The answer depends on the features you desire, your needs, and your budget.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison oftop-loadvs.
front-load washers' pros and consplus the benefits of a high-efficiency (HE) model.
The Spruce
The dirty laundry is loaded through a door on the front that swings open to the side.
Top-load washersare 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.
The Spruce / Laura Miller
Items can be added throughout the wash cycle in both standard and HE top-load washers.
Top-load machines must be placed side by side with a dryer unless you purchase a smallercompact stacking washer/dryer combo.
While not unpleasant, it is not considered a true home design element in thelaundry room.
The Spruce / Dwyer Frame
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.
Second best: A top-load washer without a central agitator creates less wear and tear on fabrics.
The Spruce / Krystal Slagle & Sanja Kostic
Motors on top-load washers are relatively easy to access and do-it-yourselfers can evenmake basic repairs.
Front-load washers require more frequent cleanings that can be performed by homeowners but arebest repairedby trained technicians.
Front-load washers use around 13 gallons of water per load.
The Spruce / Ashley Craiger
A standard top-load washer uses, on average, about 41 gallons per load.
To purchase a washer that uses less water, look for theblue ENERGY STAR labelmodels.
And before you have your old washer hauled away to a landfill, considerrecycling it to create new projects.
The Spruce / Jay Wilde
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.
The Spruce / Shannon Wells
It is best to consider purchase and operating costs when buying.
The Spruce / Shannon Wells
Lifespan
Thelife expectancyof 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.
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.
Water Efficiency Management Guide.Environmental Protection Agency.
