Best Washer

The laundry process is fairly consistent for most households: You put dirty clothes into your washer, then transfer them to a dryer once they’re clean to get all the moisture out. It's simple...that is, if you have room for both appliances. That's where 2-in-1 washer-dryers come into play. The best washer-dryer combos save on space, get your laundry clean and perform at a level you’d expect from their separated counterparts. Our top pick for 2023 is GE's High-Efficiency All-In-One Washer-Dryer Combo, which offers convenient features and boasts a moderate, not-too-big size.

The best washer-dryer combos save on space, get your laundry clean and perform at a level you’d ... [+] expect from their separated counterparts.

It might sound too good to be true, but these machines really can do the work of both a washer and dryer. "It's an all-in-one laundry appliance that can wash and dry your clothes," explains Mallory Micetich, home expert at Angi. These handy devices are typically the preferred cleaning appliance for apartment dwellers and those who are simply limited on space. Sometimes, even a stackable washer and dryer just won't do the trick. "There is a variety of combo units," says JustAnswer home and appliance expert Aaron Wilson. "All the way from a smaller compact size to very large commercial grade units." Ahead, find a curated list of the best washer-dryer combos on the market to help you save space without sacrificing true cleanliness.

The Home Depot

This bestselling GE model is designed to make the laundry experience easier—yes, even with just one machine. Clocking in at a little more than 33 inches tall and 23 inches wide, it can easily tuck under most countertops and even fit into a closet. This machine doesn't require an outside vent, either, so it can go just about anywhere. While its 2.4 cubic feet capacity certainly isn't massive, it's solid enough for most needs—and there are also five soil levels, five water temperature levels and five spin speeds available to get your laundry done precisely the way you want it. In a hurry? Good news: The machine will even default to a compatible drying cycle based on the wash cycle you choose. While the over-$1,000 price tag here isn't cheap, it's actually less expensive than many other washer-dryer combos on our list.

Amazon

The Black+Decker Washer and Dryer Combo offers up an impressive 16 washer and dryer cycles to help customize the laundry process to your needs. Among them is something called "My Cycle," which lets you pre-program your go-to wash cycle so that it's available at the touch of a button. What's more, an "Add a Garment" feature makes it easy to pause the machine and toss in an additional piece of clothing without having to restart the cleaning process. The dryer here is ventless, so you can put it in any room, and it plugs into a regular 120-volt electrical socket. Just unbox it, plug it in and get to cleaning your clothes.

Walmart

This LG combo machine offers a roomy 4.5 cubic feet of capacity, which is on par with a standard washer. It's loaded with features you’ll find in the brand's more standard washer and dryer models, including their innovative "TurboWash" technology that claims to trim your washing time by up to 30 minutes. The machine also has a "SenseClean" system, which automatically sets the water level and wash time for each load based on the weight of what you put inside, saving water in the process. Finally, this device also comes with LG's "ThinQ" technology, which lets you control your washer and dryer features from just about anywhere, as well as keep tabs on where you are in the laundry cycle.

Lowe's

At $3,199, this smart LG appliance is admittedly somewhat pricey. But it does everything short of fold your laundry for you—so that price tag might be worth it for some. The washer-dryer combo features LG's ThinQ to let you start the washer or dryer with Google Assistant or Alexa voice commands, or through a compatible app—your choice. An auto-dosing function figures out how dirty your laundry is and adjusts the detergent level accordingly, so you don't over-wash your clothes. The machine is ventless, allowing you to place it anywhere, and has a special Centum System to tamp down on vibrations and noise. While you probably don't buy a washer-dryer combo for the looks, it doesn't hurt that this machine has a sleek appearance, including a round LCD display that makes it easy to choose your settings.

The Home Depot

Washer-dryer combos are not, by nature, inexpensive machines. However, this Equator appliance is the best one out there in its relatively low price point. With a 1.57 cubic feet capacity (or 13 pounds of clothes), it's a little more compact than other machines, but it's packed with options to help you get a customized laundry experience. The device has automatic water level sensor and sensor dry features, along with options like delay start time and wrinkle guard. Choose from 14 programmable wash and dry functions on the easy-to-view LED display. There's even a quiet function for those times when you don't want to be disturbed.

The Forbes Vetted team has produced hundreds of product reviews, all of which are the result of either comprehensive market research, rigorous hands-on testing or a combination of the two. With input from experts and a legion of seasoned writers and editors, we bring a wealth of experience to our critiques to ensure that you’re making sound, informed decisions. For this story, we spoke with Mallory Micetich, home expert at Angi, and JustAnswer home and appliance expert Aaron Wilson, both of whom shared critical information about the pros and cons of washer-dryer combos.

The answer to this question ultimately depends on your specific needs. If you have the space for a separate washer and dryer, you might want to go that route (we’ll explain why in just a moment). That said, these appliances "can be a great option for people who live in extremely small spaces and don't have room for two separate appliances," Micetich says. With most machines costing upwards of $1,000, a washer-dryer combo is certainly an investment—but if you would otherwise send your laundry out or waste hours in your local laundromat for your clothes to get clean and dry, it's worth considering.

While they’re convenient for people who are limited on space, washer-dryer combos aren't perfect. "Washer-dryer combos are great in theory, but they are significantly less powerful than traditional two-appliance systems," Micetich says. "You can only do one small load of laundry at a time, and it takes several hours to complete a cycle." You’ll also need to wait for an entire load to go through the washing and drying features before you start a new one. The general capacity offerings here are also smaller than standalone washers and dryers, so you’ll need to do more loads in order to get your clothes clean and dry than you would with two appliances. All of this said, if you’re short on space, it just makes sense to go with a 2-in-1 machine.

In general, experts recommend going with separate appliances—but even they’d admit it depends on your space. For many who live in apartments or small homes, some of the drawbacks of having a washer-dryer combo are worth it compared to having no in-home laundry appliance at all. Ultimately, Wilson offers this advice: "Pick what's right for you."