The Best Washing Machines For Under $800

You know the wash day drill: Sort, load, unload, load, unload, fold, put away, repeat. And when you need to buy a new washer, some of the price tags only add insult to injury. Fortunately, you don't have to spend a small fortune to buy a good one, and some are even designed with features to lessen your workload. Consumer Reports claims washing machines are priced from $500 to $2,500 but it is possible to find well-made ones selling for under $800, including the ones shown below. These are brands you are likely familiar with, like Amana, Kenmore, LG, and GE.

But before you shell out any money for a new washing machine, think about what type will best suit your needs. The first thing to decide is whether you want a top- or front-loading machine. As ABT Appliances explains, top-loaders have doors on the top that you lift up and then drop your clothes inside the drum. These machines can have center agitators that spin the clothes around or impellers that rub them together. Front-load washers operate differently: These machines tumble the clothing. They use less water, so the clothes won't be overly wet when you take them out. ABT Appliances adds that front-loading washers can be more accessible for people with mobility issues.

You will also need to know what size washing machine will fit in your available space. CNET explains that washers have standard widths and depths, but the control panels for top and front-loaders are in different places. If you settle on a front loader, ABT Appliances points out that you'll need enough space for the door to open outward as well. CNET also mentions the importance of looking at different drum sizes. These indicate washer capacity and are measured in cubic feet. Other parameters include overall washer performance, special features, and price.

You will need 4 cubic feet to effectively wash 12 to 16 pounds of laundry (via Compact Appliance), and Amana's NTW4516FW compact washing machine is somewhat smaller at 3.5 cubic feet. Dormont Appliance prices this appliance at $629.99, claiming that it cleans clothes thoroughly and has a durable porcelain tub. The top-loading washer measures 27.5 inches wide x 42 inches high, with a depth of 27 inches. It also features a dual-action agitator and a Late Lid Lock feature. The latter means that you can toss in a few more items after you turn on the machine, as long as it's done before the spin cycle starts.

You might find an even better price on the Amana NTW4516FW at electronics and appliance stores like Best Buy. The product description here does not show upgrades like a steam function or LED controls, but this high-efficiency washer uses most kinds of detergent forms (gel, powder, etc.), and has five temperature settings. It also comes with a one-year (limited) manufacturer's warranty for parts and labor. This site's review page for this washing machine shows an average 4.4 rating, and one reviewer posted that this machine can fit a full-size comforter without any issues. Another good thing to know is the height of the door when it is open – this is important if you have cabinets or shelves above your washing machine. It is shown to be just over 51 inches.

The Whirlpool Corporation owns other washing machine brands like Amana and Maytag that made this list; it also owns KitchenAid (via Investopedia). The namesake Whirlpool WTW4816FW is shown on Percys.com and is also sized for smaller loads. It is a top loader and its dimensions are the same as the Amana described above. You'll also find a dual-action spiral agitator and a porcelain wash basket within. Lowe's has this washer priced at $498 and shows a deep water wash option, a good feature to have when your clothes are soiled. The auto-sensing option determines how much water the load needs and you can wash heavier items in the bulky/sheets cycle.

If you are considering this compact Whirpool washer, you might be wondering what a two-part agitator is. To get a better idea, it makes sense to understand how agitators work in the first place. Chemeurope explains that agitators are set in the bottom of top-loading washing machine tubs and when the machine is working, the agitators turn back and forth. This motion brings the clothes up and down, as the water and detergent clean them. A single or straight-vain agitator has fins on the side and bottom. Dual-action ones like the one in this Whirlpool also have a spiral top. If you'd like to see one in action, GE has a video tutorial that shows how they work.

Now, a bit of trivia: The LG in this appliance brand's name stands for Lucky Goldstar (via Forbes) and their slogan is Life's Good (not to be confused with the Life is Good clothing and accessories company). And according to Forbes, LG products have come a long way and are now comparable to high-end brands like Viking and Miele. The LG WM3400C front-loading washing machine has a 4.4 rating on the manufacturer's website, with an accompanying price of $699. One reviewer liked the high-speed spin, writing that the clothing was almost dry after using it. Others claimed that the WM3400C was quiet, efficient, and easy to use.

The LG WM3400C product specifications page shows that this 4.5 cubic-foot washing machine measures 27 inches wide x 39 inches high x 30-¼ inches deep. And if you have a narrow laundry room, take note that the depth increases to 55 inches when this washer's front door is open. It has eight wash cycles, five water temperatures, and three spin speeds. There are also desirable features like an anti-vibration system and a 10-year warranty on the direct drive motor (plus a 3-year warranty on the drum/1 year for parts and labor). Home Depot has this washer priced at $798 and points out the machine's cold water technology feature, claiming that it cleans just as well as warm water.

The top-loading 5 cubic-foot Samsung WA50R5200AW sells for $649 on the Sears website, and reviewers liked its large drum, high-speed spin that leaves clothes practically dry, and different cleaning cycles. It measures 27.6 inches wide x 44.2 inches high x 29.5 inches deep and offers 10 wash cycles and five temperature settings. That built-in faucet is called an Active Water Jet and can be used to pretreat heavily soiled clothing and stains. The WA50R5200AW also has a deep fill option, and the machine is designed to make it easier to reach down into the tub to pull out the clothing.

As mentioned on Samsung's website, a large 5.0 capacity drum fits in more clothing at a time so you will be able to wash more items in one load. The tub is easier to reach down into because it is shallower than in other models, so your back will thank you. You'll also like the deep fill action, which automatically pours in more H20 as needed – you won't have to worry about doing it yourself. This washing machine also uses smart technology that allows you to troubleshoot the machine if any problems occur. The Samsung WA50R5200AW's direct drive motor also has a 20-year warranty.

The designer appliances website picks the GE 4.2 cubic-foot top-loading GTW335ASNWW as its best budget washing machine, and the price is well under $800. This source likes this washing machine's 11 wash cycles, six water temperatures, and heavy-duty, single-action agitator – its price is $529. This retailer also likes GE's top-loading 4.5 cubic-foot GTW465ASNWW, which is slightly larger and $40 more.

The GE website also shows the GTW335ASNWW for $529, with an average 4.4-star consumer review. It shows the dimensions as 44 inches wide x 27 inches high, and 27 inches deep. The first feature described in detail is its deep clean cycle – GE claims that it works up to 67 percent better than other ones. This washer also has a stainless steel wash tub, a heavy-duty agitator, and 11 cycles including a deep rinse. There are also six wash temperatures, including one for colors. One reviewer wrote that this machine was a great value for the price and was easy to use. This GE is an option if your budget is around $500.

Priced at $778 (at Lowe's), Samsung's top-loading WA55A7300AE 5.5 cubic-foot capacity washing machine can complete a large capacity load in under 30 minutes when you use its Super Speed cycle. And instead of traditional washer white, it comes in an elegant ivory tone with a black control panel on top. It is a smart washing machine, so you can schedule it to start on your phone and also receive alerts when your loads are finished. That feature can prevent forgotten loads syndrome, when you forget to take clothes out of the washer and they start to smell. You'll need to set up an account with Samsung and use their app to use this feature, though.

Samsung shows that the ENERGY-STAR®-certified WA55A7300AE is 27.5 inches wide x 45.8 inches high x 29.4 inches deep, with 12 different wash cycles including Deep Wash and Eco Cold Wash. It also has an impeller wash system, Wi-Fi connectivity, and Vibration Reduction Technology™. The digital inverter comes with a 20-year warranty, which can add confidence to your buying decision if you choose this model.

Reviewed likes the 5.2 cubic-foot Maytag MVW7230HW, particularly its 10-year warranty. This site gave the Maytag's 4.7 cubic-foot Pet Pro MVW6500MBK (great to have if your pet sheds a lot) a better rating, but that one is priced higher than $800 ($998 at Lowe's). The larger MVW7230HW comes in at just under $800 ($798 at Lowe's), so you can pay $200 less and get a bit more capacity.

Aside from having a larger drum, the top-loading MVW7230HW is a smart washing machine with a built-in faucet for soaking soiled clothes. This slightly taller washer is 27-¼ inches wide x 58-½ inches high x 27-⅞ inches deep. Besides being Wi-Fi compatible, this appliance's other bells and whistles include an extra power button, a built-in water faucet for pre-treating, a deep fill option, and a quick wash cycle. It also has a stainless steel drum, Advanced Vibration Control™, and is Energy-Star®-certified.

If you order this washing machine direct from Maytag, they will ship it for free (any order priced at $399 and up is shipped with no charge). You can also return it for no cost, as long as it is done within 15 days of purchase. It also comes with that Maytag warranty: Don's Appliances clarifies that Maytag extends its parts and labor warranty on some models, which can save you money if yours stops working properly. And in addition to that, the company extends the warranty to 10 years for transmission and tub parts.

The Maytag MVWC565FW's 4.2 cubic-foot capacity is smaller than the MVW7230HW's and is sold at Lowe's for $548. Top Ten Reviews claims that this small Maytag performs well on heavily stained clothing, has a self-cleaning cycle, and is reasonably priced. This source liked the machine's smooth and quiet operation and power wash cycle that works on heavily soiled items. The MVWC565FW also has its own cleaning cycle that will clean the washing machine and keep the interior in good order.

Best Buy has the top-loading 4.2 cubic-foot MVWC565FW priced at $599, with an average user rating of 4.2 stars. This high-efficiency Maytag measures 27-½ inches wide x 42 inches high x 27 inches deep, and the height with its door open comes to 51-½ inches. It has a dual agitator, vibration reduction, a stainless steel tub, and can take any form of detergent. Lowe's also sells this model and clarifies that the washer has commercial-grade parts like the Powerwash agitator, plus a 10-year limited parts warranty.

The Hotpoint brand is owned by Haier, which also owns GE and Profile (via Fred's Appliance Academy). And if you look on the Hotpoint website, the only washer they show is the 3.8 cubic foot HTW240ASKWS. Home Depot sells this compact washer for $478, and it has close to 6,000 five-star reviews. It has a heavy-duty agitator, a stainless steel wash tub, and a deep rinse cycle. The HTW240ASKWS is 27 inches wide x 44 inches high x 27 inches deep and offers 10 wash cycles. There are four water level options, an auto-balance suspension system, and a deep rinse cycle to ensure that the soil gets rinsed out. Looking at the photo, you'll see that this washer has a simple design, in basic white with three rotary dials on the control panel. This smaller washer can be a good choice for people who don't do large loads and don't want to spend a lot of money.

Home Depot's Hotpoint HTW240ASKWS product description page shows that this washer is compatible with the Hotpoint HTX24EASKWS and HTX24GASKWS dryers; the first is electric and the second is gas. This begs the question of whether or not there are electric and gas washers. Grand Appliance and TV posts that all washing machines are electric and need plugs to work, so you can have an electric washing machine and a gas dryer, or electric for both.

The high-efficiency LG's WT7005CW 4.3 cubic-foot smart top load washer is described on its manufacturer's website as being ultra-large capacity. It measures 27 inches wide x 44-½ high and 28-⅜ inches deep, with a price of $599 (almost $300 less than the original price of $849). It has a 4-Way™ Agitator, a deep fill option, ColdWash™ Technology, a stainless steel washtub, and a 10-year direct drive motor warranty.

Best Buy has an average 4.6-star review for this LG model and the same price that you'll see on the manufacturer's website – plus 99 cents. Users had good things to say about the WT7005CW's simple design, efficiency, and easy installation. One reviewer wrote that this washer did not come with hoses, but this is not unusual. Consumer Reports explains that most don't include hoses, which can cost around $30. Some retailers will also charge for delivery and to remove your old machine, so ask about this when you are negotiating the final price.