The Best Places to Buy a Washer and Dryer for Your Laundry Room (2024)

The Home Depot

More than a one-stop shop for hardware and tools, Home Depot is one of the best places to buy a washing machine and dryer because of the vast selection, frequent sales, and convenient delivery and installation options. You’ll find many different options for all types of washers and dryers, including retailer-exclusive models, along with top-selling front-loading or top-loading washers. For example, you can review the features of the smart, top-loading Samsung WA51A5505AV and its matching dryer, Samsung DVE52A5500V, to determine if it’s the right appliance pair for your laundry needs and lifestyle.

You can shop the big box retailer online or in-store.Whichever route you choose, Home Depot does an excellent job of supplying you with all of the product details you need to shop for a washing machine or dryer.

If you shop at a brick-and-mortar location, you can check out display models of the most popular models. Open and close the door to the appliance, check out the cycle selection controls, and evaluate the size and build quality of the machine for yourself. Online, you can’t get an actual feel for the appliance, but the detailed specifications listed, including dimensions and features, provide plenty of information to guide your buying decision.

When you buy a washer or dryer from Home Depot, you’ll almost certainly receive complimentary appliance delivery—the threshold to qualify for free delivery is $396. This means nearly every washer and dryer qualifies, except for some more compact, portable washer and dryer models. You’ll be notified of a 4-hour delivery window the night before your appliance is delivered.

When you add a new washer or dryer to your online order at Home Depot’s website, you’ll be prompted to choose between installation or in-box delivery. If you opt for installation, there’s no labor charge for unboxing, leveling, and connecting your new appliance, but you’ll pay the cost of an installation kit (for example, new water hoses for a washer), since the delivery team can’t use existing supplies when connecting a new appliance. Your new washer or dryer will be inspected and tested for functionality at the time of set-up, but you should personally inspect the appliance for damage, since Home Depot has a tight 48-hour window to report issues with damage.

Home Depot doesn’t accept returns on washers and dryers; however, you can cancel an online order up to 72 hours before your delivery date.

Lowe's

Another brick-and-mortar retailer with excellent inventory online and in-stores is Lowe’s. You’ll find popular models from brands like LG, GE, Whirlpool, Amana, and Maytag, along with retailer-exclusive models that offer additional features or special savings.

While there is a lot of overlap in product selection when comparing Lowe's to Home Depot, it’s worth noting that there is some variance in brand availability. For example, Lowe’s carries Miele washers and dryers—a brand you won’t find at Home Depot—but doesn’t offer some of the budget-friendly and reliable Magic Chef models that are frequently recommended for all-in-one units or portable washing machines.

You can shop at one of Lowe’s many retail locations and check out display models or browse an even broader selection of available products online. Key features and specifications are called out on each product page of the retailer’s website and you can easily compare similar models.

Sometimes you have to do more searching for the product information you’re looking for, compared to some other retailer websites that use graphics and call-outs to draw your attention to things like dimensions and installation requirements. Even still, the information is available and an online chat feature is available to answer additional questions you may have.

The popular front-loading LG WM4000HWA and its matching dryer, the LG DLEX4000W, are an example of the user-friendly and reliable washer and dryer pairs you’ll find at Lowe’s. In our testing experience, this set ranked high for its efficiency and cleaning ability. We especially find the 15-minute speed-wash cycle to be a timesaver when doing multiple loads of laundry, and appreciate the fact that the dryer is equipped with AI technology, which selects the best drying cycle based on wash cycle settings.

Once you’ve picked out your new washer or dryer, you’ll need to get it home. Like Home Depot, Lowe’s offers complimentary delivery for appliance orders of $396 or more. Installation is free, but the necessary connections (like new water hoses) will be added to your cart automatically. If you need your old appliance hauled away, you can add that service to your cart (it generally costs $40 to remove a washer or dryer).

Lowe’s gives you 48 hours to initiate a return for major appliances that are damaged or defective upon delivery. In a customer-friendly move, however, you have up to 30 days to return an appliance that is still sealed in its original packaging.

Best Buy

Best Buy sells more than electronics and the retailer is a great place to buy a new washer or dryer. Alongside smart home devices, televisions, and home theater systems, you’ll find major appliances, including washer and dryers. For this retailer, the best selection is online, although some (but not all) stores have display models of the most popular laundry appliances.

You’ll find the usual lineup of washer and dryer brands, including Samsung, GE, LG, Frigidaire, and Maytag. In addition, Best Buy is the exclusive retailer of Insignia appliances, which focuses on budget-friendly but efficient models. As an example, the Insignia NS-TWM35W1 3.7-cubic-foot washer and coordinating Insignia NS-TDRE67W1 6.7-cubic-foot dryer are basic by design, and earn high marks for ease of use and the number of cycles available for efficient clothes care.

Best Buy excels in assisting customers with buying new appliances. You can schedule an in-home, virtual, or store consultation with a Home Expert, who can provide advice and suggestions to make the most of your laundry space. The service is free, as is home delivery of appliance orders totaling $399 or more.

However, installation is not included, like it is with Home Depot and Lowe’s. Expect to pay about $24.99, plus the cost of the required installation kit for your washer or dryer. Haul-away fees are a separate $40 charge.

One way to minimize these fees is to splurge on a Best Buy Totaltech membership. It costs $199.99 annually and gives you free installation and free haul-away when you purchase a new appliance, plus savings on labor costs for appliance repairs and up to 24 months of extended coverage.

All that being said, the initial upfront savings is less than the cost of the Totaltech membership and it has to be active to reap the benefits of savings on appliance repairs or to cover claims under the extended product protection. It may be worth the spend if you’re buying a full appliance package for your home, but it may not be worthwhile for a single appliance.

Once you’ve brought home your new washer or dryer or accepted delivery of the item, you have 15 days to report damages or defects. This is a longer window than the 48-hour notice required by Home Depot and Lowe’s. In summary, expect to find better online product availability with Best Buy and be prepared to pay a fee to have your appliances installed.

However, you can benefit from the retailer’s excellent customer service and take advantage of perks and peace of mind if you opt into the Totaltech membership, which is worth it for homeowners buying multiple appliances.

AJ Madison

AJ Madison is an appliance retailer that operates out of three showrooms in New York, Miami, and Washington, D.C. But if you’re comfortable shopping for a washer and dryer online, then you can browse the retailer’s large selection from anywhere.

AJ Madison’s brand roster includes high-end appliances like Fisher & Paykel and Blomberg—brands you’re not as likely to find at big box retailers like Best Buy and Home Depot—but also gives shoppers the option to view appliances at three different price tiers: Value (under $700), Standard ($700-$1,500), and Luxury (over $1,500).

You can start your search for new laundry appliances on the website by filtering based on the type of machine you’re looking for (top-loader, front-loader, commercial, high-efficiency, etc.) and narrow down the results by brand, capacity, or features. Sales are frequent and you can shop for popular laundry bundles that include a washer, matching dryer, and stacking kit (if applicable).

The Bosch 500 Series Front Load Washer and matching electric dryer are a great choice for small laundry spaces. The stackable set has compact dimensions and the dryer is ventless, providing you with more installation options.

You don’t have to live near an AJ Madison showroom to shop the deals. The company ships nationwide and most appliance orders qualify for free shipping, although you need to put your zip code into the product page to confirm eligibility.

Standard free delivery service includes inside delivery of your new washer or dryer, but excludes carrying the appliance up or down stairs and unpacking, installing, or hauling away your old appliance. If you want to add installation or haul-away services, you’ll need to call AJ Madison to add these optional services.

Once your appliance arrives, be sure to inspect it thoroughly. Like many other appliance retailers, you have 48 hours to report damage to the washer or dryer. In addition, keep in mind that AJ Madison doesn't accept returns on appliances that have been plugged in or installed.

Wayfair

Wayfair is more than an online retailer for furniture and decor items—you’ll also find appliances, including washers and dryers. Wayfair’s free shipping and customer-friendly return policy make it one of the best places to shop for a washer or dryer, whether you’re looking for a full-size model for your home or a portable option for your apartment or RV. You can shop top-loading and front-loading washer models and you’ll also find a selection of smaller, portable washers and dryers.

Some of the notable brands you’ll find at Wayfair include LG, Electrolux, Haier, GE, and Samsung. A popular pick from the retailer’s lineup is the GE GFW850SPNDG Front Load Washing Machine and matching GFD85ESSNWW Electric Dryer. This smart laundry duo is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home and automatically syncs settings between machines.

Picking a front loading washer like this GE model is smart for another reason, too—it may help your clothes last longer. Chere says, “The horizontal drum in front load washers allows for gravity-assisted tumbling of clothes, which can be gentler on fabrics and potentially result in less wear and tear compared to the agitator action in top load washers.”

There are also more niche-specific brands of washers available at Wayfair, like Equator and Summit, which are known for their all-in-one units or compact models. Take note that the selection isn’t as robust as appliance-only retailers like AJ Madison or big-box stores like Home Depot and Best Buy. Available models are more limited by comparison and a few major brands are missing, like Whirlpool and Bosch.

If you find a model you like at Wayfair, there are a few good reasons to consider buying it from the online-only retailer. For starters, major appliances ship for free (as do all orders over $35). Plus, you have a 30-day window to return large appliances, like washers and dryers.

Wayfair requires the appliance to be returned in its original packaging and it can’t have been installed. If you make a mistake on your order or change your mind about your appliance selection, it’s worth some peace of mind to know that the company will take it back. Just know that in some cases, you’ll pay a manufacturer’s restocking fee.

As you compare washers and dryers available from Wayfair, keep in mind that installation and haul-away options vary by brand. For example, appliances from GE and Samsung are eligible for installation and haul-away service, but this isn’t the case for all brands.

If the model you like doesn’t include installation, you can arrange for the service through Angi at the time of check-out. However, this third-party service doesn’t offer haul-away of old appliances, so you’ll have to call around to arrange for pick-up and disposal of your existing washer and dryer (if needed).

Amazon

Amazon sells just about everything, including appliances. If you’re shopping for a washer or dryer, it’s worth checking out available models from the internet’s largest retailer. In most cases, you’ll get free delivery and the peace of mind that comes with Amazon’s 30-day return window.

Plus, most appliances sold and shipped by Amazon qualify for 90-day product support, which can help you with questions you may have about setting up and using your new washer or dryer—like how to connect your smart appliance to your home’s Wi-Fi network.

Product selection and availability is subject to change a bit more on Amazon than what you’ll find at some of the other best places to buy a washer and dryer. Full-size washers and dryers are harder to come by, but you will see models by brands like Kenmore, Samsung, GE, and Speed Queen—a commercial brand that is popular with homeowners looking for a reliable and long-lasting laundry appliance.

You’ll find some of themost popular all-in-one washer dryer units on Amazon, including the budget-friendly Magic Chef MCSCWD27W5 All-in-One Washer and Ventless Dryer. We recommend this model for its roomy 2.7-cubic-foot drum capacity and 14 cycle selections—features that will make you feel like you’re using a full-size machine with the added convenience of only taking up the space of a single appliance.

Portable washing machines and dryers are plentiful on Amazon, too. If you’re in the market for a laundry appliance for an apartment, off-grid use, or in your RV, Amazon is one of the best retailers to check out. You can read user reviews and have confidence that if you order a portable washer that doesn’t meet your expectations, you’ll have 30 days to send it back for a refund.

The most challenging aspect of buying a washer or dryer from Amazon is gathering the product information you need to make an informed buying decision. Product details and specifications are sometimes missing or inaccurate, so it’s a good idea to do your research about specific washing machines and dryers elsewhere before you decide to buy.

When you add your washer or dryer to the cart, you’ll be prompted to review delivery information. Optional installation and haul-away services are available on many models, but the specific cost will vary. Whether you’re a seasoned Amazon shopper or just shopping for the best deal with the most generous return policy, this retailer is one to consider if your make and model is in stock.

Appliances Connection

Appliances Connection is an online retailer of appliances that was founded in 1999. The company offers a wide selection of major home appliances from big brands and high-end appliance manufacturers, like Maytag, GE, LG, Miele, Speed Queen, Bosch, and more. You’ll have to do all your shopping virtually, since the company has no brick-and-mortar locations.

Fortunately, the site is very shoppable with options to filter by brand, capacity, or features like Wi-Fi connectivity and steam cycles. If you’re looking for a specific fit in your laundry room, garage, or basem*nt, you can also input the dimensions you need for a washer or dryer to see compatible appliances.

There are plenty of washer and dryer pairs to sort through, but the Amana NTW4519JW Washer and NED4655EW Dryer are an example of the value you can find at this appliance retailer. The frills-free set is a popular pick for its dual agitator, electromechanical controls, and deep fill option on the washer.

Other reasons to shop Appliances Connection for your next appliance purchase include free, nationwide shipping on orders over $99. If you have your appliances picked out but can’t accept delivery right away, you can schedule your delivery date up to 30 days in the future at no charge. This gives you the option to capitalize on the site’s frequent sales and deals, even if you’re not ready to move into your new home or finished remodeling your laundry space.

It’s also worth noting that Appliances Connection will accept returns for new, uninstalled appliances within 30 days. To be eligible, the appliance must be in its original packaging and you’ll have to pay return shipping costs. However, you’ll avoid the restocking fee charged by some other appliance retailers, like AJ Madison.

Sears

Sears has been in business since the late 1800s, originally starting out as a mail-order business. The brand saw its business grow to include a vast network of nationwide stores.

However, after much restructuring, Sears doesn’t have the volume of stores or the same portfolio of brands it once did—in recent years, the retailer said goodbye to Whirlpool, Maytag, and KitchenAid appliances. Even still, shoppers will find plenty of options for washers and dryers, with a heavy concentration of Kenmore models, alongside brands like Samsung and LG.

Sears aims to be competitive with its pricing by offering discounts on many popular models of washers and dryers. If value is your top priority in your next laundry appliance purchase, an option like the GE GTW335ASNWW 4.2 Cu. Ft. Washer is worth considering. It has a stainless steel basket for rust-free and snag-free operation and a deep-fill option to ensure that even large or bulky loads are thoroughly cleaned.

As you compare models, keep in mind that not every appliance is sold by Sears. Some are third-party marketplace sellers that have their own delivery and return policies. For appliances sold by Sears, you can input your zip code to see estimated delivery dates and if in-store pickup is an option for the appliance you picked.

One thing to note is that there is no threshold for free delivery on appliances, so expect to pay to have your new appliances arrive at your door. If you want installation or haul-away, these services are available for an additional fee.

The return policy is vague, but the appliance will need to be shipped back in its original packaging. If you think there’s a chance you’ll need to return your new washer or dryer, it’s best to chat with the customer service team to understand the policy more fully.

P.C. Richard & Son

P.C. Richard & Son has been in business since 1909 and specializes in appliances and electronics. Shoppers in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut can visit the retailer’s brick-and-mortar stores to check out washer and dryer models in person.

Anyone can peruse appliances on the retailer’s website, where you’ll find top models like the Electrolux 4.5-cubic-foot Stackable Front Load Washer. This high-efficiency model uses less water and detergent, plus its Energy Star certified to save on utility costs. It also includes specialized cycles with steam or for treating tough stains.

One reason to shop P.C. Richard & Son is the company’s excellent low-price guarantee. While many other retailers that sell washers and dryers will price match, P.C. Richard & Son will refund you the difference in your purchase price and a lower advertised sales price on the same appliance up to 30 days after the sale. This can eliminate indecision about whether it’s the best time to buy your new washer or dryer.

Even if the appliance or set goes on sale elsewhere, you’ll capture the savings up to a month later. You can also take advantage of financing from the retailer if you’re not prepared to pay in full for a new washer and dryer set.

The selection of washers includes front-loading and top-loading models from brands like LG, Whirlpool, Bosch, and GE. You can shop for a washer and dryer independently or check out popular laundry pairs. On the product page, it’s important to enter your zip code to see if the item is available in your area.

The biggest downside to shopping P.C. Richard & Son for appliances is limited geographic availability; not all models are available for nationwide delivery. If the model is available for delivery, estimated freight charges will be calculated automatically.

If you’re not satisfied with your new appliance purchase, you have 30 days to return it to the retailer but it must be new and in the original packaging. Return freight charges are the buyer’s responsibility, but if you live close enough to a P.C. Richard & Son retail location, you can return the item to the store.

FAQ

• What are the best months to buy a washer and dryer?

  Many of the best places to buy a washer and dryer offer frequent sales, but you’ll find that deeper discounts are available in the fall and winter months. You may also find good deals in the spring, when many retailers offer discounts to coincide with the home improvement season.

  According to Chere, here are some of the best months to buy a washer and dryer:

  • September and October: This time of year often sees the introduction of new models, as manufacturers release their latest products. As a result, older models from the previous year may be discounted to make room for the new inventory.
  • November and December: Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, which typically occur in late November, and holiday sales during December can offer significant discounts on appliances, including washers and dryers. Retailers may also offer additional promotions, discounts, or bundle deals during the holiday shopping season.
  • January and February: After the holiday shopping season, retailers may offer clearance sales or discounts on the previous year's models to clear out inventory and make way for new models. This can be a good time to find deals on older models or take advantage of post-holiday sales.

• What is the average lifespan of a new washer and dryer?

  “The typical average lifespan of a washer and dryer can range from 10 to 15 years with proper care and maintenance,” says Chere. However, it should be noted that factors like brand reliability, frequency of use, maintenance, and other factors (including water quality and electricity fluctuations) may impact the longevity of the washer or dryer you choose. If you want your laundry appliance to last as long as possible, Chere recommends regular maintenance, proper usage, and promptly addressing any concerns that come up.
  

• What is a reasonable price for a washer and dryer?

  The average cost of a washer and dryer set can range from $800 to $2,500 or more. Larger capacity or more full-featured models will have a premium price, while more basic appliances tend to cost less. While the manufacturer sets a suggested retail price for each model, Chere’s experience indicates that the price you pay can vary significantly according to retailer promotions and seasonal sales.
  

• Which is more reliable: a top load or front load washer?

  Top-loading washing machines with an agitator have more moving parts than a front load washer, which makes them “more prone to wear and tear, potentially leading to more repairs over time,” says Chere. However, many modern top load washers have an impeller plate, which minimizes this concern.
  

• Is a top-load or front-load dryer better?

  All dryers have a front-facing door, although you will sometimes see a dryer described as a top-load model when it matches a top-loading washer. The difference in dryer door styles relates to the way the dryer door opens. As you're shopping for a dryer, you'll see that most models have a door that opens to the side, whether it’s round like a front-loader or more square. However, some dryers have a door that opens from the top; this is called a hamper door. The hamper door prevents clean clothes from falling on the floor and also eliminates any concerns about the dryer door hitting a nearby wall, cabinet, or door when it swings open. But most people prefer the modern, swinging door found on a front-loading dryer.