Compare Washing Machines Side by Side

Select the models you want to see side by side. The table highlights key differences in capacity, spin speed, cycle count, and installation type. Sorting by price or star rating helps you find the value leaders quickly. A practical example: comparing a 3.5 cu ft top-load Amana with a 4.5 cu ft front-load KoolMore on spin speed and cycle count gives you a concrete basis for judging whether the KoolMore's higher spin speed (1200 RPM vs. 700 RPM) justifies the price difference for your laundry volume.

Capacity in cubic feet is the drum's interior volume. Compact portables start around 0.9 cu ft, as on the Magic Chef MCSTCW09W2, and run up to 2.8 cu ft on larger portables like the Auertech AU6080. Full-size models start around 3.5 cu ft, such as the Amana NTW4516FW, and reach 4.5 cu ft on models like the Kenmore 2642273. A single person can manage comfortably with 1.5 to 2 cu ft. A couple doing laundry twice a week typically wants at least 2.5 cu ft. Households of four or more should aim for 4 cu ft or larger to reduce the number of loads per week.

Front-load washers, such as the KoolMore FLW-5CWH (4.5 cu ft, 1200 RPM), typically reach higher spin speeds, which means clothes come out drier and require less time in the dryer. They also use less water per load. Top-load models, like the Amana NTW4516FW (3.5 cu ft, 700 RPM), are easier to load without bending, less expensive on average, and simpler to maintain. Front-loaders are stackable with matching dryers; top-loaders generally are not. For apartments where stacking is necessary, front-load is usually the practical choice.

Spin speed directly affects how wet your clothes are when the cycle ends. The wetter they are, the longer they take to dry. Portable washers often spin between 1200 and 1300 RPM; the Auertech AU8590, for example, spins at 1300 RPM. Full-size front-loaders reach 1200 to 1400 RPM, while full-size top-loaders are typically lower, around 700 RPM on the Amana NTW4516FW. For apartments where drying space is limited, a spin speed of 1000 RPM or above meaningfully reduces drying time.

Most households use three or four settings regularly: a normal cycle, a delicates or gentle cycle, a quick wash, and occasionally a heavy-duty setting. Compact washers may offer as few as 2 cycles (Auertech AU8590) while feature-loaded portables reach 15 (Equator Advanced Appliances 22-826 L W). Full-size machines typically land at 8 to 12. If you wash mostly cottons and synthetics, 6 to 8 cycles is more than sufficient. Only households with specific fabric needs, like wool or heavily soiled work clothes, benefit from a broader cycle menu.