Best Small Washer and Dryer Reviews and Buying Guide

Bid adieu to kitchen sink takeovers, tripes to the laundromat, and overfilled laundry bags in your home. A small washer and dryer is perfect for taking on the job without eating up your floor space or draining your wallet. You can get a standard washer and dryer, a portable model, or an all-in-one washer and dry combination. They’re typically less powerful and smaller than a standard set, but you don’t want to underestimate the benefits. As long as you have the correct water source, you can expect your clothing to come out clean and refreshed. 

You can go for an electric or non-electric small washer and dryer wet too. Whatever model you choose, they’re all effective for cleaning your clothing, and most portable options can wash at least one or two full outfits at a time. We’re going to outline 10 great small washer and dryer options for you, and you can see which one will work the best for your wants and needs. 

1 Stackable Washer and Dryer
Picking out a smaller washer and dryer set doesn’t have to be a huge deal. However, you do want to take your time and compare your options to ensure that you’re getting a good deal.
Washer/Dryer by Bart Everson / CC BY 2.0

1. LG Washer/Dryer Combo – Top Pick 

No products found.

The first small washer and dryer on the list comes from LG, and it works decently well to get your clothing dry and clean. You can cycle through 14 different wash cycle options, including hand-wash and prewash options. This machine also comes with a FreshCare setting on it that will tumble your clean clothing until you’re ready to pull them from the machine to prevent wrinkles. The tub is roughly 2.3 cubic feet, and while this isn’t something to write home about, it’s enough space to wash bulkier items if you portion the loads correctly. 

Also, you’ll only need a 120-volt outlet to run and it comes with a ventless dryer that requires you to have no external ductwork. This small washer and dryer gives you a delay start function, powerful spin cycle, and the CEE Tier I rating to make it both water and energy-efficient. The cycles are also relatively quick, but there is no steam function available. Once you finish drying everything, you want to leave the machine sit for a few minutes to cool down as it gets very hot to the touch. 

PROS

  • Has 14 wash cycles
  • FreshCare option 
  • 2.3 cubic feet in size
  • Can wash bulkier items 
  • Runs on a 120-volt outlet 
  • Water and energy-efficient 
  • No external ductwork required 

CONS

  • Can get very hot

2. Equator 24″ Combo Washer Dryer – Step-Up Pick 

No products found.

If you live in an RV or in a tiny studio apartment, it can be very helpful to have a small washer and dryer available to help you keep up with your laundry. This particular model has a lot of RV-friendly features packed in that you can’t find in other units. It has a winterize mode on it that ensures it won’t get affected by the elements. The two-minute cycle has antifreeze to help protect the appliance and keep the laundry routine streamlined and efficient. There is a convertible vent system on this model too. All you have to do is push a button and switch the model from a vented dryer to a ventless model. 

This small washer and dryer’s feature  is great for anyone who wants an all-in-one machine to put in a more permanent position. The drum is 1.6 cubic feet, so this is on the smaller side when you compare it to other models. The compact nature means that you can slip it under the counter or into a tight corner without a problem. It has seven wash cycles on it, and there is a quiet mode you can select to ensure that it runs at a lower 60 dBa. The machine will keep tumbling your clothing when they finish to prevent wrinkles.

PROS

  • Very RV-friendly
  • Winterize mode 
  • Vented or ventless conversion 
  • Has a quiet mode 
  • Tumbles until you open it to prevent wrinkles
  • Compact size 
  • Six color options 

CONS

  • Very small drum 

3. Panda PAN6320W Portable Machine – Mid-End Budget Pick

No products found.

This budget small washer and dryer gives you the space and flexibility to use an electric portable washer without eating up your floor space. It offers an impressive 1.34 cubic feet of space to hold smaller or larger clothing pieces, and it has enough power for lots of wash cycles. It offers 10 cycles and five water level options that you can customize for each cycle, and it allows you to tackle tough stains from exploring or traveling while keeping your energy bills lower. The design is also very solid, and it can withstand heavy usage without a problem.

You’ll get a stainless steel tub on this small washer and dryer that will help clean your sheets, clothes, towels, and pillowcases. The cycles all will all have a quieter operation to them, no matter which one out of the 10 you pick. There’s even an option to add fabric softener to each wash cycle, and this is rare for these models. However, it has a slightly boxy look and it can be difficult to move around by yourself. 

PROS

  • 10 wash cycles
  • Can add fabric softener 
  • 5 water level options 
  • Stainless steel tub
  • Can withstand heavy usage 
  • Quieter wash cycles
  • Easy to use 

CONS

  • Heavier and more boxy design  

4. Lavario Portable Clothes Washer – Bargain Budget Pick 

No products found.

Our bargain budget pick comes in at under $200, but it’s a non-electric small washer and dryer kit. You can fill it up from a nearby hose or stream. It also comes with a unique washing motion that helps remove layers of dirt that accumulate on your clothing from pitching a tent, finishing, or working out in your garden. It is a hand-powered model that doesn’t use a crank. Instead, you’ll submerge the basket of clothing into the water and pump them up and down to clean them. It has a very user-friendly design that allows you to load the basket, add it to the machine, pour in your detergent and water, and pump the basket for 20 minutes. 

You will want to ring the excess water out of your garments when you finish washing them before hanging them up to dry because they come out soaked. It’s a great choice for delicate clothing or clothing with mesh fabrics. You get a smaller 0.6 cubic foot drum, and it’s very similar to other non-electric models on the market. You get the choice of two colors when you buy it, and it’s portable and lightweight enough to pick up and take with you without any issues. 

PROS

  • Very portable and lightweight design 
  • Comes in two color options 
  • Very user-friendly
  • Can get clean clothing in 20 minutes 
  • 0.6 cubic foot drum 
  • Costs less than $200
  • Easy to fill and empty

CONS

  • Have to pump by hand for 20 minutes 

5. SAFEPLUS Portable Clothes Washing Machine – Best for Apartments

No products found.

The next small washer and dryer on the list is from Safeplus, and it’s a fully automatic washing machine with a barrel light that can help protect your skin and eyes. THe light will turn on automatically for five minutes when you open the cover. It’s a very compact model that is lightweight enough to be easily moved from point A to point B around your home, RV, or apartment without having to enlist other people to help you. This is great for people who live alone. You get a very durable drum that is stainless steel and resists rust and corrosion to ensure that it can last for years. 

This barrel on this small washer and dryer can easily hold up to 7.7-pounds of clothing in a single load. You get adjustable legs, and carrying handle, drain pump, water inlet, and a lint filter all in the design, and it’s easy to drain the dirty water out. If something is wrong during the cycle, an alarm will sound to alert you. If you’re not using it or if you pause for more than 10 minutes, the machine will cycle off to help cut your power usage. 

PROS

  • Holds up to 7.7-pounds of clothing 
  • Adjustable legs 
  • Has a warning alarm
  • Features a drum light 
  • Very portable design 
  • Power shuts off after 10 minutes of no usage 
  • Available in three colors

CONS

  • Takes a while to dry items 

6. Giantex Full Automatic Washer/Dryer  – Best for RVs

No products found.

This is a fully automatic smaller washer and dryer that allows you to soak, wash on normal, wash on heavy, or wash on three different rapid settings. You can customize the washing machine by picking your load size, adding the spin time, and changing your rinse time. It’ll automatically set the water amount based on how much clothes you pack in. It has a stainless steel inner barrel with small holes for water to pass through, and it rotates during the cleaning process like a manual washer does to give you a very high-efficiency cleaning to remove stains. 

You can set 10 different water levels with this small washer and dryer to meet your specific needs. Even though it’s a fully functional washing machine, it’ll give you tailor-made service. It has a 1.5 cubic foot capacity that can hold up to 11 pounds of clothing at one time. There are unbalance detection mechanisms built in that will allow the machine to automatically detect and correct any off balance loads. The child lock will keep kids out, and you can choose from a few different drying cycles, including an air dry setting. It’s compact, sleek, and easy to move around your home or RV. 

PROS

  • 10 water level settings
  • Can tailor your wash cycle
  • Holds up to 11 pounds of clothing 
  • Easy to move around
  • Stainless steel inner barrel 
  • 1.5 cubic foot capacity 
  • Child lock included 

CONS

  • Doesn’t dry 100% of the way 

7. Haier Washer and Dryer Combo – Best for Small Households

No products found.

Anyone who lives in a smaller household may not necessarily need a full-sized washer or dryer, so this small washer and dryer combination from Haier is a great start. It’s a 2.0 cubic foot ventless washer and dryer combo that makes laundry time go by quickly and easily. It has a very compact footprint that won’t take up a large amount of space in your home, and it has a very sleek look and feel that fits seamlessly into a huge range of interior designs. It has a front-load operation to allow you to keep an eye on your clothing as it washes and dries. 

You get non-vented condenser drying cycles with this model. The wash cycle on this small washer and dryer combo has a 24-hour delay start, prewash option, or a wash only setting. There are dual temperature settings for your dryer to allow you to dry your delicates as well as regular clothing without worrying about damaging anything. You’ll get detergent dispensers, a rugged stainless steel drum, and adjustable legs that allow you to move it to your preferred height. It is a slightly heavier option at just over 200 pounds, so you will need someone to help you move it. 

PROS

  • Stainless steel drum
  • Offers a 24-hour delayed start 
  • Dual drying temperatures 
  • 2.0 cubic foot capacity 
  • Adjustable legs 
  • Sleek look
  • Offers a front-load operation

CONS

  • Weighs in at over 200 pounds 

8. BANGSON Portable Washing Machine – Best for Busy Households

No products found.

Anyone who has a busier household with pets or kids knows that the laundry can pile up quickly. This small washer and dryer can hold 11 pounds in the washer and 6.6 pounds of clothing in the dryer in one go. This adds up to 15 to 20 shirts, 5 to 6 pairs of jeans, or 2 to 4 jackets all at one time. It’s a portable design that comes equipped with a 1,700 RPM dual motor, and it adopts a 360-degree rolling design that ensures your clothing gets as clean as it possibly can in one cycle. The spin tub can also do a secondary cleaning to remove any stray soap residue. 

You can choose from a few different washing and draining modes when you start your laundry, and you can adjust the spin time in five minute increments. It is a simple twin tub design that lets you wash and dry at the same time. Each small washer and dryer goes through rigorous testing to ensure that you don’t drive up your electric bills when you use it, and the customer service team is available 24 hours a day to address questions or concerns if you have them. 

PROS

  • Different wash cycle settings
  • Customer service available 24/7
  • Can wash and dry at the same time
  • Can was up to 11 pounds of clothing at once
  • Sleek side-by-side design 
  • Easy to set up
  • Lightweight design  

CONS

  • Body is plastic and prone to cracking

9. Conserv Compact Combo Washer Dryer – Best for Heavy Usage

No products found.

The next small washer and dryer on the list comes from Conserv, and it offers an impressive eight wash cycle options, including pre wash+heavy, heavy, standard, baby, quick 20, wool, delicates, and quiet. For RV users, there is an option to winterize it by pouring antifreeze into the dry and running a two-minute cycle operator using the knob and pushing start. This can help protect the components of your washing machine and dryer when the temperatures start to drop. It also has a conversion mode for the dryer to swap between vented and ventless to match your needs. 

The vented drying option is up to 30% faster due to better airflow over the ventless option. All you have to do to switch between the two is push a button. The spin speed of 1,400 RPMs will get a lot of the excess water out of your clothing, and you can choose from sensor dry, 12-minute refresh, or 60-minute dry cycles. There are also four dryness levels to set. The quiet cycle option will wash and dry your clothing at a lower RPM to keep the noise levels below 60 dB. 

PROS

  • Has a quiet cycle option 
  • Several washing cycles 
  • Vented or ventless drying 
  • 1.6 cubic feet 
  • Easy to change your settings 
  • Can winterize it in two minutes 
  • Durable materials 

CONS

  • Slightly more expensive  

10. Deals Laundry Pair – Best for Couples

No products found.

The final small washer and dryer on the list comes from Deals, and it has a 2.2 cubic foot capacity that is great for a couple or a single person to help you keep up with your laundry after you stain your furniture or work on projects around the house. It offers 15 different programming choices to allow you to wash a huge range of clothing from delicates to jackets and bedding without a problem. There are also prewash and allergen settings on the model with a touch control system that is easy to operate. These machines offer a stackable space-saving design that is great for people who have limited floor space and can’t set it side by side. 

The larger LED display is easy to read at a glance, and this small washer and dryer comes with an EcoSilence motor that allows you to run the machines at night without disturbing your sleep. There is a 24-hour delay start timer with an end of cycle signal too. This is an Energy-Star qualified setup. The dryer has a 4 cubic foot capacity, and you can choose from 15 programs. The sensor controlled drying system ensures that you’re not left with wet or damp clothing because it’ll adjust automatically.  

PROS

  • Multiple washing and drying programs
  • Dryer comes with a moisture sensor 
  • Energy-Star qualified 
  • Stackable design 
  • Prewash and allergen settings available 
  • Larger LED display 
  • Touch-screen technology 

CONS

  • Very heavy design 

Small Washer and Dryer Buying Guide

2 Buying Guide
Having a few buying criteria in mind when you start shopping for your washer and dryer set allows you to compare products quickly and easily. Washer/Dryer by Chris Feser / CC BY 2.0

Even though these are small washers and dryers you’re searching for, they can have a hefty price tag attached to them, and this is why you should do your research to make sure that you get the correct one for your needs. The following tips can help you make an informed decision. 

Caster Wheels

These wheels allow you to move your small washer and dryer anywhere you like without a problem. Some models on the current market have two wheels in the front or two in the back, and some have four with one in each corner. You’ll typically find these wheels in electric models with a bigger capacity instead of on non-electric models. It’s best suited for anyone who is installing a portable system in their small apartment or RV and may want to reserve the space for varied purposes. 

Capacity

The capacity refers to how much space your small washer and dryer has, and most of the ones on the list have less than 3.5 cubic feet. To help you understand how much smaller this is, a traditional washer and dryer comes with roughly 5.4 cubic feet of space. If you’re planning on washing heavier loads of towels, sheets, or bulky clothing, try to get a model that is at least 2.8 cubic feet. 

If you’re someone who is going to use your washer and dryer while in an RV or camping, you may want something as small as 0.7 cubic feet of space. This is more than enough to wash smaller loads of clothing. However, you should also consider the fact that small-capacity models are usually manual ones that don’t need electricity to run. 

Delay Start Function

If you’re planning on being more thoughtful with how and when you’re using your water, or if you’re a very busy person, you may want a delay start function on your small washer and dryer. This is a speciality setting that you’ll find on more high-end models. It allows you to pick a cycle and have it start at the end of a pre-set amount of time. This can ensure that you’re not wasting your hot water or running the machine when you leave the house to complete a quick errand. 

Power Source

Any washer and dryer will be either electric or non-electric. An electric machine runs just like a traditional full-sized model does. You’ll plug it into an outlet and pick the setting on your control panel. Just like the traditional sized setup, you’ll need a 120-volt outlet. A non-electric small washer and dryer set is a hand-powered set. You act like the power source that manually spins or cranks the clothing. This model is a lot less convenient than an electric one, but it’s nice for camping. 

Viewing Window

A viewing window is exactly what it sounds like. You’ll typically find it on the top door of the machine, and it lets you look in and check on your clothing throughout the cycle to ensure that you have a good water level. It’s not necessary to have this viewing window, but it does make the whole setup look sleek and more similar to the full-sized models. 

Water Management

Some small washer and dryer sets are more hands-on when it comes to getting your water into the drum and emptying it back out. High-end models will get hooked up to the bathroom or kitchen sink, but there are other models that require you to fill and empty the tub manually at the start and end of each wash cycle. To decide which one is the best pick for you, consider how much energy and maintenance you’re willing to do. Also, consider how accessible water is to you. 

Bottom Line

We’ve outlined 10 small washers and dryers for you, and you can sort through them to see which one is going to work best for your wants and needs. Once you narrow it down, we recommend that you use this buying guide to make your final choice and find the perfect machine for your space. 

Small Washer and Dryer 1 Small Washer and Dryer 2