Anybody who has ever moved or attempted to move a washing machine knows the average size of a washer and dryer, and they also know how heavy these appliances are. Why on earth do they weigh so much? This post will delve into that question. We will peel back the cabinet of a modern washer to see what’s inside, and we will look at some promising technology that could make the washing machines of the future much lighter. We will also tell you how you can find out how much your appliances weigh, and we will wrap things up with some tips that could make things a lot easier for you the next time you move.
The Basics
The weight of a washer or dryer is determined by several things, so there is no simple answer to the question “how heavy is a washer?” Factors that influence a washing machine’s weight include the size of its drum, its external dimensions, its age, and its features, but just about every washer is heavier than it looks. Before we peer inside a modern laundry appliance to find out why that is, let’s take a look at a few averages just to get an idea of what kind of weights we are talking about. Here are a few ballpark figures:
- The average washing machine weighs about 170 lbs.
- The average clothes dryer weighs about 124 lbs.
- Front-loading models weigh between 30 and 50 lbs. more than equivalent top-loading machines.
- Machines that both wash and dry clothes weigh about 50 lbs. more than similar-sized machines that only wash clothes.
A Word or Two About Capacity
The amount of clothes a washer or dryer can handle plays an important role in determining how much it will weigh. Large tubs weigh a lot when they are filled with laundry and water, so large-capacity washers and dryers need more powerful motors and more durable components. All of this adds extra weight. If you have ever wondered why the latest washers and dryers weigh more than appliances made 20 or 30 years ago despite significant improvements in materials and manufacturing, it’s because they have much larger capacities and can wash and dry more clothes.
Dryer capacities are larger because there has to be enough room for hot air to circulate around damp clothes. As a general rule, a dryer should have more or less double the capacity of its accompanying washer. This may lead you to believe that dryers weigh a lot more than washers, but the exact opposite is true. To make sense of this, let’s take the back off a washer to find out where all of this extra weight is coming from.
Motors, Gearboxes, and Concrete
A washing machine contains a lot of heavy components. Washers are engineered to work reliably for years, even if they are used every day, which means every seal, screw, and mechanical part has to be built to last. You may think that a washer is basically just a motor and a tub, but there is a bit more to it than that. Here are just a few of the things you will find if you look inside a modern laundry appliance:
- Motors: Washing machines have a main motor that provides power for agitation and spinning and a drain motor that operates a pump. These motors are compact, powerful, and expected to handle heavy loads with virtually no regular maintenance, but the price of all that durability is extra weight.
- Gearboxes: The power provided by the motors is sent to heavy gearboxes that work together to rotate the tub. These gearboxes have to be strong enough to move large tubs full of laundry and water, so they are built out of heavy and durable materials.
- Tubs: Washing machines have two steel tubs. The inner tub that holds laundry is the one we are all familiar with, but there is a second steel tub that is bolted securely to the body of the machine. During the spin cycle, water pushed through holes in the inner tub is collected in the outer tub for disposal.
- A metal frame: The major components of a washer are not attached to the exterior cabinet. Instead, they are mounted on a heavy metal frame. We harness powerful forces when we wash and dry clothes at the push of a button, and our appliances have to deal with them. The metal frame holds the motor and gearboxes in place, and a pulley system keeps everything stable.
- Concrete: That’s right, concrete. You may be surprised to learn that washing machines weigh so much because they have large blocks of concrete inside them. These concrete blocks often weigh more than 50 lbs., but manufacturers put them inside their washing machines for a very good reason. The centrifugal force that pushes water out of clothes during the spin cycle can also make washers hop across the floor, but adding extra weight at the base prevents this. You could remove the concrete block to reduce weight, but then you would have to bolt your washing machine to the floor.
Change Could Be Coming
Putting concrete blocks inside washing machines does more than prevent messy domestic mishaps; it also does a great deal of harm to the environment. After analyzing the amount of fuel burned by trucks that transport appliances, experts concluded that removing concrete from washing machines would reduce carbon emissions by more than 44,000 tons in the United Kingdom alone.
Appliance manufacturers would love to solve the jittering problem without using concrete blocks, and they may soon be able to. That is because a team of British researchers has developed a washing machine weight that is made out of plastic rather than concrete. The plastic container weighs very little when it is empty, but filling it up with water provides a great deal of stability. Water is not as dense as concrete, which means the plastic containers will have to be larger than the concrete blocks they replace. Washing machines could grow a bit in the future, but they should also get lighter.
How Much Does a Washing Machine Weigh?
We know that the size, capacity, and features of a washing machine can have a profound effect on its weight, so how much is that 170 lbs. average weight figure really worth? To find out, we took a look at some popular top-loading machines. This is what we found:
- The Whirlpool WTW2000HW 1.6-cubic-foot washer weighs 80.6 lbs.
- The Panda PAN50SWF2 1.6-cubic-foot washer weighs 77 lbs.
- The Whirlpool CAE2745FQ 3.3-cubic-foot washer weighs 140 lbs.
- The Black+Decker BPW30MW 3.0-cubic-foot washer weighs 99.2 lbs.
- The Hotpoint HTW240ASKWS 3.8-cubic-foot washer weighs 138 lbs.
- The Maytag MVWC465HW 3.8-cubic-foot washer weighs 126 lbs.
- The GE GTW335ASNWW 4.2-cubic-foot washer weighs 147 lbs.
- The LG WT7005CW 4.3-cubic-foot washer weighs 127.9 lbs.
How Much Does Front Load Washer Weigh?
Front-loading washing machines have been the standard in Europe for decades, and now they are becoming popular in the United States. Consumers often choose these models because they use less water and electricity, but they also weigh a lot more than their top-loading counterparts. Front-loading washing machines weigh more because they have two concrete stabilizing blocks instead of one. One block is installed in the base, and the other is placed above the tub. To get an idea of how big this weight penalty is, take a look at how much the following front-loading washing machines weigh:
- The Whirlpool WFW3090JW 1.9-cubic-foot washer weighs 168 lbs.
- The Panda PAN6360W 1.54-cubic-foot washer weighs 55 lbs.
- The Electrolux ELFW4222AW 2.4-cubic-foot washer weighs 140 lbs.
- The LG WM1455HWA 2.4-cubic-foot washer weighs 154.3 lbs.
- The Magic Chef MCSFLW27W 2.7-cubic-foot washer weighs 160.9 lbs.
- The Koolmore 320136491 2.7-cubic-foot washer weighs 172 lbs.
- The Whirlpool CHW9150GW 3.1-cubic-foot washer weighs 245 lbs.
- The Samsung WF50A8500AV 5.0-cubic-foot washer weighs 214 lbs.
How Heavy Is a Washer and Dryer Combination?
Washers and dryers can be found side-by-side or stacked on top of each other in most homes, but not all of us have enough room for two appliances. To meet the needs of these consumers, appliance manufacturers offer combination machines that both wash and dry clothes. These combo machines usually weigh about 50 lbs. more than a similarly sized washer, but they take up a lot less space. Here are the weights of some of the most popular combination machines:
- The Deco 307665138 1.57-cubic-foot washer weighs 161 lbs.
- The Equator 316311422 1.9-cubic-foot washer weighs 190 lbs.
- The GE GFQ14ESSNWW 2.4-cubic-foot washer weighs 183 lbs.
- The LG WM3555HWA 2.4-cubic-foot washer weighs 160.9 lbs.
- The Danby 311701196 2.7-cubic-foot washer weighs 163.1 lbs.
- The RCA RWD270 2.7-cubic-foot washer weighs 170 lbs.
- The LG LUWM101HWA 2.8-cubic-foot washer weighs 208 lbs.
- The LG WM3998HBA 4.5-cubic-foot washer weighs 213.8 lbs.
How Much Does a Dryer Weigh?
Clothes dryers weigh a lot less than washing machines because they do not have concrete blocks inside them and have one tub instead of two, but they are still quite hefty. This is one of the reasons why stackable washer dryer sets always have the dryer on top. Here are the weights of some popular gas and electric dryers made by leading appliance manufacturers:
- The Whirlpool LDR3822PQ 3.4-cubic-foot electric dryer weighs 91 lbs.
- The GE 316311422 3.6-cubic-foot electric dryer weighs 87 lbs.
- The Samsung DV22N6800HW 4.0-cubic-foot electric dryer weighs 110 lbs.
- The LG DLHC1455V 4.2-cubic-foot electric dryer weighs 128 lbs.
- The Haier QFD15ESSNWW 4.3-cubic-foot electric dryer weighs 88 lbs.
- The Insignia FDRE44W1 4.4-cubic-foot electric dryer weighs 121 lbs.
- The Whirlpool WGD5010LW 7.0-cubic-foot gas dryer weighs 123 lbs.
- The Samsung DVG45B6300W 7.5-cubic-foot gas dryer weighs 117 lbs.
How Heavy Is Your Washer and Dryer?
If you want to know how much your washer and dryer weigh, there are a few ways you can find out. If you still have your owner’s manual, just open it up and look for the specifications section. If you have lost your owner’s manual, you should be able to find out the weights of your appliances and download a new owner’s manual from the manufacturer’s website. You will need to know the model numbers to do this, but they should be easy to find. The labels that contain this information are covered in numbers and symbols, and you can usually find them:
- Under the covers of top-loading machines
- Inside the door frames of front-loading machines
- On base plates
- On the sides of the machines
- On the backs of the machines
Tips for Moving a Washing Machine
Moving heavy and cumbersome items like washing machines should best be left to professionals who have experience and insurance coverage, but there are a few things you can do to reduce the chances of a mishap if you have to move one of these appliances yourself. Here are some tips that could take the sting out of moving a washer and dryer:
- Gather supplies: At the very least, you will need furniture, blankets, or pads to protect your appliances and strong tape to hold everything together. You should also gather hand tools to disconnect the machines and zip ties to keep cables organized.
- Get a dolly: Two people should be able to move a washing machine with muscle power alone, but a dolly makes things much easier.
- Refit transit bolts: Washing machine tubs are held in place during transit with thick bolts. You must put these bolts back in before you move your washer to prevent the tub from being damaged during transit. If you do not know where your transit bolts are, you should be able to order replacements from the manufacturer.
- Enlist the help of a friend: You won’t be able to see much when you are pushing a dolly with a washer or dryer on it, so a second pair of eyes should come in very handy.
WashersDryers360 Keeps You Informed
The next time you order a washer or dryer, you might be wise to look for a retailer that offers a delivery and installation service. The appliances on the market today are marvels of technology and should run reliably for years, but the average size of a washer and dryer can make moving them about and hooking them up hard work. WashersDryers360 publishes posts like this one to answer our visitors’ questions and keep them informed, and we are also the place to go for in-depth reviews, product roundups, and important industry information.
