Best and Worst High-Efficiency Top-Load Washers of 2026

The best HE top-load washers in our ratings all hail from a single brand whose HE machines earn a top-notch reliability rating and above-average owner satisfaction rating in our member surveys. In addition, all four of the machines below hit our washing performance and water-efficiency tests out of the park.

These two HE top-load washing machines didn’t perform well at their primary function of removing stains, and our testers also noted that they used excessive water.

To test how well a washing machine cleans clothes, CR’s testers use fabric swatches stained with red wine, cocoa, carbon (similar to soot), and other difficult-to-remove stains. They analyze each swatch with a spectrocolorimeter before and after washing. The lighter the stain after laundering, the higher the machine’s washing performance score.

We also evaluate how gentle a washer is on fabrics, and record the amount of water and energy each machine uses. We record the energy needed to dry the laundry we just washed: Washers that extract more water shorten dryer time and score higher in our energy-efficiency tests. We also calculate the annual cost to use each washer.

Our testers also measure the amount of vibration the washer transmits to a wood floor, and our panelists evaluate the washer’s noise levels during the fill, agitate/tumble, drain, and spin cycles. 

In addition to the lab test results, we incorporate each washer brand’s reliability and owner satisfaction scores from CR’s member survey into the Overall Score for each washer.

HE top-load washers operate differently from front-loaders and top-load agitator models. They use an impeller (a low-profile disc with fins at the bottom of the drum) to clean clothes by rotating and rubbing fabrics against each other using minimal water (about 13 gallons per load).

This compares with top-load agitator machines, which deep-fill the tub with 20 or more gallons of water and clean clothes using a twisting center spindle. Front-loaders gently spin the drum clockwise and counterclockwise to flip clothes into and out of even less water (about 10 gallons per load).

If clothes inside an HE top-loader become unbalanced, the machine will attempt to rebalance the load by adding more water to improve circulation and even out the load. If that doesn’t work, you’ll get an error message alerting you to manually rebalance the load.

“HEs use less water than top-load agitators but more than front-loaders,” says Larry Ciufo, CR’s laundry expert. “They are more gentle on your laundry than agitators but more aggressive than front-loaders. So sometimes they tangle the items up.”

HE top-loaders are a happy medium between top-load agitators and front-loaders, hitting the sweet spot in terms of price, size, and convenience. So if you’re looking to get an upper hand on inflation, a high-efficiency top-load washer could be a good choice for the following reasons:

They’re easy to load. Compared with cramped top-load agitator machines and front-loaders that require back bending, these larger machines are easy to load from the top.

They’re reasonably priced. Most HE top-load washers cost $500 to $1,200, at least $200 less than typical front-loaders, and only about $100 more than typical top-load agitator washers.

They’re efficient in water usage. Thanks to faster-spinning drums, HE top-load machines offer better water efficiency and water extraction.

They wash faster than front-loaders. Their wash times fall between those of top-load agitators and front-loaders, typically 55 to 80 minutes, using the normal/heavy-soil setting.

They can tackle large loads. Like front-loaders, most HE washers have no problem with big loads of beach towels and comforters, thanks to high-capacity tubs of up to 5.5 cubic feet. Please note that stuffing a washer full may compromise washing performance, however.

Our member surveys and tests have found that high-efficiency top-load machines may experience issues with washing and inconsistent cleaning, and some models tend to twist items.

Your laundry may get tangled. According to our 2025 survey, CR members cited tangled or balled-up laundry as their biggest problem with high-efficiency washers. This may be why most HE top-load washers receive middling ratings for owner satisfaction in our survey. Running an extra rinse cycle can remove residual detergent from twisted clothes. But you’ll save both money and water if you simply dial back on your detergent use a bit. “If you use the correct amount of detergent, an extra rinse may not be necessary,” Ciufo says. “If you are sensitive to detergent residue, it’s an extra precaution.” 

Your clothes may not get thoroughly cleaned. Based on our lab tests, HE washers appear to be less effective in cleaning clothes than front-loaders but are more effective than top-load agitator machines.