Washing Machine Dimensions and Drum Capacity
Width, height, depth and drum capacity for every common type of washing machine: US full-size front-loaders and top-loaders, 24 in compacts, and the 60 cm machines used across Europe and the UK.
A full-size US washing machine is 27 in (68.6 cm) wide. Front-loaders are 38 to 39.75 in (97 to 101 cm) tall and 30 to 34 in (76 to 86 cm) deep; top-loaders are 42 to 45 in (107 to 114 cm) tall with the lid closed and 26 to 30 in (66 to 76 cm) deep. Compact washers are 24 in (61 cm) wide, and standard European machines measure 60 × 85 × 60 cm (W × H × D).
- Full-size width
- 27 in (68.6 cm)
- Front-load height
- 38-39.75 in
- Compact width
- 24 in (61 cm)
- European size
- 60 × 85 × 60 cm
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Washing machine dimensions chart
Width is the one dimension that is nearly fixed. Height and especially depth vary from model to model, so treat the ranges below as the envelope you need to plan for and check the exact spec sheet before buying.
| Type | Width | Height | Depth (door closed) | Drum capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-size front-load (US) | 27 in 68.6 cm | 38 to 39.75 in 97 to 101 cm | 30 to 34 in 76 to 86 cm | 4.0 to 5.8 cu ft 113 to 164 L |
| Full-size top-load (US) | 27 to 28.5 in 68.6 to 72.4 cm | 42 to 45 in 107 to 114 cm | 26 to 30 in 66 to 76 cm | 3.5 to 6.2 cu ft 99 to 176 L |
| Compact front-load (US) | 23.5 to 24 in 60 to 61 cm | 33.5 to 34 in 85 to 86 cm | 22 to 25 in 56 to 64 cm | 2.2 to 2.6 cu ft 62 to 74 L |
| Standard front-load (Europe, UK) | 59.5 to 60 cm 23.4 to 23.6 in | 84 to 85 cm 33.1 to 33.5 in | 55 to 65 cm 21.7 to 25.6 in | 7 to 10 kg rated load |
| Slim front-load (Europe) | 60 cm | 85 cm | 40 to 47 cm 15.7 to 18.5 in | 6 to 8 kg |
| Top-load (Europe) | 40 cm 15.7 in | 85 to 90 cm | 60 cm | 6 to 7 kg |
| Integrated (built-in, Europe) | about 60 cm | 82 cm | 54 to 57 cm | 7 to 8 kg |
The depth figure on US spec sheets is measured with the door closed and usually excludes the hoses. Add 4 to 6 in (10 to 15 cm) behind for the water connections and drain hose when you check whether a machine fits a space.
Front-load washer dimensions
Every full-size front-loader from the major US brands is 27 in wide. The differences are in depth, which grows with drum size, and in the space the door needs.
- Height: 38 to 39.75 in (97 to 101 cm) on its own feet. On a pedestal drawer, add 10 to 15 in, which puts the top at roughly 50 to 54 in.
- Depth: about 30 to 31 in for 4.0 to 4.5 cu ft drums, and 32 to 34 in for 5.0 cu ft and larger.
- Door open: the round door swings out on a side hinge, and the total depth with the door at 90 degrees is about 51 to 56 in (130 to 142 cm) from the wall.
- Weight: about 160 to 230 lb (73 to 104 kg), mostly from the concrete counterweights that steady the drum at 1,200 to 1,400 rpm.
Front-loaders can carry a matching dryer on top with a stacking kit. That makes the pair 76 to 80 in (193 to 203 cm) tall; closet sizes and clearances for stacked and side-by-side pairs are in the laundry space planning guide.
Top-load washer dimensions
Top-loaders are a little wider than front-loaders (up to 28.5 in) and shallower, but much taller once the lid is open.
| Type | Capacity | Width × height × depth | Lid-open height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agitator | 3.5 to 5.3 cu ft | 27 to 28 × 42 to 44 × 26 to 29 in | about 54 to 58 in |
| Impeller (high efficiency) | 4.3 to 6.2 cu ft | 27 to 28.5 × 42 to 45 × 27 to 30 in | about 56 to 60 in |
The lid-open height is the one people miss. A top-loader under a wall cabinet or shelf needs that full height clear above the floor, which rules out installing one under a counter or in a stacked arrangement. Agitator models give up some drum space to the central post, so an impeller model of the same cabinet size usually holds 0.5 to 1 cu ft more.
Compact and all-in-one washers
Compact washers are 24 in wide, built for apartments, closets and under-counter spaces. At about 33.5 to 34 in tall they fit under a standard 36 in counter, whose underside sits at 34.5 in.
- Compact front-load: 23.5 to 24 × 33.5 to 34 × 22 to 25 in, 2.2 to 2.6 cu ft. Most run on 120 V and stack with a matching 24 in dryer.
- Washer-dryer combo (all-in-one): one drum washes and dries. Compact combos are 24 in wide; full-size combos have appeared in 27 in widths with front-load proportions. Drying capacity is lower than washing capacity, so a full drum must be partly unloaded or dried in two loads.
- Portable and twin-tub washers: roughly 16 to 24 in wide and 30 to 38 in tall with 0.9 to 2.0 cu ft tubs. They connect to a sink faucet and drain into the sink or a tub.
European washing machine size (60 cm)
Almost every freestanding front-loader in Europe and the UK is built to the same box: 60 cm wide and 85 cm tall, so it slides under a 90 cm worktop. Depth is the variable.
- Standard depth: 55 to 65 cm including the door. Capacities of 8 and 9 kg dominate, with 10 to 12 kg models in the deeper cases.
- Slim: 40 to 47 cm deep, 6 to 8 kg. Useful in narrow utility rooms and bathrooms.
- Integrated: about 82 cm tall with no top panel, made to sit behind a kitchen cabinet door under the worktop.
- Top-loaders: only 40 cm wide and 60 cm deep, common in France and Belgium where kitchens and bathrooms are narrow.
A US 24 in compact and a European 60 cm machine have almost identical footprints. The US 27 in format is rarely sold in Europe, and a 27 in (68.6 cm) machine will not fit a 60 cm kitchen gap.
Washing machine capacity in cu ft and kg
The two systems measure different things. US capacity (set by the Department of Energy test procedure) is the volume of the drum. European and international ratings (IEC 60456) give the maximum weight of dry cotton the machine is approved to wash.
| Capacity | Liters | Typical machine | Household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 to 2.6 cu ft | 62 to 74 L | 24 in compact | 1 to 2 people |
| 3.5 to 4.0 cu ft | 99 to 113 L | Smaller top-load or front-load | 2 to 3 people |
| 4.5 cu ft | 127 L | Standard front-load | 3 to 4 people |
| 5.0 to 5.3 cu ft | 142 to 150 L | Large front-load or top-load | 4 to 5 people |
| 5.8 to 6.2 cu ft | 164 to 176 L | Largest models | 5 or more, frequent bedding |
For kg-rated machines, the common household guide is 6 to 7 kg for one or two people, 8 to 9 kg for three or four, and 10 kg or more for larger families. A 9 kg rating is the maximum for a cotton program: synthetics and delicates programs are often rated at about half the cotton figure.
Some retailers print conversions such as "4.5 cu ft equals 10 kg". They are guesses. A European 9 kg machine typically has a drum of about 60 to 65 L, or roughly half the volume of a US 4.5 cu ft drum, because the two ratings are calculated differently. Compare machines within one system only.
How to measure for a new washer
- Measure the space, not the old machine. Width at floor level and at the top of the opening, depth from the wall (or from the water valves) to the front edge of any cabinets or door frame, and height to the lowest shelf, cabinet or counter above.
- Subtract the clearances. Allow about 1 in on each side, 4 to 6 in behind for hoses, and at least 1 in above a front-loader. A top-loader needs its full lid-open height clear.
- Check the door. A front-loader needs about 22 in in front of the cabinet for the door to open, plus room to stand and load.
- Measure the route in. Doorways, halls and stair turns must clear the machine's depth (its narrowest side is usually 27 in wide). See the delivery checklist in the laundry space planning guide.
For the matching dryer, which is usually the same width but sometimes deeper, see the dryer dimensions guide. Room-wide numbers such as counter heights and aisle widths are in the kitchen dimensions overview, and hamper sizes for the laundry room are in the laundry basket size guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the usual size of a full-size washing machine?
27 in wide, 38 to 39.75 in tall and about 31 to 33 in deep for a front-loader, or 27 to 28.5 in wide, 42 to 45 in tall and 26 to 30 in deep for a top-loader. In metric, that is 68.6 cm wide and roughly 97 to 114 cm tall. Drum capacity is usually 4.0 to 5.0 cu ft (113 to 142 L).
Are all washing machines the same size?
Widths are close to standard (27 in for full-size US machines, 24 in for compacts, 60 cm in Europe), but depth and height vary by several inches between models. Front-loaders range from about 30 to 34 in deep, and large-capacity models are the deepest. Always check the depth with the door closed and the depth needed to open it.
What size front-load washer fits in a space 28 in deep?
No full-size US front-loader will fit, because they are 30 to 34 in deep before hoses. A 24 in compact front-loader (about 22 to 25 in deep) or a 60 cm European machine (about 55 to 60 cm, or 21.7 to 23.6 in) fits, leaving 3 to 6 in behind for the hoses and drain.
What is the washing machine size in cm?
A full-size US front-loader is about 69 cm wide, 97 to 101 cm tall and 76 to 86 cm deep. A top-loader is about 69 to 72 cm wide and 107 to 114 cm tall. A standard European front-loader is 60 cm wide, 85 cm tall and 55 to 65 cm deep; slim models are 40 to 47 cm deep.
How many kg is a 4.5 cu ft washer?
There is no exact conversion. US capacity in cubic feet is the drum volume (4.5 cu ft is 127 L), while European and Asian ratings in kg are the maximum load of dry cotton a machine is approved for. A 4.5 cu ft drum is roughly twice the volume of a typical 8 to 9 kg European drum, so the two numbers cannot be compared directly.
How wide are compact washing machines?
Compact front-loaders sold in North America are 23.5 to 24 in (60 to 61 cm) wide, about 33.5 in (85 cm) tall and 22 to 25 in deep, with 2.2 to 2.6 cu ft drums. They are close to the European 60 cm format and fit under a standard 36 in counter.