Best smart washer and dryer

Clothes washers and dryers are a staple in many homes, especially those with many members who produce a lot of dirty laundries. While you can technically use appliances from different brands together, most people prefer to buy the best smart washer and dryer set — not only will the two appliances look cohesive and fit well together, but sets typically have similar capacities and complementary features. There is a wide range of washer and dryer sets available today, including gas and electric options, stacked models, and even ventless appliances, and the cherry on top is that it often costs less to buy a washer and dryer set than it does to purchase them separately.

What to Consider

The first thing to think about when buying a washer and dryer set is size. You’ll want to make sure the appliances will fit comfortably in your home and can be stacked if needed. It’s also important to consider the capacity of the appliances and whether it will work with your laundry habits — if you prefer to do large loads and often wash bulky items like blankets, you’ll probably want a washing machine with a capacity of 4 cubic feet or more. Other factors to look at including the style of washing machine, as front- and top-loading models each have their own pros and cons, and whether the dryer is powered by electricity or gas. You may also want to look for settings and features that will make your laundry routine easier, such as the ability to connect to Wi-Fi or a sanitize cycle.

How We Selected

To provide choices that will fit the needs of a wide range of households, we looked for washer and dryer sets of different sizes and styles, selecting the top-rated products in popular categories like electric, gas, top-loading, and more. We included products across a range of price points to ensure there’s something for every budget, and we prioritized well-regarded brands that are known for product quality and customer service.

What to Look for in a Washing Machine

Capacity

Since overfilling your washer will mean clothes don’t get as clean as they should and underfilling it means a waste of water and energy, you’ll want to find a washing machine with a capacity that matches your average load size. Capacity is usually measured in cubic feet and a standard washing machine typically has a drum with 3 to 4 cubic feet of space. Compact washers will have up to 2.5 cubic feet of space, and super capacity front load washers can have as much as 6 cubic feet of space.

Since you might not know how many cubic feet of space your load of laundry takes up, keep in mind that a washer with a capacity of 3 to 4 cubic feet can usually wash up to 12 pounds of laundry. Adjust up or down for washers with a smaller or larger capacity.

Agitation

Every washing machine relies on some form of agitation to clean clothes and loosen dirt. When you peek inside the washer, you’ll find a variety of types of agitators. In a front load washer, you’ll see a big drum with small fins protruding from all sides. These low-profile paddles combined with the turning of the drum provide gentle agitation that is better for the longevity of garments. However, this gentler agitation also means longer cycle times to ensure that clothes are clean. Inside of a top load washer, the familiar sight of a tall center agitator is being increasingly replaced with an impeller plate on the bottom of the washtub that performs a similar action while taking up less space.

Typical top-loaders with the tall agitator are said to shorten the longevity of garments and can hinder the ability to wash larger, bulkier items like a comforter.

Cycles

While all washing machines have basic cycles to handle everyday laundry needs, some machines go above and beyond with specialized cycles for oversized items like comforters or items labeled for handwashing. Another popular option appearing on many front-loading washers and some top-loading washers is a sanitizing cycle that uses high heat to kill up to 99.9 percent of bacteria — perfect for dirty dish rags or pet bedding.

Drum material

Since your clothes are about to get washed and whirled inside of a machine, you want to be sure that nothing will snag the fabric of your favorite blouse. Stainless steel tubs are considered the smoothest and most durable choice for washing machine drums. They’re often included with higher-end washing machines.

Porcelain-enameled steel tubs are also popular and cost less, but over time the porcelain finish can chip or wear away — leaving exposed steel that may rust and stain or snag clothes. Less commonly seen but sometimes used in low or mid-range machines are heavy-duty plastic washtubs. While durable enough to last for many years, they may not be well-suited for high-speed spin cycles and they can develop rough spots that might catch clothes over time.