Top Load vs. Front Load Washer: Which Type Is Best For You? (original) (raw)
When it's time to buy a new washing machine, one of the critical deciding points is which is better a top-load or front-load washer. The answer depends on the features you desire, your needs, and your budget.
Here's a side-by-side comparison of top-load vs. front-load washers' pros and cons—plus the benefits of a high-efficiency (HE) model.
The Spruce
| Top-Load vs. Front-Load Washer Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Best for: | Front-Load Washer | Top Load Washer |
| Appearance and Installation | X | X |
| Cleaning Power | X | |
| Repair and Maintenance | X | |
| Water and Energy Use | X | |
| Purchase Cost | X | |
| Lifespan | X |
Overview of Front-Load Washers
The drum of a front-load washer rotates horizontally to clean laundry with a tumbling motion. The dirty laundry is loaded through a door on the front that swings open to the side. This makes the washer easy to use for those in a wheelchair, those with short stature, or anyone who needs to be seated due to balance issues.
If you are standing and of average height, a front load washer requires bending over to load or unload, similar to a dryer, unless it is placed on a raised support box.
The Spruce / Laura Miller
Pros of a Front-Load Washer
- Front-load washers typically use less energy and water than a standard top-load model.
- They are more gentle on clothes because the tumbling washing action is less stressful than rotating agitation.
- Since there is no center agitator, front-load washers typically have larger capacity drums to accommodate more laundry and large items like comforters.
- While not all front-load washers are stackable, most manufacturers design them so a dryer can be placed on top for space efficiency.
Cons of a Front-Load Washer:
- Front-load washers are more expensive than top-load models and often require more maintenance.
- Due to the design, they trap moisture, especially around the door gasket, which can lead to problems with mold and odor.
- Unlike top-load washers, most front-load washers lock while in use to prevent water overflow, prohibiting the addition of last-minute laundry.
- Because of the slower, more gentle action of a front-load washer, the cycle time is significantly longer than a top-load washer.
Overview of Top-Load Washers
There are two types of top-load washers: the standard top-loader with a center agitator in the vertical drum and the high-efficiency model that has a disc agitator or impeller in the bottom of the drum.
Both have a large door on top of the washer that rises and remains in a near-vertical position while the user adds/removes clothing or detergent.
Top-load washers are easy to load and unload due to their waist-height opening for most users. They can be difficult to use for anyone with a shorter stature or confined to a wheelchair. Items can be added throughout the wash cycle in both standard and HE top-load washers.
The Spruce / Dwyer Frame
Pros of a Top-Load Washer:
- Top-load washers clean clothes more quickly.
- You can easily stop and start the cycle to add more items or allow items to soak.
- The machines require less maintenance and are easier to clean.
- A top-load washer is less expensive to purchase than a similarly-sized front-load washer.
Cons of a Top-Load Washer:
- Top load washers, especially standard center agitator models, often use more energy and water.
- The cleaning action is more aggressive, causing fabrics to wear out more quickly, and the capacity is usually less for large items.
- A top-load washer can't have a dryer stacked on top.
The Spruce / Krystal Slagle & Sanja Kostic
Top-Load vs. Front-Load Washer: Major Differences
Appearance and Installation
Because top-load washers do not have a large door on the front, they have a smoother, sleeker look than front-load washers.
Top-load machines must be placed side by side with a dryer unless you purchase a smaller compact stacking washer/dryer combo.
Front-load washers' front doors have thick glass inserts that allow users to see the clothing, a good way to track the progress of the wash cycle. Front-load washers can be stacked with a dryer to fit into closets or small areas, though this arrangement is not always necessary.
Best for Appearance and Installation: Tie
Top-load and front-load washers both tend to have a similar stark, industrial look. While not unpleasant, it is not considered a true home design element in the laundry room. All of the water, gas, and electrical connections will be the same for both top-load and front-load washers.
Cleaning Power and Wear and Tear on Clothing
Top-load washers twist and swirl clothing against paddles creating friction to remove dirt and stains. Most high-efficiency top-load washers use an impeller plate at the bottom of the washer tub to move clothes through the water and detergent.
Standard top-loaders use a central agitator with paddles to spin clothing briskly, causing more wear and tear. Front-load washers tumble clothes against each other in the water to remove dirt and stains.
Gravity works in the washer's favor, causing the clothes to tumble against each other in an up-and-down motion to scrub away stains similar to hand-washing.
Best for Cleaning Power and Preserving Clothes: Front-Load Washer
A front-load washer's gentle tumbling effect cleans better and creates less stress on the clothing. Second best: A top-load washer without a central agitator creates less wear and tear on fabrics.
The Spruce / Ashley Craiger
Repair and Maintenance
Maintaining a top-load washer requires little more than running a cleaning cycle. Motors on top-load washers are relatively easy to access and do-it-yourselfers can even make basic repairs. Front-load washers require more frequent cleanings that can be performed by homeowners but are best repaired by trained technicians.
Best for Repair and Maintenance: Top-Load Washer
By far, top-load washers are less expensive to repair and easier to maintain than front-load washers.
The Spruce / Jay Wilde
Water and Energy Use
Top-load high-efficiency machines use about 19 gallons of water per load. Front-load washers use around 13 gallons of water per load. A standard top-load washer uses, on average, about 41 gallons per load.
Best for Water and Energy Use: HE Top-Load and Front-Load Washer
Because front-load and top-load high-efficiency washers use less water, they are more energy-efficient because they take less energy to heat the water. To purchase a washer that uses less water, look for the blue ENERGY STAR label models. And before you have your old washer hauled away to a landfill, consider recycling it to create new projects.
Purchase Cost
In the United States, high-efficiency washers, especially front-load machines, are significantly higher in price than a standard top-loader. High-efficiency top-load washers are less expensive to purchase than front-load models.
Best for Purchase Cost: Top-Load Washer
Top-load washers are typically less expensive to purchase. However, front-load washers offer larger drums that can reduce the number of laundry loads. It is best to consider purchase and operating costs when buying.
The Spruce / Shannon Wells
Lifespan
The life expectancy of a standard top-load washer is 14 years. The average life expectancy of a high-efficiency front-load or top-load washer is 11 years.
Best for Reliability: Front-Load Washer
Top-load washers last longer than front-load washers on average. And, the repair costs for a front-load washer will typically be higher due to the many optional wash cycles and extra features.
The Final Verdict
Front-load washers cost more to purchase and require more maintenance than top-load washers, but they use less energy, provide better cleaning, and less wear and tear on clothes than top-load washers.
FAQ
- Not usually. The life expectancy of a standard top-load washer is 14 years. The average life expectancy of a high-efficiency front-load or top-load washer is 11 years.
- Both types of washers do a good job and selection depends on your budget and laundry room space. Front-load washers cost more to purchase and require more maintenance than top-load washers, but they use less energy, provide better cleaning, and less wear and tear on clothes than top-load washers.
- A top-load washer uses "free" gravity to drain water from the drum and less complicated mechanisms to house the components. Front-load washers require a leak-proof door and additional pumps to remove water since the drum is horizontal, not vertical.