The Best Hangers for Every Clothing Type

From sweaters and blouses to t-shirts and jeans, find out which hangers you should use for all of your wardrobe essentials.

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wood Hangers with clothes
Photo: Orbon Alija / Getty Image

How you hang your clothes in your closet matters—not only for aesthetics, but also for preserving the integrity of your garments. That's why Carolyn Rogers, a professional organizing consultant with The Neat Nerd, says using the correct type of hanger for each respective item is important. "I've seen poorly hung clothing get damaged either from being snagged or tangled in other clothes or become trampled or lost after falling off of their hangers," she explains. "Taking the time to hang an item on a hanger that is large and sturdy enough, or has the design features necessary to hold it long-term, is key."

Before you make a large investment and replace all of the hangers in your closet, Rogers suggests taking a few different types for a test run. "All hangers (especially velvet ones) are not created equal," she explains; she recommends purchasing a few different brands or mediums "to determine if they can handle the weight and type of clothes you have." To eliminate the guesswork, we tapped Rogers to recommend a hanger style for each the major garment groups. Discover our comprehensive guide, ahead.

Top Picks

Jeans and Pants

Simply Essential Wood Suit Hangers with Black Hooks
Courtesy of Bed Bath & Beyond

When shopping for hangers for jeans and pants, Rogers says to select a basic option with a bottom beam, so that you can fold your slacks over it. These wooden pieces check that box.

Shop Now: Simply Essential Wood Suit Hangers with Black Hooks, $10 for 10, bedbathandbeyond.com.

Jeans and Pants

IKEA Bumerang Hanger
Courtesy of IKEA

According to Rogers, you need a heavy-duty option for your pants and jeans due to their sheer weight. "They must be sturdy, since pants tend to be heavier than most tops," she explains. This iteration from IKEA can handle the weight—and looks polished (not clunky!) in your closet.

Shop Now: IKEA Bumerang Hanger, $4.99 for eight, ikea.com.

Tank Tops

Anthropologie Avery Clothing Hanger
Courtesy of Anthropologie

If you're struggling to keep your summer tops in place, try these ultra-modern, super sleek hangers from Anthropologie. They combine natural wood and gold hardware for that style factor, while also offering a divot that Rogers says you need to keep smaller, lighter tops in place.

Shop Now: Anthropologie "Avery" Clothing Hanger, $28, anthropologie.com.

Tank Tops

Pottery Barn Non-Slip Velvet Hangers
Courtesy of Pottery Barn

Those divots are important, but so is texture. This velvet Pottery Barn set has those aforementioned demarcations and a stay-put fabrication to prevent more delicate pieces from slipping right off the hanger and onto the floor.

Shop Now: Pottery Barn Non-Slip Velvet Hangers, $49.50 for 50, potterybarn.com.

Silk Blouses and Button-Downs

Home Basics Plastic Clothing Hanger in Black
Courtesy of Home Depot

Structured tops will stay right where you placed them thanks to these Home Basics hangers. Each plastic iteration has an additional bit of grippy material where the shoulders should rest.

Shop Now: Home Basics Plastic Clothing Hanger in Black, $13.54 for 10, homedepot.com.

Silk Blouses and Button-Downs

Bend and Hook Women's Perfect Hanger
Courtesy of Bend and Hook

Use the right hanger, and you won't need to worry about those shoulder bumps on your more delicate items. Rogers says a "basic" hanger will suffice for these pieces; just be sure to select velvet or gripped ones to keep silk tops in place. We love this ultra-sleek set from Bend and Hook; they look nice, but are also no-nonsense.

Shop Now: Bend and Hook Women's Perfect Hanger, $49.99 for 25, bendandhook.com.

Sweaters and T-Shirts

IEOKE Velvet Clothes Hangers
Courtesy of Amazon

Sweaters and t-shirts benefit from a hanger with sloped edges. "T-shirts can sometimes get the bumps in the shoulders if hung too long," Rogers explains. These velvet clothes hangers from IEOKE offer a curved edge that will prevent those bubbles from forming over time.

Shop Now: IEOKE Velvet Clothes Hangers, $25 for 50, amazon.com.

Sweaters and T-Shirts

Joy Mangano Ivory Huggable Hangers
Courtesy of The Container Store

Another great option for sweaters and t-shirts? These velvet iterations from Joy Mangano, which Rogers likes for their texture, shape, and slim form.

Shop Now: Joy Mangano Ivory Huggable Hangers, $5.39 for 10, containerstore.com.

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