These Washing Machines Cost Under $1,000 and Don’t Sacrifice Quality

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You can get by without a washing machine, especially if you live near a laundromat, though you can’t beat the luxury of having one in your basement.

Many of today’s high-end washers have price tags in the thousands, but if you’re shopping on a budget, the good news is that you can find cheap washing machines that cost much less and work just as well.

Whether you want a full-size washing machine to handle your family’s oversized loads or a more compact model that can be tucked in a closet, there are a number of highly rated appliances well under $1,000. Some even have high-end features that are generally reserved for more expensive machines, such as a built-in water faucet or sanitization cycle, which helps make laundry day quicker and easier than ever.

Here are the best cheap washing machines we recommend, along with expert advice on what you need to know before buying.

For more of the best washing machines available today, check out our top picks for front-loading washers, top-loading washers, and all-in-one washer-dryers.

The Best Cheap Washing Machines

• Best Overall: Whirlpool Top-Load Washer with Deep Water Wash

• Best Features: Whirlpool Top-Load Washer with Deep Water Wash

• Best Basic: GE Agitator Top-Load Washer

• Best Impeller: Whirlpool High-Efficiency Impeller Top-Load Washer

• Best Agitator: Amana Agitator Top-Load Washer

What to Consider

Type

When shopping for a cheap washing machine, you’ll need to decide whether you want a full-size, portable, or manual model. Most of the full-size options you’ll find under $900 are top-loading washers, and they offer a large capacity as well as more settings and cycles. However, there are a few select front-loading models in this price range, as well.

For those with limited space, portable washing machines have a more compact footprint and can easily be stored in a closet. However, these machines typically require a faucet connection for operation and don’t always wring out your clothes, making them trickier to dry.

Finally, manual washing machines are the most affordable, but they require a bit of elbow grease for operation. You usually have to crank or agitate the machine by hand, but these models don’t require electricity, making them ideal for camping or off-the-grid living.

Capacity

The capacity of washing machines is generally measured in cubic feet. Most standard-size appliances have a capacity of 3.5 to 5 cubic feet and are suitable for average households. For reference, a washer with a capacity of 4.5 cubic feet can wash a king-size comforter. If you have a small household, you’ll likely be fine with a smaller-capacity washing machine. A compact machine with 2.3 cubic feet can wash about 6 towels.

Cycles

Cheap washing machines often have fewer wash cycles than more expensive models. In general, you’ll find most affordable washers have between eight and 12 wash cycles, including standard ones like quick or light wash, delicates, and heavy-duty. There are also several temperature settings on most washers, and some allow you to select the water level and soil level, as well. These basics are generally sufficient for most loads of laundry, but if you want more advanced settings—such as sanitization or fabric-specific cycles—you may need to spend a little extra.

Efficiency

To help save money on operation costs, you may want to look for a high-efficiency washing machine, frequently abbreviated as HE. These models use 20-66% less water, saving around 6,000 gallons of water per year for an average family. You may also want to look for an Energy Star-certified appliance, which use 25% less energy than standard models.

How We Selected

To offer a selection of cheap washing machines that will work for every home and budget, we looked for the top products in each of the categories outlined above—full-size, portable, and manual—and only included highly rated models that cost less than $900. All the products have a rating of 3 stars or higher from an average of several hundred customers, and we prioritized washing machines from well-regarded brands with good customer service and warranties.

I also personally own one of the appliances included on this list—the GE 4.2-cu ft Agitator Top-Load Washer—and highly recommend it for anyone looking for a basic, no-frills model.

Top-Load Washer with Deep Water Wash

A full-size, high-efficiency washing machine for under $600 isn’t easy to find, but this model from Whirlpool checks all the boxes. The top-loading machine has a 3.5-cubic-foot capacity, and it uses a dual-action spiral agitator to deeply clean your clothing.

This popular washing machine comes with a wide selection of cycles and settings to customize each load. It has options for quick washes, delicates, and bulky items, as well as an auto-sensing feature that uses just the right amount of water for each load.

High-Efficiency Impeller Top-Load Washer

You might be surprised at how many features this Maytag washing machine has, especially considering its low price point. The top-load design has an extra-large drum that can easily fit bulky blankets and towels, and there’s a built-in water faucet at the back that you can use to pretreat stains or rinse off dirty items. Plus, the slow-close glass lid will never slam shut, and it’s see-through so you can check on your laundry mid-cycle.

This washer has a wide variety of cycle settings and options, letting you customize the wash to your needs, and its impeller helps to agitate clothing and remove stains. The only thing it lacks is a detergent dispenser, but most people won’t miss this feature—you just put the liquid directly into the drum instead.

Agitator Top-Load Washer

If you want to be able to wash large loads of laundry or bulky items like blankets, you’ll need a high-capacity model like this one from GE Appliances. The top-load design has a 4.2-cubic-foot capacity that can hold up to 11 large bath towels per load, and it features a single-action agitator for thorough cleaning.

This washing machine has a durable stainless steel basket, and it offers a large number of wash cycles. Some of its standout features include a deep-clean cycle that offers 67 percent more cleaning power, as well as a deep-rinse option that removes all traces of dirt and detergent for fresher laundry.

Agitator Top-Load Washer

This Amana Top-Load Washer has a dual-action agitator that moves clothing around the drum, helping to remove dirt and stains faster. It has a 3.5-cubic-foot capacity and a porcelain tub that helps prevent snagging, and there are a large number of cycle settings, as well.

In addition to five temperature settings, this model has a deep water wash option, delicate cycle, bulky cycle, and more. There’s also an extra rinse option. However, this unit only has dispensers for detergent and bleach, not fabric softener, which may be inconvenient for some people.

Impeller Top-Load Washer

This Samsung Impeller Top-Load Washer is an unbeatable value. It has a large 5-cubic-foot capacity that can hold more laundry per load, and it’s Energy Star-certified, meaning it uses less energy per cycle. It even offers advanced features like Active WaterJet—a built-in faucet at the back of the drum for pretreating stains—and Smart Care, which lets you troubleshoot the appliance on your smartphone.

This top-load washing machine is designed for easy access to the bottom of the tub, plus it has a drum, soft-close lid won’t slam shut. It offers 10 wash cycles, including a deep fill option, and overall, you can’t beat the features for such a low price.

High-Efficiency Stackable Front-Load Washer

Front-load washing machines are generally more expensive than top-load models, but this high-efficiency option from Amana won’t break the bank. It has a moderate 4.3-cubic-foot capacity, and it can be stacked with a matching dryer if you want to save space in your home.

This washer is energy-efficient, using less power per load, and it has a handy pull-out tray where you add in detergent, bleach, and fabric softener. It even has a sanitizing cycle, which is able to kill 99.9 percent of bacteria—a great feature for families or those who work in the medical field.

Top-Load Washer

Unlike many top-load models, this LG washing machine has a slide-out detergent and fabric softener tray at the back of the drum, making it quick and convenient to start a cycle. Its 4.1-cubic-foot drum has a central agitator to remove dirt and stains from clothing, and it actually moves in six different motions for a more thorough clean.

Cheap washing machines are sometimes quite noisy, but this top-load model from LG has a belt-free motor that makes it quieter to operate, even when washing large loads. It also has a slow-close lid that won’t slam shut—handy if you tend to start loads while your family is sleeping. Plus, if you run into problems, you can troubleshoot the appliance using a smartphone.

High-Efficiency Impeller Top-Load Washer

If you wash a lot of delicate clothing, a top-load washer with an impeller may be a better choice than one with an agitator. This Whirlpool washer has smooth, low-profile fins on the bottom of its 4.6-cubic-foot drum that help to move clothing around, without any risk of snagging your clothes.

This washer is also a solid choice for stained laundry—it has a built-in water faucet for pretreating, as well as a presoak setting.

Portable Washer

This portable washer from Black+Decker is a top choice for small apartments or homes, RVs, and more, as it hooks right up to a standard faucet. It’s around 18 inches wide and 18 inches deep, taking up minimal room, yet it still offers a 0.9-cubic-foot capacity that can hold up to 6.6 pounds of laundry per load. It’s even a high-efficiency model!

This small washer offers five cycle programs and three water settings, and it spins clothes dry, as well. Its automatic unbalance detection helps to minimize vibration during operation, and each cycle takes between 20 to 50 minutes.

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