Can You Stack a Front Load Washer and Dryer?

On this page (8 sections)

1. How do you know if your washer and dryer can be stacked?
2. How does a stacking kit hold the dryer in place?
3. What are the height and clearance rules for a stacked pair?
4. Can you stack a front load washer and dryer in a closet?
5. What changes when you stack a compact pair?
6. Is a stacked pair or a washer dryer combo better?
7. What are the safety and vibration tips for a stack?
8. Which setup should you pick?

Yes, you can stack a front load washer and dryer, as long as both machines are stackable and the dryer sits on top with a proper kit or as part of a factory tower. The stack takes about the floor space of one machine, so it's the usual fix for a closet or narrow laundry corner.

Check the labels on both appliances first, because stacking the wrong pair can damage the cabinet or void the warranty.

The washer goes on the bottom. Its heavier drum and water load sit lower, and the dryer is lighter and easier to lift onto the top.

How do you know if your washer and dryer can be stacked?

Both machines must be stackable, and the labels inside the doors or on the back panels are where you confirm it. Look for "stackable" or "stacking kit required" on the washer and dryer.

A matching pair from the same brand is the safest route. Makers design the kit and the cabinet heights for their own machines, so the dryer feet line up with the kit rails.

If the two machines are different brands, you need a universal kit and a close size match. The dryer should be no wider or deeper than the washer, and the kit's straps need to reach around both.

What about the dryer type?

Vented and ventless dryers both stack, but the vent changes the planning. A vented dryer needs a hose to the wall duct, so leave a few inches behind the stack.

The Electrolux tower below uses ventless drying for that reason, so it suits closets with no outside wall. A ventless heat pump dryer also has no hose to kink when you lift the dryer into place.

Check the dryer's vent type before you plan the stack, because it decides whether you need wall clearance or a duct run at all.

How does a stacking kit hold the dryer in place?

A stacking kit sits between the two machines and straps them together. It spreads the dryer's weight across the washer top and stops the dryer from sliding during a spin cycle.

Kits vary. Some are a simple frame with brackets and screws; others, like the Kiss Core kit, add ratchet straps and a pull-out drying rack.

The straps do most of the safety work on universal kits.

The Kiss Core kit fits washers and dryers from 24 in to 29 in wide, up to 29 x 29 in in footprint. It installs without tools: you place it, adjust it, and tighten the straps.

The pull-out drying racks sit in the center of the kit, so you get a flat spot for delicates without adding another rack to the room. The kit weighs 6.67 pounds and stands 2 inches tall between the machines.

It lists Whirlpool, GE, Samsung, LG, Frigidaire, Bosch, Maytag, Kenmore, Electrolux, Amana, Crosley and Admiral among the brands it fits.

Should you use a brand kit or a universal kit?

A factory kit made for your exact pair fits best and often costs less than a universal one. Skip the universal kit when your dryer came with its own kit, because the brand kit lines up with the cabinet and the dryer feet.

Reach for a universal kit when the washer and dryer are different brands or an older pair whose kit is no longer sold. The trade-off is adjustment: you set the width and depth yourself and rely on the ratchet straps to lock the dryer down.

Measure the washer's top before ordering, since the kit's fit range tops out at 29 x 29 in.

What are the height and clearance rules for a stacked pair?

Measure the ceiling and the doorways before you stack. A full-size stack runs about 76 to 80 in tall, so a low closet shelf or a soffit can rule it out.

Check the machines' depth too. A front load washer with the door open needs about 42 to 54 in of depth, depending on the model.

That matters when the stack sits in a hallway or a tight closet. The Electrolux tower, for example, is 32 in deep but reaches 53.9 in with its door open.

The CONTOURE compact washer is 25.2 in deep and opens to 42.5 in.

Leave a little gap on each side and behind the stack for the hoses and the vent. The machines also need to sit level; an unlevel washer shakes more and stresses the kit.

The kit's own 2 in of height counts toward the total, so add it when you measure the ceiling.

If you need the stack higher for loading comfort, a pedestal changes the numbers. Our guide to whether you need a pedestal for a front load washer covers when it helps and when it just eats height.

Can you stack a front load washer and dryer in a closet?

Yes, a stack is the standard way to put laundry in a closet, as long as the opening and the ceiling allow it. A full-size stack needs about 27 in of width and 30 to 32 in of depth.

Bifold or sliding doors are the usual fit. A solid door that swings into the stack wastes the depth you just saved.

Ventless drying makes a closet stack easier. A vented dryer in a closed closet needs a duct to the outside, and some closets don't have one.

The Electrolux tower packs a 4.5 cu ft washer and an 8.0 cu ft dryer into one 27 in wide frame. It's 76.25 in tall and 32 in deep, so measure the closet ceiling first.

It meets ENERGY STAR and uses about 85 kWh a year.

It suits a large household that wants big capacity without two separate footprints. Electrolux says its SmartBoost premixing combines detergent and water before the wash for a deeper clean.

The stacked unit weighs 339 pounds, so check that the closet floor is solid before it goes in. Skip it if your closet can't take 76 in of height or if you want to keep your current dryer.

What changes when you stack a compact pair?

Compact machines stack the same way, but the pair is narrower and shorter. A 24 in compact stack fits closets and alcoves that a full-size pair can't.

The CONTOURE 24 in washer is built to stack with a matching dryer. Its 2.7 cu ft drum and 1400 RPM spin speed suit apartments, condos and RVs.

It offers 16 wash cycles and 5 temperature settings, with a stainless steel drum and automatic water level control that adjusts to each load. The spin speed is the part that matters for a stack: a faster spin pulls more water out, so the dryer on top has less work to do.

It's the pick when floor space is the limit and you don't need a full family load. Skip it if you regularly wash king-size bedding, since 2.7 cu ft fills fast.

It weighs 168 pounds and is built to stack with compatible dryers, so confirm your dryer is on that list before you build the stack. Measure the stack height with your compact dryer before you commit.

A compact stack still runs close to 70 in tall.

Is a stacked pair or a washer dryer combo better?

A stacked pair cleans and dries faster; a combo saves the most space. A separate dryer dries a full load in one pass, while a combo washes and dries in the same drum with a smaller dry capacity.

A stack needs the floor space of one machine but the height of two. A combo needs only one footprint and no stacking kit.

Our guide to how a washer dryer combo works explains the ventless drying cycle.

For households that dry every load, the stack is the safer bet. For a tiny flat or an RV, the combo wins on space.

Our washer dryer combo vs separate comparison covers the trade-offs in detail.

What are the safety and vibration tips for a stack?

Level the washer first, then strap the dryer down. Most stack problems start with an unlevel base or a loose kit.

The kit's straps only hold if the washer under them stays still, so fix the base before you tighten anything.

• Put the stack on a solid, level floor. A weak or springy floor makes any washer walk.
• Tighten the kit straps as the instructions say, then check them after the first few loads.
• Don't stack a dryer on a washer with a cracked top or a damaged cabinet.
• Keep the stack clear of shelves and door swings that could knock it.
• Pull the stack out slightly for hose and vent checks, then push it back level.

If the stack shakes, stop and fix the cause. A wobbling stack is a falling risk, not just a noise problem.

Re-check the straps after the first month, since new machines settle and the straps can loosen as the stack beds in.

Which setup should you pick?

Pick a stack when you have two stackable machines and enough height; pick a tower or combo when you want the space planned for you.

Choose the Kiss Core kit to stack separate front load machines you already own. Choose the Electrolux tower for a large household that wants big capacity in one footprint.

Choose the CONTOURE compact washer when a 24 in alcove is all you have.

If you're still choosing a pair, our roundup of the best washer and dryer sets covers matched pairs that stack. Measure height, depth and the vent path before you buy anything, because those three numbers decide whether the stack fits.

Add the kit's height to your total, and check the open-door depth as well as the closed depth.

So yes, you can stack front load washer and dryers safely, and the kit or tower is what makes the stack stable. Put the washer on the bottom, strap or frame the dryer on top, and check the ceiling before you start.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a stacking kit to stack a washer and dryer?

Yes for most separate pairs. A stacking kit holds the dryer in place on top of the washer and spreads its weight safely.

Factory laundry towers are the exception, since the frame is built for the stack.

Can you stack a dryer on top of a front load washer without a kit?

Don't. Without a kit or built-in frame, the dryer can slide or vibrate off the washer during a spin cycle.

The kit is the part that keeps a heavy appliance from falling.

Can you stack a vented dryer on top of a washer?

Yes, as long as the dryer is stackable and its vent hose reaches the wall duct. Leave room behind the stack for the vent, and check that the hose doesn't kink when the dryer is lifted into place.

Can you stack a top load washer and a dryer?

No, a top load washer can't go under a dryer because the lid needs to open. Stacking works with front load washers, where the door opens to the side and the top of the machine stays free.

How much space does a stacked washer and dryer save?

A stack takes about the width and depth of one machine, roughly 27 in wide and 30 to 32 in deep for full-size pairs. The savings come from the height, so the stack fits closets and narrow laundry corners that two side-by-side machines would fill.