Will the washer fit?
Check if a washing machine fits your laundry space, with room behind for the hoses and in front for the door, and whether it gets through every door on the way.
The checks
Biggest size for this spot
Ways to make it work
How much space does a washing machine need?
More than the machine itself. A washer needs a little room on each side so it can be slid in and out and doesn’t knock against cabinets when it spins, room behind for the water hoses, drain hose and plug, and space in front so the door can open fully and you can load it.
Sizes vary a lot by country. Compact front loaders, common in India, the UK and Europe, are usually around 60 cm wide, 55 to 60 cm deep and 85 cm tall, made to slide under a kitchen counter. Full-size front loaders in the US are bigger, often around 27 inches wide, 30 to 34 inches deep and close to 39 inches tall. Always use the exact sizes from the model you’re looking at.
The gaps to leave
Typical starting points are about 1 inch (2 to 3 cm) on each side and 4 inches (around 10 cm) behind for hoses. Dryers with a vent usually need more behind, often around 6 inches (15 cm), so the vent hose isn’t squashed. Top loaders need extra height above for the lid to open. The tool fills in typical gaps for each type, and you can change them under “Air gaps it needs” to match your manual.
Room in front
A front-loader door swings out about as wide as the machine, and you also need space to kneel or bend down to load it. Around 1 metre (about 40 inches) of clear floor in front is comfortable. In a narrow laundry cupboard, also check that the cupboard doors can open while the washer door is open.
How to measure your laundry space
- Width: measure wall to wall, or wall to cabinet, at floor level and again at the height of the machine’s top. Use the smaller number.
- Depth: measure from the back wall to the front edge of the space. Watch for taps, pipes or a skirting board that stick out from the wall.
- Height: only needed if there is a counter, shelf or cabinet above. Measure from the floor to its underside.
- Doors on the way: measure the narrowest door inside its frame, especially narrow bathroom or laundry-cupboard doors.
Side by side or stacked with a dryer?
Side by side, you need the width of both machines plus the gaps on each side and between them. Run the check with the combined width as a “Something else” item. Stacked, the dryer sits on top of the washer using a stacking kit, so check the total height of both machines plus the kit against any shelf or ceiling above, using the height limit box.
More fit checkers
Buying a dryer to go with it? Use the dryer fit checker. Buying a fridge? Try the fridge fit checker or the French door fridge checker. Moving a sofa? Try the sofa fit checker.
Questions
Does the listed depth include the door?
Often not. Many listings give the depth of the body only, and the round door, the knobs and the hoses add more. Look for a “depth with door” or “depth with door open” figure in the specifications, and use that if you can find it.
Will a washing machine fit under my kitchen counter?
Compact 60 cm machines are made for standard counters of around 85 to 90 cm. Many full-size US machines are taller than a standard 36-inch counter, so measure the space under yours and use the height limit box.
Can I tip a washing machine to move it?
Washers can usually be tilted carefully for a short move, but they’re heavy, so get help. New machines come with transit bolts in the back that hold the drum still during delivery. Leave them in while moving, and remove them before the first wash, as the manual explains.
How accurate is this?
The tool treats the machine as a box, so it’s a careful estimate, not a guarantee. Uneven floors and walls can make things tighter. If the result is orange, measure again before you buy.