7 Best Matching Compact Washer and Dryer Sets, Tested and Reviewed

You’ll find CR’s ratings of compact washers and their matching dryers in the Washer/Dryer Pairs category in CR’s washing machine ratings. They include sets from Asko, Bosch, Electrolux, GE, LG, Midea, Miele, and Samsung.

Compact washers and dryers undergo the same rigorous testing as full-sized laundry machines in our ratings, although our testers use smaller loads to simulate typical household usage. Tests include using a spectrocolorimeter to analyze precise differences in fabric swatches stained with red wine, cocoa, and carbon before and after washing.

Our tests find that performance varies widely among compact washers and dryers, and all the smaller washers vibrate more than most full-sized machines. Most compact washers sold are front-loaders.

As for compact dryers, most require 240 volts, which may require an upgrade in some households (there are no gas versions). Most of the compact dryers in our ratings are ventless (condensing) models, which are more energy-efficient than vented dryers but require longer drying times for clothes. If your home has the ductwork, however, you can opt for a vented dryer.

And though the standard width for a compact machine is 24 inches, their height and depth vary. You can find all the specifications in our ratings of compact washers and compact dryers.

Think a compact washer and dryer might be right for you? CR members can read on for detailed reviews of six impressive sets from our tests. The pairs are broken into two groups: compact washers with vented electric dryers and compact washers with ventless electric dryers. And you can find more compact options in our washing machine ratings and our dryer ratings, too.