The Best Portable Washing Machines (Review & Buying Guide)
Say goodbye to expensive trips to the laundromat with these handy portable washing machines
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›
For someone that lives in a small space such as an apartment, cabin, dorm room, or even a camper, doing laundry can be a pain. Paying for wash-and-fold service is expensive, laundromats don’t always have the most convenient hours or locations, and running home to your parent's house to do your laundry is a habit that needs to be outgrown (even if they say they don’t mind).
In any of these situations, a portable washing machine can be a real lifesaver. While the capacity leaves a bit to be desired, these incredible machines are really the most convenient option for someone who is lacking the space or dedicated laundry facilities. Taking a closer look at the options currently on the market, we put together a list of our top picks of the best portable washing machines.
Giantex Portable Compact Mini Twin Tub Washing Machine
This is a powerful, dual-purpose machine that has a decent washing and spin-drying capacity at an affordable price.
A sleek looking, clean design with an 8-pound washing capacity and 4.5-pound spin dryer. It’s compact and affordable.
The washing capacity isn’t huge, so doing laundry for a whole family can be time-consuming. Any imbalance in the load will cause the machine not to work properly.
Super Deal Portable Compact Mini Twin Tub Washing Machine
The simple yet convenient design makes it easy to use and easy to maintain. It features a powerful 1,300 RPM motor that allows it to perform just as well as higher-end models.
A straightforward, simple design that is easy to operate. It offers the same washing and drying capacity as some higher-end models, but with a much nicer price tag.
Small load capacity is great for single people or couples, but not practical for larger families. Be watchful that the drain doesn’t clog and flood your space.
Costway Washing Machine
A stylish portable washer and dryer with decent load capacity and design that allows both cycles to be run at the same time, saving you valuable time.
Lightweight and super compact, this washer/dryer combo can fit into many small spaces. The ability to run both washer and dryer simultaneously saves you precious time when doing laundry.
Loads need to be carefully balanced to ensure proper machine function. Components tend to be a little less durable than some other models.
Benefits of Portable Washing Machines
- Convenience. Portable washing machines allow you the luxury of being able to wash your clothes at home, even if you live in a tight space. No more wasting precious time traveling back and forth to the laundromat.
- Cost Savings. No more costly laundromats or wash and dry laundry services. Portable washing machines allow you the ability to do laundry in your dorm, apartment, RV, or other tight space inexpensively.
- Control. If you’ve ever had one of your favorite items come back from the laundry service ruined, or they’ve lost or misplaced something, or items aren’t clean to your satisfaction, a portable washing machine is an excellent solution to allowing you to control what happens to your laundry. You can wash items gently, or multiple times if you want.
- Portability. Portable washing machines have the added bonus of being easy to move from room to room, so you can store it safely and inconspicuously when not in use, or you have the option of lending it to a friend or family member to help them with their laundry needs.
Types of Portable Washing Machines
Top Load
The traditional type of portable washing machine. These have a central, low profile agitator that opens from the top and often, a spin dryer option in line with the washer itself. They tend to use a bit more water than other types, but have a larger capacity and usually do a more thorough cleaning job than some other models on the market.
Front Load
This type of washer has a central, horizontal drum that opens from the front. It uses centripetal force to pull water and soap out of your clothing. These models don’t have an agitator at all, and are usually a bit smaller in capacity, which saves water but often doesn’t get your clothes as clean. They usually come as a stand-alone washer and no inline spine dryer, making them even more compact.
Human-Powered
Also called “pedal-powered” washing machines, these clever machines use no electricity at all and are much more compact than any electric model you will find. They can range in size from as small as a salad spinner to as large as a 5-gallon bucket. They rely completely on your elbow grease to function, thus they tend to break down less often and don’t have some of the same functional issues that typically electric washers have.
Electric-Powered
These are the typical portable washer and regular-sized washing machines. They can be either top- or front-loading, but use electricity to power their wash and spin cycles and timers. This saves you manual labor and energy, by letting a built-in motor do your job. With electricity and motors comes, of course, reliance on those things to work properly in order for the machine to do its job.
Top Brands
Giantex
Giantex is the leading service-oriented e-retailer in North America. They also have a presence in over 10 countries, delivering quality products. They offer a wide range of affordably priced products for your home, office, pets, outdoor settings, tools, and much more, including their rattan outdoor patio furniture sets and accessories.
Kuppet
Kuppet is a newer company, founded in 2018, but it is a trailblazer when it comes to innovative designs for home appliances. It is a leading manufacturer of high-quality household appliances, including washers and dryers, refrigerators, ice makers, kegerators, pool cleaners, air conditioners, fans, water coolers, and much, much more. Pressure washers for your car are just about the only thing it doesn’t do.
Panda
Panda has been around since 2006, so it has a solid track record of designing and manufacturing reliable and highly affordable houseware and kitchenware products, like its line of kettles and blenders. Its products go through a litany of tests to ensure they’re reliable and high-functioning.
Costway
Costway was founded in 2008 with the goal of providing premium home products at ultra-low prices. It has been a major player in the online third party retail venue with companies like Amazon and eBay since 2009, selling some of its best products, such as its evaporative portable air conditioner cooler. Costway helps more than 10 million customers per month and now has its own online store.
Portable Washing Machine Pricing
- Under $100: portable washers in this price range are usually ultra-compact, with the washer and spinner dryer in one unit. This price range also encompasses most human-powered washers.
- $100-$200: This price range will get you most double-barrel washer and dryer combos that can be hooked up to your sink faucet. This is the most common price range for portable washers.
- $200 and up: This price range is going to include the higher-end electrical portable washers with higher quality components. Many will have digital displays and Wi-Fi capabilities.
Key Features
Compact Size
Probably the most important key feature is that these portable washers and dryers are highly compact and designed specifically to fit in tight spaces, such as RVs, dorm rooms, small apartments, or cabins. Portable washers can be compact or really compact, giving options to people who might not otherwise think that they have the luxury of owning a washing machine.
Load Capacity
Depending on how often you want to do laundry, or how many people you have in your household to do laundry for, the load capacity of your washing machine is a key feature. Be sure to check over the manufacturer’s recommendations carefully to guarantee you’re getting the best washing machine for your personal needs.
Power Supply
Do you want a manual or an automatic electrically powered portable washing machine? Manual ones mean you have to put forth more of your personal effort to get clean clothes. Electric washers are more convenient, but they also cost more to run and can create issues when things break down.
Other Considerations
- Spin Speed. High spin speed is the key to removing as much excess water from clothing as possible, thus minimizing drying time. Most portable washers will start with a spin speed of 850 RPMs, but the higher-end models may have a spin speed as high as between 1,400-3,200 RPMs.
- Noise of Operation. While most portable washers tend to run pretty quietly, it’s important to note that when you operate them in a very compact space, you will definitely know they’re there. That being said, some portable washers definitely run quieter than others, so be sure to check out what their operational noise levels are prior to purchase.
- Cost. This pertains to the washer price initially, but also the long-term costs in terms of energy and water consumption and price of replacement parts. Many portable washing machines have a low initial cost, but might end up costing you more in bill and repair costs down the line. Get a washer that is well known for its durability and overall reliability.
Best Portable Washing Machine Reviews & Recommendations 2021
Our best overall pick is the Giantex Portable Compact Mini Twin Tub Washing Machine. This is a powerful, dual-purpose machine that has a decent washing and spin-drying capacity at an affordable price. It’s not a fully automatic machine with a lot of bells and whistles, but it has all of the right features with minimal electronic parts. This ensures that this machine will offer a longer service life with less maintenance at a better price.
The washing tub capacity is eight pounds, and the spin-dryer has a 4.5-pound capacity. The washing cycle is controlled by a 15-minute timer, while the spin cycle runs up to five minutes. The filter net makes it easy to clean between loads, and the spin cycle cover plate keeps clothes inside the machine at high speeds.
The Super Deal Portable Compact Mini Twin Tub Washing Machine is our best value pick. Its simple yet convenient design makes it easy to use, easy to afford, and easy to maintain. This portable washing machine features a powerful 1,300 RPM motor that allows it to perform just as good as higher-end models but with a smaller price tag. The translucent tub windows make it easier to see if your clothes are clean.
Not only does this machine offer the best value in our opinion it is also the simplest to use. Simply load your clothes, fill with water, and set the timer. One of this machine’s features that is really great is that it offers the ability to use both tubs at the same time.
If you are looking for a large capacity portable washing machine, the Kuppet Compact Twin Tub Portable Mini Washing Machine may be for you. This machine has a 26-pound capacity — 18 pounds in the washer tub, and eight in the spin tub — with the time-saving ability to run both tubs at the same time. This washer is perfect for doing light-to-medium loads of laundry. It also features a drain pump, making setup easy and convenient. The wash timer can be set for 15 minutes, while the spin cycle can be set to five minutes.
This machine really is perfect for the minimalist family, that long camping trip, or even for the single apartment dweller that only wants to do a load or two per week.
The Costway Washing Machine is a good portable washer with a lot to offer. It has a very decent load capacity and design that allows both cycles to be run at the same time. The separate cycle timers save time and energy and the lightweight and small size make it easy to use or store in a small bathroom or closet, but it’s stylish enough to leave out if you have the space. Forget washing clothes by hand or paying someone else to wash them for you and pick up this portable washing machine. It will make living in a small space feel like you have all the space you need.
While this portable washer is not for sale in California, it is available to every other state.
If you’re in the market for a sleek, stylish, high-end portable washing machine, look no further than the Black + Decker BPWM09W Portable Washer. Its 0.9 cubic foot washtub can clean up to 6.6 pounds of clothing in as little as 19 minutes. This convenient top-loading washer has an easy-to-read LED digital display so you can quickly assess how far along you are in your washing process, and a clear top window that lets you easily see the state clothing in the washer. It also features five cycle programs and three water settings, allowing you to customize your washing experience to whatever best suits your needs.
This machine also comes equipped with automatic unbalance detection that will help to correct an imbalance load in order to limit damage to the washing machine.
If you’re looking for a durable, low-maintenance, highly portable washing machine, check out the Lavario Portable Clothes Washer. This non-electric portable clothes washer is the only one of its kind that is capable of washing heavy materials, like sweatshirts and jeans. For a hand-powered washing machine, it has an impressive cleaning capacity. Ultra-compact in size, it uses very little water and detergent; manually operated, it uses no electricity so your savings will add up fast.
This portable washer is precision-engineered for performance and durability and as an added bonus, it’s proudly made in the USA, so you can feel great about supporting the local labor and economy. It’s an excellent choice for smaller mobile homes, RVs, campers, cabins, boats, and dorm rooms.
The ROVSUN 10 LBS Portable Washing Machine deserves an honorable mention for being an affordable, quiet, and very compact portable washing machine. This handy side-by-side washer and spinner combo can wash 5.6 pounds of clothes and spin 4.4 pounds of clothes, making it small, but mighty. It features washing, spin wash and spin dry, and dehydration functions that can be used simultaneously. Its powerful motor produces a spine speed of 1,300 RPMs that lets you get clothes quite dry by the end of the wash cycle, saving your clothes from being in the dryer or on the line for long periods of time.
It’s super easy to use. You just add the clothing, fill with water and detergent, set the timer, and let the machine take over. Wash cycles can run up to 15 minutes and spin cycles can run in five-minute increments.
Tips
- Always be sure to balance your washing loads as best you can to minimize imbalance during the wash and spin cycles, which can lead to equipment wear and tear and untimely damage, not to mention ineffective washing of your clothes.
- Keep an eye on the washer as you fill it, ensuring that you get the proper level of water into the drum without overflowing or flooding your washing area.
- Don’t be afraid to run extra spin cycles to really squeeze all available water out of your clothes before drying them.
- Be sure to tailor your detergent use according to the amount of water you’re putting into your portable washer. Too much detergent will be very difficult to effectively remove from a small machine.
FAQs
What is the best portable washing machine?
A: The best portable washing machine is the one that can fit into your available space. Be sure to measure the area that you want to use it in prior to purchase to ensure it fits well.
Are portable washing machines allowed in apartments?
A: Check your specific lease or rental agreement, but yes, most apartments allow for portable washing machines to be used in individual units.
How do portable washing machines work?
A: How a portable washing machine works depends on the type of machine. Most commonly, portable washing machines rely on a small but powerful electric motor that will agitate and spin your clothes clean. Some work on sheer elbow grease, though, utilizing your own body power.
How much clothing can you put in a portable washing machine?
A: The amount of clothing that a portable washing machine can accommodate is much less than a regular-sized machine, usually between 5-10 pounds for a wash cycle and 3-6 pounds for a spin cycle.
Final Thoughts
Portable washing machines can be a game-changer for people who live in tiny spaces. The Giantex Portable Compact Mini Twin Tub Washing Machine can fit well in most apartments or large RVs, while the Lavario Portable Clothes Washer can fit in even the most compact space you can think of, giving you options for washing your clothes at home that save you from tedious trips to the laundromat.
Why Trust Us
Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.
Learn more