Your membership has expired

The payment for your account couldn't be processed or you've canceled your account with us.

Re-activate

    Best Washing Machines of 2023

    Take your pick of one of these impressive front-loaders, top-loaders, or compact washers from Consumer Reports' tests

    When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more.

    Parent with child in laundry basket in laundry room.
    CR's top-performing washers make doing laundry a whole lot easier.
    Photo: Getty Images

    For most of us, doing laundry is a chore. But for Consumer Reports’ test engineers, it’s a mission.

    Cycle after cycle, they work to determine the best washing machines for every budget and look for innovative features that make doing laundry easier—and faster.

    “Research shows that consumers say doing laundry takes too much time,” says Mark Allwood, Consumer Reports’ senior market analyst for laundry products. “Manufacturers have been trying to address this problem with machines that have bigger capacities, speed cycles, or built-in pretreat features.”

    MORE ON WASHING MACHINES

    In addition to cataloging all of that—and much more—CR’s test engineers launder swatches of fabric stained with red wine and cocoa, among other things, to see how well each machine cleans. But no matter its cleaning capability, a washer that doesn’t stand the test of time is no winner. So we also incorporate survey data for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction in our washer ratings (as well as our dryer ratings). If you’re wondering whether you should repair or replace your current washer, we’ve got you covered there, too, with our interactive repair or replace tool, which will recommend the right course based on how much you paid for your washer, how old it is, and how expensive it’s going to be to fix.

    We test full-sized agitator top-loaders, high-efficiency (HE) top-loaders (the type without an agitator), and front-loaders, including compact front-loaders. The machines are from familiar brands such as Amana, Electrolux, Frigidaire, GE, LG, Maytag, Samsung, and Whirlpool, as well as lesser-known brands like Fisher & Paykel and Miele. LG washers dominate our ratings because they consistently deliver superior washing performance, water efficiency, and energy efficiency.

    Our Green Choice designation helps you identify the most eco-friendly washers in our ratings. Indicated by a green leaf icon, Green Choice washers earn superior marks for water efficiency, energy efficiency, brand reliability, and gentleness on fabrics. Our designation considers the overall environmental impact of a washer, including its weight, volume, and entire life cycle.

    Should You Repair or Replace Your Broken Washing Machine?

    CR’s interactive tool leverages product costs, depreciation rates, and survey data to help you make the right choice.

    For a broad look at the washing machine marketplace and to learn about types of washers, features, and brands, check out our washer buying guide. If you’re a CR member, you can read on for ratings and reviews of some of the best washers for each type, and view our complete washing machine ratings for even more options.

    Best Agitator Top-Load Washers

    Best High-Efficiency (HE) Top-Load Washers

    Best Front-Load Washers

    Best Compact Front-Load Washers


    BW Headshot of Consumer Reports author Keith Flamer

    Keith Flamer

    Keith Flamer has been a multimedia content creator at Consumer Reports since 2021, covering laundry, cleaning, small appliances, and home trends. Fascinated by interior design, architecture, technology, and all things mechanical, he translates CR’s testing engineers’ work into content that helps readers live better, smarter lives. Prior to CR, Keith covered luxury accessories and real estate, most recently at Forbes, with a focus on residential homes, interior design, home security, and pop culture trends.