common wrong move: stuffing towels back in and running another cycle without checking whether one leveling foot has backed off.
Don’t start with: Don't start by buying internal parts just because the cabinet is shaking. A dryer that sits twisted on the floor can sound a lot worse than it is.
Vibrates only with bulky loads?Rebalance the load and check that the dryer sits flat on all four feet.
Vibrates even when empty?Shut power off and suspect worn dryer drum support parts before running it much more.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-04
What the vibration feels like
Vibrates all the time, even empty
The drum turns, but you hear a steady rumble, thump, or rough rolling sound with no clothes inside.
Start here: Start with an empty-run test and then check for worn dryer drum support rollers or dryer drum glides.
Cabinet buzzes or rattles against something
The dryer itself may not be badly out of balance, but the top, sides, vent connection, or nearby wall vibrates loudly.
Start here: Start with clearance, vent connection, and whether the dryer is twisted on the floor.
New vibration after moving the dryer
The dryer was quiet before, then started shaking after cleaning behind it, replacing flooring, or reconnecting the vent.
Start here: Start with the feet, floor contact, and whether the vent is pushing the dryer out of square.
Most likely causes
1. Dryer is not sitting flat on the floor
This is the most common cause, especially after the dryer has been moved. One foot can be slightly off the floor and the cabinet will rock and amplify normal drum movement.
Quick check: With the dryer off, press down firmly on each front corner and then each rear corner. If it rocks or clicks, it needs leveling or a better floor contact point.
2. Load is bunched or too small to tumble evenly
Bulky items like towels, sheets, rugs, or one heavy item can roll into a lump and make a healthy dryer shake.
Quick check: Run a normal mixed load, then compare that to one wet blanket or a few towels. If the vibration is much worse with bulky items, the issue may be load balance more than a failed part.
3. Dryer vent or nearby surfaces are transmitting the vibration
A rigid or kinked vent, a dryer pushed tight to the wall, or loose items on top can turn mild vibration into a loud rattle.
Quick check: Pull the dryer slightly forward, remove anything sitting on top, and make sure the vent connection is not jammed sideways or crushed.
4. Worn dryer drum support rollers or dryer drum glides
When support parts wear flat, crack, or loosen up, the drum no longer rides smoothly. That usually causes a deeper rumble or repeating thump, often even with an empty drum.
Quick check: Run the dryer empty for a minute. If the vibration stays and the sound is mechanical rather than load-related, internal drum support wear is likely.
Step-by-step fix
Step 1: Make sure the dryer is sitting flat and not being pushed out of square
A dryer that rocks on the floor can shake hard even when nothing inside is actually broken. This is the fastest, safest check and it solves a lot of calls.
- Unplug the dryer before putting hands near the back or moving it.
- Remove anything stored on top of the dryer.
- Pull the dryer forward enough to see whether the vent hose is kinked, crushed, or pushing the dryer sideways.
- Press down on each corner of the cabinet to feel for rocking.
- Adjust the dryer leveling feet until all four feet contact the floor firmly and the cabinet feels stable.
- If the floor is uneven or soft, reposition the dryer slightly and test again.
Next move: If the cabinet stops rocking and the vibration drops to a normal light hum, the problem was setup, not an internal part. If the dryer sits solidly but still shakes, move on to load and empty-drum checks.
What to conclude: You have ruled out the most common outside cause and can focus on whether the vibration is coming from the load, the vent connection, or worn drum supports.
Stop if:
- You smell burning lint or hot rubber.
- The power cord, plug, or outlet looks scorched.
- The gas connector is strained, kinked, or damaged.
- The dryer has to be forced into position because the vent path is too tight.
Step 2: Separate a load problem from a machine problem
Bulky wet items can bunch up and make even a good dryer thump. You want to know whether the vibration follows the load or stays with the machine.
- Run the dryer empty for about one minute and listen from the front and each side.
- Stop it and note whether the vibration was light, moderate, or severe with no clothes inside.
- Next, run a small balanced load of mixed items rather than one blanket, rug, or a few heavy towels.
- If you were drying one bulky item, add a few similar items to help it tumble more evenly, or split the load into smaller batches.
Next move: If the dryer is smooth empty and only acts up with bulky loads, the machine is probably fine and the fix is better load balance plus solid leveling. If the dryer still rumbles, thumps, or shakes empty, the problem is likely inside the dryer.
What to conclude: A vibration that stays with an empty drum points away from laundry balance and toward worn support parts or a loose internal component.
Step 3: Check for cabinet rattle and vent-related vibration
Sometimes the drum is not badly out of balance at all. The noise is coming from the cabinet, top panel, vent connection, or wall contact amplifying normal movement.
- With the dryer unplugged, confirm there is a little clearance from the wall and side surfaces.
- Inspect the dryer vent connection at the back for a loose clamp, crushed section, or hard sideways bend.
- Tighten any loose exterior screws you can access safely on the back panel or top if they are obviously loose.
- Make sure the lint screen is fully seated and the dryer door closes firmly without play.
- Run the dryer briefly and lightly rest a hand on the top or side panel to see whether the sound changes.
Next move: If the rattle changes or disappears when the cabinet is steadied or the vent is repositioned, you are dealing with transmitted vibration rather than a major internal failure. If the sound stays as a deep rumble or repeating thump, go to the internal support branch.
Step 4: Suspect worn dryer drum support rollers or dryer drum glides when the dryer shakes empty
Once the dryer is level and the vibration is still there with an empty drum, worn support parts move to the top of the list. These parts carry the drum and wear gradually until the drum starts running rough.
- Disconnect power before opening any access panel.
- Use your dryer's service access method to inspect the drum support area if you are comfortable doing so.
- Look for dryer drum support rollers with flat spots, wobble, cracking, or seized movement.
- Look for worn dryer drum glides or front support strips that are thin, broken, or missing material.
- Check for black dust, scoring, or obvious rubbing where the drum rides on its supports.
Next move: If you find worn rollers or glides, replacing the failed support parts is the right repair path. If the support parts look intact and the source is still unclear, stop before guessing at parts.
Step 5: Replace the confirmed support parts or call for service before more damage starts
Running a dryer that is shaking hard can wear the drum, cabinet mounts, and belt path faster. Once you have a confirmed internal support issue, the next move is repair, not more test cycles.
- If inspection confirmed worn dryer drum support rollers, replace the full supported roller set for your model rather than only the noisiest one.
- If inspection confirmed worn dryer drum glides, replace the matching glide set and inspect the mating drum edge for damage.
- Reassemble the dryer carefully, restore power, and test it empty first, then with a normal mixed load.
- If you did not confirm a clear failed support part, schedule service instead of buying parts on a hunch.
A good result: If the dryer runs smoothly empty and with a normal load, the repair is complete.
If not: If vibration remains after confirmed support-part replacement, the dryer needs a deeper internal diagnosis for a less common mechanical problem.
What to conclude: You either finished the repair with the right parts, or you avoided the usual guess-and-buy trap and moved to a proper service call.
Replacement Parts
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FAQ
Why does my dryer vibrate only with towels or blankets?
That usually points to load balance, not a failed part. Bulky wet items can roll into one heavy mass and make the drum hit harder on one side. Make sure the dryer is level, then dry bulky items in smaller, better-balanced loads.
Is it normal for a dryer to shake a little?
A small amount of movement and hum is normal, especially on wood floors. What is not normal is a new rumble, a repeating thump, or a dryer that walks, bangs, or rattles hard enough to be heard across the room.
Can a bad vent make a dryer vibrate?
It can make the vibration sound worse. A kinked or rigid vent can push the dryer out of square or transmit cabinet movement into the wall. It is worth checking, but a dryer that still shakes empty usually has another cause.
What part usually causes a dryer to rumble and vibrate empty?
Worn dryer drum support rollers are a common cause. On some dryers, worn dryer drum glides at the front support can do the same thing. The clue is that the vibration stays even with no clothes inside.
Can I keep using a vibrating dryer for now?
If it is only mild load-related shaking and the dryer is level, you can usually correct that with better loading. If it vibrates empty, rumbles, grinds, or walks, stop using it until you inspect it. Continued use can wear other parts and make the repair bigger.