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

    These small laundry machines, designed for tight spaces, are often water- and energy-efficient, but lab testing shows they have disadvantages, too

    baby blue and white laundry room with white Bosch 500 Series WGB24600UC Washer and Bosch 500 Series WQB245B0UC Dryer
    Performance varies widely among compact washers and dryers, according to CR's rigorous lab tests.
    Photo: Bosch

    If you were to believe TV commercials, laundry rooms are bright, open, and large enough to sing and dance in. But what if you live in an apartment with nothing more than a laundry closet, or a house where your laundry tasks are confined to a tiny nook?

    A compact washer and dryer may be your answer. There aren’t many choices—and most aren’t cheap—but they’re stackable and measure just 24 inches wide. Compact washers in CR’s ratings range in price from $630 to $2,500, and many earn our Green Choice designation, meaning they’re durable, gentle on clothes, and energy- and water-efficient, and have a smaller environmental footprint. Compact dryers in CR ratings are electric and range in price from $690 to $2,500.

    More on Laundry Appliances

    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.

    Become a member to read the full article and get access to digital ratings.

    We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.


    Keith Flamer

    Keith Flamer has been a multimedia content creator at Consumer Reports since 2021, covering laundry, cleaning, small appliances, and home trends. Fascinated by interior design, architecture, technology, and all things mechanical, he translates CR’s testing engineers’ work into content that helps readers live better, smarter lives. Prior to CR, Keith covered luxury accessories and real estate, most recently at Forbes, with a focus on residential homes, interior design, home security, and pop culture trends.