Apartment laundry usually means a small floor plan, a shared closet or a balcony corner. A compact washing machine can fit where a full-size washer cannot, and most plug into a standard outlet and hook up to a faucet or a sink. The trade-off is a smaller drum, so loads are smaller too.
The six machines below run from a 0.9 cubic foot portable to a 3.0 cubic foot top loader, plus one twin tub with a separate spin side. Sizes, capacities and cycles come from each product’s listing page. We have not used these machines ourselves, and efficiency and noise figures are the makers’ own. Where a listing disagrees with itself, we say so.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Footprint | Measure the floor, the door swing and the path through the hallway |
| Capacity | Cubic feet or pounds set how much fits in one load |
| Machine type | Fully automatic units run a whole cycle; twin tubs need you to move clothes |
| Water hookup | Faucet quick-connect, drain hose or built-in drain pump |
| Drum material | Stainless steel versus plastic inner tubs |
Specs at a Glance
| Washer | Size and capacity | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magic Chef 2.0 | 2.0 cu ft; 83.5 lb | Top load, automatic | 6 programs; 3 water levels; up to 800 RPM; delay start |
| Magic Chef 0.9 | 0.9 cu ft; 18.1 x 17.7 x 31.5 in | Top load, automatic | 5 programs; 3 cold water levels; 680 RPM |
| BLACK+DECKER 0.9 | 0.9 cu ft; 48.4 lb | Top load, automatic | 5 cycles; stainless steel tub; 24-hour delay start |
| COSTWAY twin tub | 26 lb total; 16 x 27.5 x 32 in | Twin tub, semi-automatic | 18 lb wash side; 8 lb spin side; built-in drain pump |
| Borcolo 17.7 | 17.7 lb; 20 x 20 x 34 in | Top load, automatic | 10 programs; 4 water levels; 60 dB per listing |
| Auertech 3.0 | 3.0 cu ft; 25 x 25 x 39 in | Top load, automatic | 12 programs; 8 water levels; 1600 RPM spin |
The 6 Best Compact Washing Machines for Apartments
1. Magic Chef 2.0 cu ft Compact Top Load Washer
A 2.0 cubic foot compact top loader with a stainless steel tub, six programs (normal, cotton, heavy jeans, quick and anti-wrinkle), three water levels, up to 800 RPM spin, delay start and quick-connect and rear inlets for hot and cold water.
Suits: the largest drum in a portable form. Strengths: a stainless tub and hot and cold inlets. Weaknesses: at 83.5 lb it is not a light carry. Skip it if you need to move it up stairs often.
View Magic Chef 2.0 cu ft Compact Top Load Washer on Amazon
2. Magic Chef 0.9 cu ft Compact Top Load Washer
A small 0.9 cubic foot washer measuring 18.1 by 17.7 by 31.5 inches with a stainless steel tub, five programs, three cold water levels, 680 RPM spin, auto unbalance detection and a quick-connect kit for the faucet.
Suits: a tight closet or kitchen corner. Strengths: a small footprint and a faucet kit. Weaknesses: cold water levels only per the listing. Skip it if you want hot-water wash options.
View Magic Chef 0.9 cu ft Compact Top Load Washer on Amazon
3. BLACK+DECKER 0.9 cu ft Portable Washer
A 0.9 cubic foot fully automatic top loader with five cycles (heavy, gentle, normal, rapid and soak), an LED display, a stainless steel tub, three water levels, cold water settings and a delay start of up to 24 hours. The maker lists it at 48.4 lb.
Suits: small loads and a lighter unit. Strengths: a stainless tub and a long delay start. Weaknesses: the listing gives conflicting depth figures (31.5 in in the spec table, 17.7 in in the text). Skip it if you need exact dimensions before you buy.
View BLACK+DECKER 0.9 cu ft Portable Washer on Amazon
4. COSTWAY 26 lb Twin Tub Portable Washer
A twin tub with an 18 lb wash side and an 8 lb spin side, a 280W wash motor, 140W spin motor, a built-in drain pump, a wash timer up to 15 minutes and a spin timer up to 5 minutes. The maker says clothes come out about 90 percent dry and may need air drying.
Suits: a compact, low-footprint washer. Strengths: wash and spin at the same time. Weaknesses: you move clothes between tubs by hand, and the listing’s 20 dB noise figure looks too low to rely on. Skip it if you want a set-and-walk-away machine.
View COSTWAY 26 lb Twin Tub Portable Washer on Amazon
5. Borcolo 17.7 lb Portable Washer
A fully automatic 17.7 lb washer measuring 20 by 20 by 34 inches with ten wash programs, four water levels, an LED time display, a child lock and a 60 dB noise figure from the maker. It arrives pre-assembled.
Suits: an automatic washer with many programs. Strengths: ten programs and a small footprint. Weaknesses: the listing text says stainless steel inner tub while the spec table says plastic and enamel-coated steel. Skip it if drum material matters to you.
View Borcolo 17.7 lb Portable Washer on Amazon
6. Auertech 3.0 cu ft Fully Automatic Washer
A 3.0 cubic foot top-loading washer, 25 by 25 by 39 inches, with a 35 lb load claim, 12 programs, eight water levels, a 420W motor, 1600 RPM spin and a 4.5 ft built-in drain pump with a tub-clean function.
Suits: the biggest loads in this group. Strengths: eight water levels and a drain pump. Weaknesses: the title says washer dryer combo, but the listing describes washing only. Skip it if you expect it to dry clothes.
View Auertech 3.0 cu ft Fully Automatic Washer on Amazon
Care and Setup
- Level the machine with its feet before the first cycle.
- Keep the drain hose at the height the manual allows.
- Leave the lid open after use so the drum can air out.
- Wipe the drum and detergent area now and then.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying before measuring the space and the door width.
- Overloading a small drum.
- Skipping a faucet or drain check in a rental.
- Expecting a twin tub to behave like a fully automatic washer.
Compact Washer FAQ
Do they need special plumbing?
Most listings describe a faucet quick-connect or a drain hose, so confirm the setup in your unit.
Do any of them dry clothes?
The twin tub spins clothes damp-dry. None of the others here describes a dryer function.
The Short Version
For the largest compact drum, the Magic Chef 2.0. For a tight corner, the Magic Chef 0.9. For a light unit, the BLACK+DECKER. For wash and spin together, the COSTWAY twin tub. For many programs in a small frame, the Borcolo. For family-size loads, the Auertech.
