A clothes dryer comprises a drum, a weight detection sensor, a moisture content detection sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a category for the drying item among a plurality of categories based on the weight of the drying item detected by the weight detection sensor and the residual moisture content information about the drying item obtained by the moisture content detection sensor at a first predetermined time after an initial drying cycle is initiated according to an initial control condition, monitor a reduction state in the residual moisture content information about the drying item obtained by the a moisture content detection circuit based on a reference time and a moisture content threshold defined corresponding to the determined category to determine a drying level for the drying item, and then initiate a main drying cycle according to the control condition corresponding to the determined drying level.