If you’re thinking of buying a new washing machine or you’re moving the one you have to another room in your house, you’ll want to know how much it weighs. We’ve researched the topic for you, and we’ll discuss what weights you can expect for different types of washers.
Your washer’s weight depends on its size, capacity, type, and what it's made of. Front-loading washers generally weigh between 140-250 pounds while top-loading washers often weigh between 65-150 pounds. Particularly large washers can weigh up to 300 pounds. In general, front-loading washers are heavier than top-loading washers.
We know that was a lot of information, so we’ll unpack it all for you in this post! We’ll go into more detail on typical weights for washers of various sizes and capacities, discuss having an upstairs laundry room, and walk you through the process for moving a washer. Without further ado, let's get into it.
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Washer Size, Capacity, And Weight
You probably noticed that both front-loading and top-loading washers can possess a wide range of weights. Much of this variation is the result of differences in washer sizes and capacities.
Medium capacity front-loaders usually weigh around 180-205 pounds while medium-capacity top-loaders often weigh about 135-150 pounds.
Large capacity front-loaders are usually about 155-250 pounds, whereas large capacity top-loaders usually weigh 150-170 pounds.
Obviously, there’s a lot of weight variation in these ranges, as they’re merely generalizations. It’s possible that you could find a washer labeled as medium or large capacity with a weight that’s outside of the ranges we’ve listed. Luckily, if you want to know the weight of any particular washer, the manufacturer should have that model’s specifications readily available.
Is A Washer Or Dryer Heavier?
Washers are usually (though not always) heavier than dryers. Dryers often weigh about 100-170 pounds, but you can find some that weigh less than this range fairly easily. Washers are deliberately built to be heavier so that they don’t move even when they’re washing lots of clothes. Among other heavy components, washers have a 55-pound concrete block inside them that serves as a counterweight.
Can You Put A Washer And Dryer Upstairs?
Most people probably imagine washers and dryers as appliances that belong on a house’s main floor, or even in the basement. However, these days you’ll find that some homeowners prefer to have an upstairs laundry room instead. Keeping your washer and dryer upstairs is a perfectly valid option, but you should consider the advantages and disadvantages of doing so before you make the commitment.
Advantages Of Upstairs Laundry Rooms
The biggest argument in favor of upstairs laundry rooms is the sheer convenience they offer. Most of the laundry you deal with on a regular basis consists of towels, clothes, and bedsheets.
Assuming your home’s bedrooms are on the second floor as well, you won’t have to carry laundry baskets up and down the stairs since you normally store clothes and bedsheets in the bedrooms anyway. The most you’ll have to carry between floors are any towels you use in the downstairs bathrooms.
In addition, placing your laundry room so close to the bedrooms means everyone can quickly stop by to drop their clothes in the laundry bin when necessary. You won’t need bedroom hampers anymore!
Speaking of laundry baskets, you can check out our posts on where to keep them and how to keep them smelling fresh.
Disadvantages Of Upstairs Laundry Rooms
However, upstairs laundry rooms do come with some potential negatives as well. Washers and dryers make noise when they’re in use, which can frustrate anyone nearby who’s trying to sleep. To prevent this problem, you could refrain from doing laundry at night or when someone’s taking a nap. You can also consider buying washers and dryers designed to work quietly or installing pipe insulation.
You should also take measures to prevent your washer from vibrating and moving across the floor while it’s in operation. A set of anti-vibration or anti-walking pads should do the trick.
You might also notice that your upper floor gets noticeably warmer every time you run the dryer during the summer. In addition to making the upstairs floor less comfortable, you may also see a spike in your A/C bills. One way to reduce this risk is to keep the laundry room door closed, though you may still feel some extra heat.
Lastly, you should take precautions against flooding or water damage in your laundry room. We’ll discuss how to address this possibility in the next section.
Reducing The Risk Of Floods In An Upstairs Laundry Room
The possibility of flooding and water damage is the biggest downside of an upstairs laundry room. While basement or main floor laundry rooms also present this risk, the threat is more severe with an upstairs laundry room because leaks on the second floor can cause damage that spreads to the lower levels as well.
Thankfully, there are some measures you can take to address this potential problem. If you install a water shutoff valve, you can cut off the washer’s water supply when it’s not in operation. You can also install a water sensor that turns off the water supply if it detects a leak or flooding.
Purchasing steel-braided washer hoses is another good idea, as they’re more resistant to bursting than normal washer hoses. Finally, you can set the washer in a drain pan which will collect any water that overflows from the machine and direct it to an attached pipe that serves as a drain.
Can You Move A Washer By Yourself?
Attempting to move your washer entirely by yourself is a bad idea. Almost every method you can find for transporting a washing machine will require you to have help for at least one step in the process. Hiring professional movers is always a solid choice. Even if you want to save some money, however, you should ask a few friends (preferably strong friends who know what they’re getting into) for assistance.
How To Move A Washer
Before you begin, make sure you have all the necessary equipment. You’ll need an appliance dolly, some padded moving or furniture blankets, some moving straps, packing tape, a bucket, transit bolts, your washer owner’s manual, and a wrench or pair of pliers.
You should start this process a day or so before you plan on moving the washer to accommodate the 24 hours of drying out mentioned in step 1.
Step 1
Make sure your washer doesn’t have any clothes in it. Next, clean out the washer using a short wash or rinse cycle (you can use your machine’s clean cycle instead if it has one). For this step, you can either run the washer only with water or add a washing machine cleaner pack. Leave the lid open and let the machine sit for 24 hours once the cleaning is done so it can dry out.
Step 2
Using your house’s breaker panel, turn off electricity to your washer. Unplug the washer and tape the cord to the side of the machine. This will stop the cord from getting in your way when you move the washer.
Step 3
Turn off the washer’s water supply. The water supply valves are usually found behind the washer, and you turn them clockwise to cut off the water flow.
You might have to move the washer slightly away from the wall to reach the valves if there’s not enough room for you to fit, but make sure you don’t yank any of the lines loose. Then, using your wrench or pliers, disconnect the water and drain hoses, and pour any water they have into the bucket. Keep all hoses in a sealable bag, and make sure not to lose it.
Step 4
Install the transit bolts. The exact process for this step can vary depending on the model, so consult your owner’s manual for directions.
Step 5
Cover and wrap the washer with the moving blankets. Use some more packing tape to keep the blankets secure.
Step 6
Have your friends help you carefully raise one side of the washer and get the dolly underneath it. Use the moving straps to hold the washer against the dolly.
Step 7
Proceed slowly and exercise caution as you move the washer out of your house. As we’ve discussed, washers are incredibly heavy, and you don’t want anyone to get injured during the moving process. Here are some moving tips:
- Move carefully through doorways and around corners so you don’t damage any walls or the machine.
- Always have a spotter underneath the dolly when you move the washer up or down sets of stairs. They should help you to gently raise or lower the washer to each step. Proceed slowly and only move up/down the stairs one step at a time.
- Use a ramp to get the washer on your moving truck. If you don’t have a ramp, have your friends help you lift it. Make sure you all lift at once, keeping your backs straight and letting your legs do the work.
Step 8
Now that the washer is on your moving truck, secure it with some moving straps to make sure it stays in place while you're driving and doesn't tip over or slide. Keep the machine upright, not on its side.
Final Thoughts
Washers are heavy appliances, and moving them can be a pain. However, if you buy the right size washer for your needs, carefully consider where you want to install it in your house, and get help from friends or professional movers when needed during the moving process, you’ll be on your way to enjoying fresh laundry in no time!