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This excellent washer tops our best list, and it should top yours. It boasts remarkable cleaning prowess, and is easy to use and see. Read More
The GE Profile PTW900BPTRS is designed to handle a lot of laundry with a huge 5.4-cubic-foot drum and built-in detergent reservoirs. Read More
Outstanding cleaning performance meets efficient and time-saving smart features in the Samsung Bespoke WH46DBH500EVA3 laundry center. Read More
This highly efficient Energy Star-certified washer-dryer combo comes with a large mold-resistant drum, high-end features, and an excellent warranty. Read More
The Electrolux ELTE7600AT laundry center is a washer/dryer tower with lots of features and useful cycles, but it runs rough. Read More
Updated August 23, 2024
Investing in a well-made, energy-efficient front-loading or top-loading washing machine can ensure you're always looking sharp. The best washing machines remove stains, help prevent wrinkles, and get rid of odors from your clothes.
Over the years, we've tested hundreds of washers to evaluate their stain removal, efficiency, capacity, and ease of use. Out of all of the washing machines we’ve tested, these are the cream of the crop. Between their cleaning performance and their cutting-edge features, these washing machine reviews check all the right boxes.
The Electrolux ELFW7637AT (available at Best Buy for $899.99) is our favorite washer to date. It offers superior cleaning and can tackle stains from protein to oil, features a blazing 15-minute Fast cycle, and has a spot for pods in the detergent drawer. While this Electrolux washer is the best we've tested, there are plenty of other washing machines that are worth checking out.
Editor's Note: Appliances purchases are a large investment of both money and time. We’ve not only compiled lists of the best washers to shop, but also the best places to buy in-stock appliances right now and the best times of year to buy appliances to take advantage of sales and new releases.
The front-loading ELFW7637AT has excellent stain removal performance, a detergent pod dispenser, and a 15-minute Fast wash.
Best Washing Machine Electrolux ELFW7637ATThe Electrolux ELFW7637AT checks all the right boxes. First and foremost, it’s a great washing machine. During testing, we found that it can deal with various stains, from protein to oil. The internal water heater also adds a lot of versatility, allowing you to sanitize clothing of common diseases, like E. coli, get rid of allergens, and help keep your whites as bright as can be.
Secondly, the ELFW7637AT comes equipped with plenty of features that just make life better. For example, instead of tossing Tide pods in the drum where soap won’t get evenly distributed, this washer has a special spot for them in the detergent drawer. There are also options like Extended Refresh that will tumble laundry after a cycle is finished to keep it from getting musty.
Finally, this Electrolux just has a great fit and finish. You can tell that the manufacturing is well done by the clean text on the control panel and the satisfying click on the dial.
After all our testing, we also think the Electrolux ELFW7637AT is perfect for most families. It has the drum capacity, cleaning performance, and features to cover all the major laundry bases. That’s why it takes the top spot in our washing machine rankings.
The GE Profile PTW900BPTRS is packed with nice features like steam and Alexa.
Best Top-Loading Washing Machine GE Profile PTW900BPTRSWhat do big families want in a washing machine? For many modern families, a huge 5.4 cubic foot capacity and Alexa-controlled automatic modes would go right at the top of the list. Not only does the GE Profile PTW900BPTRS have both and more, but it's the best top-loading washer we've tested.
This accomplished top-load washing machine has a ton of special features, including steam mode, 32-load detergent reservoirs, and Microban coatings on the spots that matter.
Our one main gripe with this top-loader is that its smart features can be a headache to set up. Otherwise, we think this washer really does have it all, especially when you look at its MSRP and overall value. If you're looking for a good top-loader, this is the one.
The Samsung washer and dryer (center) combines great cleaning performance with life-improving smart features.
Best laundry center Samsung Bespoke WH46DBH500EVA3Stacking is one of the best ways to save space while owning a full-sized washer and dryer, but one of the major downsides is that it puts the dryer controls out of reach. The Samsung Bespoke WH46DBH500EVA3 solves that problem by having the control panel in between the two units. See, it’s a laundry hub—a pre-stacked laundry pair.
That’s not the only convenient feature the WH46DBH500EVA3 has. The washer is capable of continuing to tumble after a cycle has ended to prevent wrinkles. The dryer can send a notification to your smartphone when it’s the best time to take clothes out to iron them. There is a flex detergent dispenser that automatically uses the correct amount of soap based on the cycle and amount of laundry.
While this laundry hub has a lot of extra features, it doesn’t skimp out on the fundamentals. Our lab results show it’s brilliant at removing stains. All the cycles did well at removing our test stains, but the AI Optiwash stands out. It uses sophisticated programming to adjust cycle times, water usage, and spin based on conditions detected within the drum.
If you’re looking for a washer with an attached dryer, this is the one to check out.
The GE PFQ97HSPVDS is an excellent washer / dryer combo unit that uses the same drum for both tasks. Not only is it a solid dryer, its washing capabilities are also stellar. We found it was able to scrub out stains better than most dedicated washing machines.
This machine's 4.8-cubic-foot capacity drum is also outfitted with Microban coating, to help often-touched surfaces remain resistant to mold and bacterial growth. We've tested the Microban coating before and found it to be incredibly effective.
This machine is also incredibly energy efficient, though that's mostly on the drying end, thanks to its heat pump technology.
If your ideal washer is one with an attached dryer, then the Electrolux ELTE7600AT Laundry Tower is an excellent choice. This premium laundry center has a full-size washer and dryer that can handle decently large loads.
The washer includes diverse cleaning modes that play either gentle or aggressive, depending on your needs, and it does an above average job at both. It also has a SmartBoost system that mixes the detergent evenly before it’s fed into the wash.
As far as the attached dryer goes, Predictive Dry and Luxcare features use machine learning to ensure that your clothes won’t over-dry. It also has a steam function that kills germs and removes wrinkles.
The few drawbacks of this unit include its lint trap, which struggles with down, and its loud 15-minute dry cycle, which sounds a bit like a jet engine. It also includes less automatic features than the LG WKEX200HBA.
Overall, this high-end laundry center is a versatile and powerful appliance that can meet diverse laundry needs. This is the one for you if you want an appliance that can do it all.
The LG WM6700HBA has a futuristic look and some impressive performance that should appeal to any busy family.
For starters, it has a huge, 5-cubic-foot drum, which should vastly improve your laundry throughput. On top of that, its cycles are incredibly fast, letting you power through piles of laundry. As a cherry on top, it also features an automatic detergent dispenser that further cuts down on laundry overhead.
In terms of stain-scrubbing strength, the WM6700HBA also doesn't disappoint. The only cycle that didn't quite measure up was its AI-powered wash, which took much longer to finish than other cycles and didn't wash as well.
The Samsung WF53BB8700AT is another great entry into the Bespoke line of appliances.
This front-loader outperforms the average washer both in terms of its stain-scrubbing skills and its overall aesthetics. In terms of wash power, its cycles were both shorter and got rid of more stains than other washers, meaning it’s an efficient cleaner.
We also love its overall design, with a clean, modern look (though we hope one day non-fridge Bespoke appliances will also have custom color panels).
Where the Samsung WF53BB8700AT truly shines is with all the features it brings to the table.
For starters, its 6.1-cubic-foot drum is massive and makes this a great pick for those with larger families, or who simply don’t want to run as many wash cycles each week. The washer also has steam cycles for sanitizing or dewrinkling, a self-cleaning cycle, interior LED, quiet operation, and the ability to stack up with its paired dryer to fit inside a laundry closet.
Long-time fans of Maytag washing machines won’t be disappointed with the MHW6630HC.
In addition to the Normal and Heavy cycles, which both have very strong cleaning performances, this washer also has a speedy, highly effective 13-minute-long Quick cycle.
While our testing indicates that this product is less gentle with clothes than we’d hoped, we think that the MHW6630HC makes up for it with some neat features.
You can’t go wrong with a steam option, an extended tumble cycle to keep post-wash clothes from clumping and wrinkling, and the “Extra Power” button, which can help get tough stains out of family-sized loads of laundry.
If you need tough stains removed in a short time span, check out the Maytag MHW6630HC.
If you're in the market for a compact washer, but don't want to sacrifice cleaning quality, the Miele W1 WXR860WCS is one of our top picks. It offers just as much cleaning power as an average full-size washer but manages it from within a very compact frame.
We also loved its effective spin cycle, which got rid of more water than many of its standard-sized competitors. This will save your dryer a lot of work, and also save you money on your utility bill.
You will have to pay for this power and convenient size, however. Even compared to other compact washers, the W1 is expensive. Still, it's hard to argue with results, and you just can't find this kind of cleaning power elsewhere in a compact washer.
If you have a large family, or especially large laundry loads, you may want a high capacity washing machine, which is typically a capacity of 5.0 cu. ft. or greater.
Every washing machine that comes into Reviewed’s labs gets put through the same testing regime, which addresses both performance and user-friendliness. Performance tests focus on stain removal, wear and tear, water retention, and cycle time. Read this in-depth account of how we lab test washing machines. Beyond these performance tests, we also assess the usability of each washing machine, based on our experience; our main goal is to get the answer to one question: How easy is it to actually use this washing machine?
By combining the performance data with our own observations, we can make solid recommendations and washing machine reviews for someone looking for any type of washing machine at any price point.
Whether it’s an emergency replacement, or you’re just looking to class up your laundry room, there are a few things you should consider when you go to purchase a new washing machine.
While it may seem like a minor design difference, studies (including ours) have shown that front-load machines are better stain removers and more efficient than top-loaders, and they'll cost you less over time. However, they are generally more expensive upfront than their top-load counterparts, which are more ergonomic, in that you don't have to bend over to do the laundry, and more convenient, since all you have to do to add another piece of clothing to an ongoing wash is to just lift the lid and throw it in.
Whatever you prefer, if you're shopping on a budget, we have lists of our picks for the best front-load and best top-load washers. If you don't have a strong preference, this list contains both top- and front-load washers.
Before you head out to the stores, be sure you know the size constraints needed for your washer. We’re not just talking about the width of the space you have in your laundry room for the washer itself (although that’s definitely important). Are the doorways in your home wide enough to actually allow the washing machine to fit through them during delivery? Will it be able to fit in narrow/tight stair cases? Take a tape measure and check the doorway width against the washer’s specs, and make sure you have a few inches of clearance.
Most washers have capacities ranging from 4.2 to 4.5 cu. ft. However, if you have a large family or especially large laundry loads, you may want a high-capacity washing machine, which is typically a capacity of 5.0 cu. ft. or greater. At that capacity, you can fit nearly 1.5 times the amount of water and laundry that you could fit in a regular capacity washing machine, which means you get to run fewer washer cycles and finish your laundry in a shorter period of time. However, if you have fewer people in the house, you may just want a normal capacity washer; you don't want to pay for extra capacity you'll never use.
Keep your budget constraints in mind. Washer prices can run the gamut from $500 to $2,000 or more, but most tend to sit in the $800 to $1,200 range. We have recommendations for some washers with very low prices, but you can generally find great washers at any price point; it just takes a little bit of research, and figuring out which features and design aesthetics you can live without.
Also, if you can afford to wait until major holidays, most appliance manufacturers and retailers tend to offer steep discounts around those times of year; vigilantly searching for deals can save you hundreds of dollars.
How picky are you about your washer cycles? Do you want to be able to set specific cycle temperatures, water levels, soil levels, and cycle duration, or would you prefer to just hit two buttons and start washing? Do you want a cycle just for workout/sports clothes? Really consider how you do laundry on a day-to-day basis; if you prefer a straightforward washing process, you’ll probably want to buy a lower-tech dryer. Even if that extra customization seems very appealing, it may not make sense for you to buy that kind of washer if you’re not going to actually use those extra features regularly.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
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Mark Brezinski works on the Home Team, reviewing refrigerators, minifridges, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, air purifiers, and fans.
Senior Manager of Lab Operations
Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.
Staff Writer, Home
Gabriel Morgan is a staff writer on Reviewed's home team, where he covers consumer education topics such as earthquake preparedness, radon in the home, and concerns about health and wellness in product design. He also writes product reviews and how-to articles on appliances, smart home technology, and goods for the home.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
