The Top Three Reasons Why You Should Choose XLERATOR Hand Dryers

Why XLERATOR Is Still One of Our First Recommendations

Three practical reasons this high-speed hand dryer remains a commercial restroom standard

The commercial hand dryer market has changed a lot since the XLERATOR was introduced, but the reasons facilities continue choosing it are remarkably straightforward: fast drying, lower dependence on paper towels and a design with a long track record in demanding commercial environments.

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Updated September 2026

ProDryers has sold XLERATOR hand dryers for more than two decades. We have watched the product evolve while continuing to serve schools, restaurants, stadiums, office buildings, public facilities and other high-traffic restrooms.

The XLERATOR is no longer a new technology story. At this point, one of its biggest advantages is that it has had years to prove itself.

Speed was one of the features that originally separated the XLERATOR from older conventional hand dryers, and it remains a major reason facilities consider it today.

Current XLERATOR models are rated for an 8-second dry time. They also give facility managers more control than many older dryers, with adjustable speed and sound control plus adjustable heat settings that can be set to high, medium, low or off.

That adjustability matters in the real world. A busy stadium restroom may prioritize maximum throughput, while a restaurant, school or office may want to balance drying speed with sound and energy use.

There are also numerous cover materials, finishes and configurations available, making the XLERATOR easier to work into different restroom designs than a one-configuration-fits-all dryer.

One of the most practical sustainability advantages of an electric hand dryer is easy to see: every hand dried without a paper towel eliminates a disposable product that has to be purchased, stored, restocked and ultimately removed from the facility as waste.

For a high-traffic restroom, that can add up quickly. It also means fewer cartons of paper towels coming into the building, fewer overflowing waste receptacles and less restroom waste leaving it.

Excel Dryer currently reports that the XLERATOR can reduce the carbon footprint of hand drying by up to 88% compared with paper towels. The manufacturer has also published Environmental Product Declarations for XLERATOR models to document lifecycle environmental impacts.

Environmental comparisons can vary depending on electricity sources, paper towel type, transportation, restroom traffic and other assumptions. That is why we prefer looking at lifecycle information rather than presenting one old study as if it settles every possible comparison.

For facilities trying to reduce disposable restroom supplies, however, moving away from paper towels remains one of the most direct operational changes they can make.

Buying paper towels is not a one-time expense. Facilities have to keep buying them for as long as the dispensers remain in use.

There is also a labor component. Paper towel dispensers need to be checked and refilled. Used towels fill waste receptacles, end up on floors and counters, and sometimes create plumbing problems when they are discarded where they do not belong.

A properly selected commercial hand dryer changes that maintenance cycle. There is no paper inventory to replenish after every busy period and far less disposable hand-drying waste for custodial staff to collect.

Excel Dryer currently advertises savings of up to 95% compared with paper towels. Actual savings will depend on the facility's towel costs, traffic, electricity rates, labor and existing restroom setup, so we would never assume the same percentage applies to every project.

For a busy facility using large quantities of paper towels, however, the recurring cost difference can be substantial.

The Gillette Stadium installation appeared in older versions of this article, and we are intentionally keeping it here, but for a different reason.

This is not a new installation. Gillette Stadium began using XLERATOR hand dryers in 2009. That history is what makes the example interesting today.

According to Excel Dryer's current Gillette Stadium case study, more than 125 XLERATOR dryers replaced a restroom operation that had been using approximately 6.26 million paper towels per year. The case study reports more than $50,000 in annual savings from paper, maintenance and waste-removal costs.

Gillette is an unusually high-traffic facility, so its numbers should not be projected onto a typical office or restaurant. What the example does demonstrate is the type of paper-towel volume and maintenance burden that can exist in a large public venue.

XLERATOR is a product family, not a single finish or configuration. The right version depends on the restroom and what you want the dryer to do.

A standard surface-mounted XLERATOR projects farther from the wall than today's shallow-profile ADA dryers. If wall projection is critical, the installation may require an appropriate recess kit or a different dryer such as the ThinAir.

Browse our complete XLERATOR hand dryer selection to compare available configurations, covers and options.

How fast does an XLERATOR hand dryer dry hands?

Current XLERATOR hand dryers are rated for an 8-second dry time under the manufacturer's standardized testing conditions.

Can XLERATOR hand dryers have HEPA filtration?

Yes. XLERATOR configurations are available with factory-installed HEPA filtration. Check the specific model and options when ordering because filtration is not automatically included with every XLERATOR configuration.

What is the difference between XLERATOR and XLERATOReco?

The standard XLERATOR includes adjustable heat, while XLERATOReco is designed as a no-heat configuration for facilities prioritizing lower energy consumption.

Is XLERATOR good for high-traffic restrooms?

Yes. High-traffic commercial restrooms are one of the environments where we most often consider XLERATOR. Its history includes installations in stadiums, schools, restaurants, transportation facilities and other heavily used commercial spaces.

How does XLERATOR compare with other commercial hand dryers?

XLERATOR is one of our strongest all-around choices, but it is not the right dryer for every restroom. Wall projection, accessibility, sound, filtration, drying format, electrical requirements and budget can all affect the decision. See our commercial hand dryer comparison guide to compare additional models and manufacturers.

About this article: This guide was substantially updated in September 2026. Older references to the COVID-19 pandemic were removed, historical case studies are now clearly dated, current XLERATOR specifications were reviewed, and older environmental and hygiene claims were replaced or put into their proper context. Manufacturer specifications and product options can change, so confirm current documentation before specifying equipment.

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