Pros and Cons Of A Stackable Washer & Dryer

Here’s the pros and cons of a stackable washer dryer including the advantages and disadvantages, suggested dimensions, and if its a good idea for your laundry room.
If you have a laundry room at home, there’s a high percentage that your house is spacious and can dedicate an entire room just for the house chore. If you have limited space though, a stackable washer and dryer can work wonders! But is it the ideal option for you? 

Before you go ahead and buy yourself a stackable washer dryer, it is important to weigh the pros and cons that come with buying your own unit.

Advantages Of Stacking Washer And Dryer 

Stackable washer and dryers are known to be convenient for homeowners, which is how they became popular in the first place. If you are considering one for your own here, there are several benefits to get excited about.   

Saves Space: Stacking a washer and dryer helps you save space since you cover less area compared to installing them side by side. When stacked, the standard height of the washer and dryer is around 74 to 76 inches while its width is around 23 to 28 inches, taking up less space since when side by side, it will be doubled. 

Washer and dryers feature a stacking option and they don’t even need to be bought in the brand from the same store. You would need to make sure though to have the right dimensions so that stacking them together would be seamless and not feel forced and awkward. 

And yes, even if you have a lot of space dedicated for your laundry area, stacking the washer and dryer together will allow you to use the free space for other important tasks. You can use the extra space for shelving detergent and other laundry essentials or just create a folding station.  

Flexible: Stackable washer and dryers are flexible in the sense that you can re-arrange them in different layouts and they would still work effectively.

Whether you stack them together or place them side by side, they will work as long as you follow the installation instructions of their respective manufacturers and reverse them when you need to unstack them.

This is an attractive option if you easily get bored with a room’s layout and design and are fond of re-arranging and styling a room’s interior every now and then.

Easily Hidden: If you don’t want a reminder of your laundry and the house chore, take the washer and dryers out of your sight. Stackable washer and dryers can also be easily hidden and kept neat and orderly in a cabinet. 

Gentle on Clothes: A stackable washer comes in a front-load washer feature, which offers a gentle tumble compared to the strong beating offered by a top-load washer.

While it may take more time, your clothes will also be washed more evenly since the wash and rinse cycles will be more thorough. You can also benefit from less drying time since the clothes wrung out better when they undergo the spin cycle. 

Convenient to Use: Stackable and front-load washer and dryers are more convenient to use because you can easily load your laundry to the appliances. You don’t have to bend too much just to lift your dirty clothes just to load them in your top-load washer and dryer. Tossing them works enough. 

Energy-efficient: With a front-load washer, you only need less water mixed with detergent for the washing without decreasing its cleaning performance. This also lessens the possibility of leaking. With less water used comes a lower water bill you can benefit from. 

These washers, using less water, also lead to less energy used. These appliances also have a note in them that informs the users of the unit’s energy efficiency so you can check it out before purchasing one just to be sure.

Tip: Make sure to use high-efficiency detergent if you have front-load washers since they are not designed to deal with a lot of sud that other detergents usually produce.

Disadvantages Of Stacking Washer And Dryer 

With these benefits, there are also hassles you are expected to experience if you choose a stackable washer and dryer. Weigh these disadvantages along with the benefits and figure out if you can take these hassles. 

Small Loading Capacity: Stackable washer and dryers save space but it also means that they have a smaller loading capacity compared to other types of washer and dryers. A compact stackable washer only measures 2.5 cubic feet, which is much less than the typical 3 to 4 cubic feet of a standard washing machine. 

Limited loading means you will take more time with your laundry, loading the washer with smaller loads a couple of times. This makes it not ideal for a home with a large family. There is also an option of finding a bigger stackable washer but they come with a high price tag you have to be ready for. 

Can Be Out-of-Reach: With a layout that involves stacking a washer and a dryer, this means that the dryer is elevated. And this can be a big problem for people who are a bit short (Yes, even if it’s a front-load dryer). 

Tip: Keep a stool near your stacked washer and dryer units to have it ready at hand whenever you need to use it.

Expensive: While energy-efficient, stackable washer and dryers come at high prices, ranging from $750 to $2,400 per unit. These prices are considerably higher compared to the top load units that come in around $275 to $459. 

The high number is fair considering the technology required for the washer and dryers to save space and energy and at the same time be efficient in its function. You can also choose between the option of gas-powered or electric-powered.

Tip: While expensive on the get-go, using stacked washer and dryer is cost-effective in the long run since it saves water and energy, leading to a small utility bill you need to pay per month.  

Needs More Maintenance: Choosing a stackable washer and dryer means you also choose the more thorough task of needed maintenance for the units.

Compared to top-load units, front-load units have more and faster buildup in the rubber gasket that requires more frequent cleaning. This buildup can lead to mildew and mold.

Screws, venting, and other parts of your washer and dryer also need checking for issues that need to be fixed, as well as if they are securely stacked. 

Tip: Wipe down your washer every after load to avoid buildup and keep it open to air dry it. Make sure to reach all the nooks in the washer and air dryer. And schedule a deeper cleaning every few months using a toothbrush and soap. 

Have Fewer Features: Since stackable washer and dryer are compact, expect that they are basic in their functions. Most compact units only have washing and drying functions and not the advanced settings (like heat pump technology, steam washing, and Wi-Fi capabilities) you might find in premium and expensive units. 

How Tall Is A Stackable Washer And Dryer 

A standard stackable washer and dryer can reach up to 74 to 80 inches when assembled, which is a good number for a normal ceiling height of 96 inches.

If you are planning to have this setup for your laundry area, you might want to measure the height of your ceiling first so that you can adjust accordingly and buy units that can fit in your home. 

How Wide Is A Stackable Washer And Dryer 

When it comes to its width, stackable washer and dryer dimensions are around 23 to 30 inches per unit, with an average of 27 inches.

While this factor won’t affect your layout if you plan to install them stacked one after the other, it will be an important component if you decide to position the units side-by-side. 

What Is The Smallest Size Stackable Washer And Dryer 

If you are planning to save as much space as possible, choosing the smallest stackable washer and dryer is a good option. The smallest unit measures 23-inch wide and 2.2 cubic feet.

If you need the smallest unit possible you may want to check out a laundry center that is one combined unit. This is a lower cost option that can save you even more space than two separate stackable machines.

Can Stackable Washer And Dryer Be Unstacked 

Yes, stackable washer and dryers can be unstacked. You only need to read the manufacturer’s manual and reverse the initial installation steps to unstack them into single units. 

Are All Front Load Washer And Dryers Stackable

No, not all front-load washer and dryers are stackable and you need to check out their features to see if they are. All stackable washer and dryers though are front-load since you can’t stack top-load units. 

Do Stackable Washer And Dryers Need A Vent?

There are stackable washer and dryers that do not need a vent even if a standalone dryer normally does. But this would all depend on the unit and model you have at home.

Check out the features of your stackable washer and dryer and see if there’s a ventless option in it. Condenser dryers are known to be ventless so if that’s what you have then suffice to say, you don’t need a vent for it. 

Can You Stack A Full Size Washer And Dryer?

Yes, you can stack even a full-size washer and dryer as long as you have a washer/dryer stacking kit. The full-size washer and dryer need to be labeled as stackable though to make this possible, especially if you have limited laundry room dimensions.

Are Stackable Washer And Dryers A Good Idea

Evaluating whether a stackable washer and dryer is a good idea would depend on your own circumstance and your home’s space. In general though, yes it’s a good idea!

If you have limited space at home and need to save space, it is a good solution to consider despite the costs that may come with it. If you have a big family though, you might want to choose a full-sized stackable washer and dryer than a compact unit to accommodate more clothes per load. 

If you have a spacious home though, you can still have a stackable washer and dryer as a good addition. The saved space can be used for folding and ironing areas or as extra storage for your laundry detergent products and supplies.

See more related content in our article about laundry room flooring on this page.