The Best Front-Load Washers Under $1,000 of 2023

We love LG front loader washing machines, and the LG WM3700HWA is one of the reasons why. In addition to its stellar cleaning performance, it's also one of the most water- and energy-efficient washers we've tested. With a dizzying array of features, including an Allergiene cycle that combats pet dander, to the Add Garments button, which allows you to easily pause the cycle and throw in more laundry, it's not surprising that we found this washer to be a people-pleaser.

Even better, the WM3700HWA has a door stop that props the door open after a cycle finishes to help the door gasket dry. This feature may seem minor, but allowing the gasket proper time to dry can prevent mold growth that results in terrible smells. One thing to consider is that the control panel isn't backlit, so to prevent eyestrain, we recommend this washer for well-lit laundry rooms, rather than sparsely-lit basements. That shouldn't be a problem though, since this washer's performance and energy savings mean you'll be dying to show it off to anyone who drops by.

Matching dryer: LG DLEX3700W

If you want a lot of bang for your buck, then the 4.5-cubic-foot LG WM3500CW is the front-load washer for you. Like most LG washers, you can customize each part of the cycle, from the timing, to the amount of spin, to the level of soil on your clothes. This washer did stellar in our lab tests; its stain-removal capabilities has it cleaning as well as or better than more expensive washers.

The Cold Wash feature makes it easy for you to save money on your utility bills, and if you're going to be away from home for a while, the Fresh Care feature continues to tumble your clean laundry so that it doesn't sit and get stale in the washer. Last but not least, this washer works with Google Assistant. You could, in fact, turn your washer on with a voice command. The LG WM3500CW packs great cleaning performance and neat features into a relatively small price tag.

Matching dryer: LG DLE3500W

If you want a workhorse front-load washing machine that has fast cycles and is both tough on stains and gentle with delicates, look no further than the Samsung WF45R6300AV. Like most Samsung washing machines, it has a dizzying array of cycles and cycle options, but the ones that stands out the most are the Sanitize cycle, which gets hot enough to kill all sorts of germs and bacteria, and the No Spin option, which is the best and safest choice for delicate clothes like sports gear, lingerie, bathing suits, and blouses.

The WF45R6300AV is no slouch when it comes to stain removal; the Heavy and Normal cycles are among the best cycles we've ever tested in our labs, hands down. The Quick Wash cycle is effective as well, but the best part of the Quick Wash cycle is its short run time of 28 minutes. If you're a big believer in smart home gadgetry and the Internet of Things, this Bixby-enabled washer won't disappoint. You can get alerts on your phone when a cycle finishes, and download a cycle from Samsung's cycle library that matches your exact stain needs. For a washer that gets the job done right the first time and has useful extra features, be sure to check out the Samsung WF45R6300AV.

Matching dryer: Samsung DVE45R6300V

The Samsung WF53BB8700AT brings the Bespoke line of design-forward appliances to your laundry room—and it won’t completely break your budget.

The WF53BB8700AT is a workhorse washer. Its cycles are both faster and erase more stains than the average washer. It’s important that it nails this core functionality, because it makes the clean aesthetics seem more like a bonus than something that’s inflating the price.

Where this washer really segments its value is with its feature set. You’ll get steam cycles capable of sanitizing or removing wrinkles. It also has a self-cleaning mode, interior LED, quiet cycles, and it can stack up with its paired dryer and still fit inside your laundry closet.

The Samsung WF53BB8700AT has a large, 6.1-cubic-foot wash drum, making it a great investment for larger families.

Overall, this washer offers a ton of value for its price.

_Matching dryer: Samsung DVE53BB8700T

With its lower upfront cost, it's no surprise that the Samsung WF42H5000AW is pretty bare bones. However, you'll be pleasantly surprised to fine that this washer, which has a fairly average cleaning performance in general, also has an absolutely stellar Heavy Duty cycle that blasted stains away.

There are a number of extra wash and cycle options, but the panel is legible and easy to navigate. The WF42H5000AW isn't a fancy washer by any definition, but it will clean your clothes without a lot of extra fuss, and that's all you need.

Matching dryer: Samsung DV42H5000EW

Most of the hype surrounding the large capacity, 5.0-cubic-foot Samsung WF50K7500AW front-load washer is focused on its AddWash feature—an extra door on the front that does nothing extra—when it should be focused on its solid stain removal and fast cycles. The Normal cycle is only 30 minutes long, and in that time, it effortlessly deals with stains, even with a large load of laundry. While the Normal cycle is a solid performer all by itself, for really tough stains, the Heavy cycle cleans even better. If you prefer to save money on heating up water, the Eco Cold cycle will make your wallet happy.

Like most high-tech washers, there's plenty of customization options here: You can set the water temperature, soil level, and spin amount in a given cycle, with extra rinses and spin options also available. This is a good washer for large families; it gets through mountains of laundry more efficiently than its competitors.

Matching dryer: Samsung DV50K7500EW

Long-time fans of Maytag washing machines won’t be disappointed with the Maytag MHW6630HC. In addition to the Normal and Heavy cycles, which both have very strong cleaning performances, this washer also has a speedy, highly effective 13-minute-long Quick cycle.

While our testing indicates that this washer is less gentle with clothes than we’d hoped, we think that the MHW6630HC makes up for it with some neat features. You can’t go wrong with a steam option, an extended tumble cycle to keep post-wash clothes from clumping and wrinkling, and the “Extra Power” button, which can help get tough stains out of family-sized loads of laundry. If you need tough stains removed in a short time span, check out the Maytag MHW6630HC front-load washer.

Matching dryer: Maytag MED6630HC

There’s a lot to like about the Samsung WF45R6100AW washer. Not only does it have an amazing number of cycle options (water temperature, load dirtiness, number of rinses, etc.), but its Heavy cycle is near-perfect, and one of the best stain removing cycles we’ve ever seen during lab testing. While we found that this washer was a little harder, wear-and-tear-wise, on clothes than we usually prefer, we think that the trade-off with its amazing stain removal ability is worth it.

Like all of the more recent Samsung front-load washers, the WF45R6100AW has one additional feature that you’ll really appreciate: instead of having one or two specific steam cycles, this washer uses steam cleaning in half of the available cycles, including Normal, Heavy, and Sanitize. If you need a washer to tackle your toughest, dirtiest laundry, the WF45R6100AW won’t let you down.

Matching dryer: Samsung DVE45R6100C

The GE GFW850SPNRS is a feature-packed, high-performing washing machine that won’t break the bank. This washer debuts GE’s take on the smelly washing machine problem, which involves a door gasket that incorporates Microban antibacterial materials and a through-door vent system that doubles as a dryer for small laundry loads. With built-in WiFi, a reversible door, a stunning sapphire blue finish, automatic detergent dispensing, and a steam cycle, this washer is really pushing the envelope when it comes to useful features.

While the features are nice, what you really need in a washer is performance, and this washing machine doesn’t disappoint. Its stain removal abilities were strong across the board for the four cycles we tested (Normal, PowerWash, Quick Wash, and Delicates), and it exhibited relatively low wear and tear on our test laundry. Its 21-minute-long Quick Wash cycle will get your laundry clean in the blink of an eye. For a washing machine that’s tough on stains and that you won’t mind showing off to visitors, check out the GE GFW850SPNRS.

Matching dryer: GE GFD85ESPNRS

If you’re in the market for a closet-depth washer, the Whirlpool WFW6620HW is a great choice. Its cleaning performance is on point, especially when you access the Sanitize and Steam options.

For a washer in its price range, the WFW6620HW is jam packed with special features. It also has unique cycle selection where you choose "what to wash" and "how to wash it," which might be a more intuitive system for some.

Our one caveat: make sure that the machine is perfectly level during installation. Otherwise, the vibrations and noise might sour your experience.

Matching dryer: Whirlpool WED6620HW

The Maytag MHW5630HW is built for families on the go who are battling busy schedules and an abundance of tough stains. This front-loading washing machine is an above average performer across the board as it tackles normal and delicate cycle settings. Where it really shines is on its Heavy Duty cycle.

A 15-minute quick cycle helps you squeeze in a load when you’re tight on time. The 12-hour Fresh Spin setting helps keep clothing fresh if you wash a load before you leave but don’t come home until hours later. We are disappointed in the Extra Power setting—it doesn’t increase cleaning performance and extends the wash time of the cycle.

Matching dryer: Maytag MED5630HW

The Kenmore 41262 offers more innovation for less. This front-loading washer has plenty of laundry innovations that have come out over the years but at a fraction of the cost. For example, the 41262 has Stay Fresh—a feature that keeps your laundry from getting musty by tumbling after a cycle has finished. It also comes with a magnetic stopper that props the door open after a wash. While this might not seem like a big deal, letting the door gasket dry after a wash helps to prevent mold growth, which could lead to a smelly washer that makes you dread laundry day.

With Heavy Duty and Normal cycles that do a great job on stains, and a 15-minute-long Express cycle, this is a great washer by any measure. If you've been on the fence about switching to a front-loader, the 41262 is a great place to start looking.

Matching dryer: Kenmore 81182