The Average Washer & Dryer Dimensions

Having enough space for your washer and dryer is essential. Not only will it save on costly renovations in your laundry room, it's the best way to make sure your washer and dryer work effectively and safely. Knowing the average washer and dryer dimensions is important before you purchase.

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The average width of a washer and dryer is 27 inches. If you're planning on putting the two side by side, this requires a 54-inch space at the very minimum.

The height of a washer or dryer typically ranges from 38 to 43 inches, while the depth varies between 28 and 34 inches. What's really important to bear in mind when making a purchase is whether your device is top opening or front opening. Remember, you'll need to leave enough space to adequately open the washer or dryer doors. Around two feet of space either on top or in front is considered adequate.

Of course, before you make any washer or dryer purchase, make sure you check its exact dimensions online.

Extra room left around the sides of a washer or dryer (also called clearance space) has a few functions. The first is that it allows air to circulate around the machine, which is both important for safety and to ensure the machine works to its best capacity. The second reason is to reduce noise pollution. A washer and dryer that are too close to the wall or surrounding items will bang into them and cause a lot of noise. This can be annoying but can also damage your washer or dryer. Washers and dryers also require extra space behind them. This is for the vents and hoses.

It's recommended to leave at least an inch of clearance space to either side of your washer and dryer – thus, you should add 2 inches per machine width when considering the space requirements. It's also recommended to leave 6 inches of clearance space behind your washer or dryer, meaning you should add 6 inches to the machine's depth.

If your laundry room dimensions are higher than they are wide, you may wish to consider a stacked washer and dryer. These must be specially purchased, as it's unsafe to stack solo appliances. An average stacked washer-dryer combination is usually 75 inches tall.

If you're incredibly pushed for space, there are compact washers and dryers on the market. When purchasing one of these, remember to check the drum capacity along with the size. You'll want the biggest possible drum capacity to size ratio; otherwise, you may end up having to do way more loads of laundry.

It's also worthwhile considering whether you'll have space to move in the room. It's recommended that there's at least 48 inches of space in front of your washer or dryer to allow access.