Costway Portable Washing Machine Portable Washer Review
Our verdict
The Costway Portable Washing Machine offers a genuine feature set: stainless steel drum, 8 cycles, touch controls, and a quiet 58 dB noise level, all for $269.99. But 29 reviews at 3.6 stars is a thin base to lean on at this price. Better-established portables exist at lower cost with far more buyer feedback behind them.
Check price on AmazonBest for
Single users or couples in small apartments who specifically want a stainless steel drum, 8 wash cycles, and quieter operation, and who are willing to accept limited buyer history at a premium price.
Skip if
Skip if your load capacity needs exceed 11 lb, if budget is under $200, or if you want a model with strong buyer confidence from thousands of real-world reviews.
- Load capacity 11.0 lb
- Load type Top Load
- Installation Freestanding
- Cycles 8
- Operation Fully Automatic
- Controls Touch
- Priced 59% above the category median ($169.99 across 88 tracked models)
- Load capacity of 11.0 lb - smaller than 74% of the 88 models we track
- Weight of 56.0 lb - heavier than 86% of the 88 models we track
Our scorecard
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Owner rating3.6/5
3.6 average across 29 owner ratings
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Popularity0.5/5
29 owner reviews, fewer than most models here
The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other portable and full-size washers and dryers we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.
Specifications
- Load capacity
- 11.0 lb
- Load type
- Top Load
- Installation
- Freestanding
- Cycles
- 8
- Operation
- Fully Automatic
- Controls
- Touch
- Drum
- Stainless Steel
- Noise
- 58.0 dB
- Color
- White
- Finish
- White
- Dimensions
- 21 X 20 X 33 In
- Weight
- 56.0 lb
- Voltage
- 120 Volts
Overview
The Costway Portable Washing Machine is a fully automatic top-load portable washer with an 11 lb capacity, 8 wash cycles, a stainless steel drum, touch controls, and a 58 dB noise rating. It measures 21 x 20 x 33 inches, weighs 56 lb, and is priced at $269.99. The standard 120-volt connection works with any household outlet.
At that price, it lands right next to the Avanti CTW84X0W-IS at $269.44, which offers 0.84 cubic feet, 3.7 stars, and only 58 reviews. The Costway's 11 lb capacity is better specified and its stainless steel drum is a meaningful spec advantage over plastic. However, the Giantex EP21684 at $149.99 has 15,200 reviews at 4.2 stars and a 20 lb semi-automatic design, offering more load capacity for $120 less and with dramatically more buyer data.
The stainless steel drum is the Costway's clearest differentiator in this price range. It resists chipping, snagging, and rust in a way that polypropylene drums cannot match, which matters if you plan to run the machine daily for a few years. Eight cycles cover a useful range of fabric types, and 58 dB is genuinely quiet for a portable washer. The 56 lb weight, however, limits real portability. And 29 reviews from a 3.6-star average is not enough data to make a high-confidence recommendation at $270.
Pros
- Stainless steel drum is more durable and fabric-friendly than plastic drum alternatives
- 8 wash cycles provide meaningful flexibility for different garments and soil levels
- 58 dB noise level is quieter than many portable washers, useful for apartment settings
- Touch controls offer a clean, modern interface
- Standard 120V connection works with any household outlet, no special wiring needed
Cons
- Only 29 reviews at 3.6 stars provides very limited buyer confidence at a $269.99 price point
- 11 lb capacity is below the Giantex EP21684 at 20 lb for $120 less
- At 56 lb, it is one of the heavier portable washers and genuinely difficult to move alone
- No built-in heater; relies on your hot water connection for warm washes
- No matching portable dryer, so you need a separate drying solution
Performance notes
An 11 lb capacity handles a modest daily load for one person: a few shirts, pants, underwear, and socks. It will not work well for bulky items like heavy towels or a comforter. The stainless steel drum is a step up from plastic at this price tier. It resists the kind of surface chipping that accumulates with plastic over hundreds of wash cycles and is gentler on fabric over time. Eight cycles are more than most portable washers offer, likely covering normal, delicate, heavy duty, quick wash, rinse-and-spin, and combinations thereof. At 58 dB, the machine is noticeably quieter than many portables that reach 60 to 65 dB, which is relevant in thin-walled apartments. Spin speed is not published; typical portable washers in this class spin between 600 and 800 RPM, leaving clothes damp but not dripping. The 56 lb weight and 21 x 20 x 33-inch dimensions require a stable, dedicated surface.
What buyers say
Twenty-nine reviews is a very small sample for a $269.99 machine, and the 3.6-star average suggests those who did buy had mixed results. Without more reviews, it is hard to determine whether the experiences are representative. Low purchase velocity in recent months reinforces the picture of a product that has not yet built momentum. The Avanti CTW84X0W-IS has the same review count and a slightly higher 3.7-star average at a nearly identical price, so the Costway does not stand out against its closest premium competitor either. Buyers at this price point might reasonably expect a better track record. The stainless steel drum and 8-cycle feature set are compelling on paper, but until more buyers share long-term experience, the uncertainty is real.
More from Costway
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Frequently asked questions
Does the Costway portable washer need a permanent water connection?
No. It connects to a standard kitchen or bathroom faucet via included fill hoses. You attach the hose to a threaded faucet fitting when you want to run a load, then disconnect and store. No plumbing work is required.
Can I stack a dryer on top of this Costway washer?
No. This is a top-load freestanding washer. A stacking configuration requires a front-load washer with a matching dryer stacking kit. You would need to place a separate portable dryer beside this unit or use a drying rack.
What is the spin speed of the Costway portable washer?
The spin speed is not published in the available spec data. Portable washers in this size and price range typically spin between 600 and 800 RPM. For reference, the Giantex EP21684 lists 1350 RPM. If spin speed matters to your drying time, look for a model that states RPM explicitly.