The average washing machine weighs around 170 pounds (77.1 kg). Top loading washing machines weigh around 130 pounds (59 kg) and front loading washing machines weigh around 200 to 205 pounds (90-93 kg).
There are a handful of appliance folks (including professional movers) who hate to move around any more than absolutely necessary – and washing machines sit at or near the top of that list!
Big, chunky, awkward to carry, and with a pretty decent amount of heft to them (weight that isn’t ever perfectly balanced, we might add), your average washing machine weighs around 170 pounds.
That’s a lot of metal to move around!
Below we run through average weights for all different kinds of washing machines (top loading, frontloading, combo sets, etc.) so that you have a better idea of exactly how much weight you’re up against the next time something like this needs to be moved.
How Much Does a Washing Machine Weigh?
Top Loading Machines
Top loading washing machines, believe it or not, are not the heaviest washing machines on the market today – not on average, anyway.
The average washing machine on the market today (that’s all different kinds of washing machines) may weigh in at just around 170 pounds, but top loaders have an average weight across the market that sits at just about 135 pounds.
That might not sound like much – only a difference of 35 pounds – but when you have to move this kind of machinery around (maybe without a lot of help) that extra weight savings makes all the difference in the world.
Front Loading Machines
Frontloading machines are (by and large) the heaviest washing machines money can buy right now.
Frontloading machines have a different internal orientation and are generally designed to “move and wiggle” laundry a little more vigorously. That means more counterweights to keep everything in balance.
It’s not at all uncommon for frontloading washing machines to have 55 pounds of counterweights built right into them just so that your laundry spins effortlessly (and efficiently) – especially when the machine is filled with water.
As a general rule of thumb, expect frontloading washing machines to weigh in north of 200 pounds. The average weight for these kinds of machines in 2022 sits at about 205 pounds, give or take.
Washer and Dryer Combos
It stands to reason that anytime you stack a washing machine and a dryer together next to one another in some kind of combo you’re going to end up with a pretty heavy appliance.
Interestingly enough, though, these combo units are often a lot lighter than many expect. 2022 combo sets measured (on average) just about 185 pounds.
That’s only slightly heavier than your top loading machines all on their own.
How do combo setups stay so slim when you have two machines in the combo instead of just the one?
Well, it’s because most of the combo sets are “efficiency” machines and don’t have the same kind of capacity for the same kind of construction that larger, more heavy-duty washing machine and dryer setups have.
You lose a little bit of utility in exchange for space and weight savings.
Stacked Laundry Sets
Stacked laundry sets are somewhat new on the market, designed to give you the power and performance of bigger (full-size) washer and dryer equipment with the space savings of a combo unit.
By stacking these machines on top of each other you’re able to save a lot of floor space, and because these machines are made to stack they are generally a lot lighter (individually) – and designed not to shake, wobble, and wiggle so much.
Stackable units generally are going to come in at around 238 pounds total.
How Much Does a Washing Machine Weight with a Full Load?
It’s important to remember that the weight estimates we gave you earlier are just averages – and they do not include the weight of water (8.3 pounds per gallon) or the weight of the laundry that you’ve put in the machine.
With a “full load,” you’re talking about adding anywhere between 8 and 12 pounds of clothing and another 220 (or more) pounds of weight in water.
If you are running a full load your washing machine could way north of 400+ pounds!
Closing Thoughts
Washing machines are intentionally designed to be pretty heavy-duty appliances because of the functionality they offer.
These machines have to be almost overbuilt to handle a 230-pound (give or take) load of water and laundry, move all that weight vigorously, and then spin that load of laundry to get as much water out before your clothes move over to the dryer.
If you’re going to be moving any washing machine in the future make sure you get at least one extra set of strong hands to help!