Small Washing Machine: How to Choose by the Space You Have (2026)

Before choosing a small washing machine, you need to know which dimension you are short of: depth, width or height; each has a different solution, and the solution is not always smaller capacity.

A regular front loader is ⁦60 cm⁩ wide, ⁦85 cm⁩ high and ⁦55–⁦65 cm⁩⁩ deep. Almost every "small" machine differs from this in only one dimension:

• Shallow machine (Slim): ⁦60 cm⁩ wide and 85 high, but about ⁦44–⁦48 cm⁩⁩ deep. Also available in 8 and 9 kg.
• Top loader: about ⁦40 cm⁩ wide, about ⁦90 cm⁩ high and about ⁦60 cm⁩ deep. ⁦6–7⁩ kg.
• ⁦6–7⁩ kg front loader: usually the same body as a regular machine, sometimes slightly shallower.

How to tell what you need:

• The niche is wide enough (⁦60 cm⁩ or more) but shallow, for example when the machine sticks out past the countertop or blocks a door: Slim.
• The niche is narrower than ⁦60 cm⁩, for example in a narrow bathroom or a closet: top load.
• The space is fine, but you live alone or rent and need a cheap, light machine: ⁦6–7⁩ kg.

The common mistake: buying a 6 kg machine because it is "small", and discovering it has the same dimensions as an 8 kg machine. Before giving up capacity, check the actual dimensions. The 7 and 8 kg size comparison is in our 7 kg washing machine and 8 kg washing machine guides.

Another case worth knowing: apartments with no room for two appliances, washer and dryer. Here the solution is not necessarily a small machine, but a washer dryer, which saves a whole appliance. More on this below.

And for students and renters: a small, cheap machine suits you when you move every year or two. It is easier to transport, fits almost any niche, and it is no great loss if you need to replace it. But if you plan to stay, think about the next apartment and not just the current one.

A Slim machine is the best solution for most small apartments, because it fits a shallow niche without giving up ⁦8–9⁩ kg.

Per the specs sellers published in November 2026:

• LG WFS8014WB: 8 kg, 1,200 RPM, about ⁦47.5 cm⁩ deep at most sellers (53.5 at one). About ₪⁦1,750–2,490.⁩
• LG WFS9014WW: 9 kg, 1,200 RPM, about ⁦47.5 cm⁩ deep per one seller (here too another seller writes 53.5). About ₪⁦1,880–2,890.⁩
• Samsung WW80FG5L32AE: 8 kg, up to 1,200 RPM, about ⁦47 cm⁩ deep per one seller. About ₪⁦1,840–2,490.⁩
• Fujicom FJ-WM69: 6 kg, 1,000 RPM, about ⁦44 cm⁩ deep per one seller (45 at another). About ₪⁦850–1,340.⁩

What do you give up with a shallow machine? Usually spin: most Slim models reach 1,200 RPM, not 1,400. In a home without a dryer this is barely noticeable. In a home with a dryer, an extra 200 RPM shortens each drying cycle a little. A shallow drum also means clothes move in a smaller space, so it is better not to fill it to the top.

Why do the dimensions contradict each other? On LG comparison pages we saw a depth of ⁦47.5 cm⁩ at most sellers and 53.5 at one for the same model. Perhaps one of them includes the door or the back panel, and perhaps it is a mistake. ⁦6 cm⁩ is exactly the difference between a machine that fits and one that does not, so check the measurement on the importer's page or in the manual before ordering.

Tip: if the niche is shallow but there is room above, a Slim is also the right base for a stack with a dryer. Check that there is a suitable stacking kit, because a dryer's depth is usually greater than a shallow machine's.

Between LG and Samsung in an 8 kg Slim, the differences are small: LG with a direct-drive motor and AI DD, Samsung with AI EcoBubble and SmartThings. Both are in a similar price range, so decide by the price that week and service in your area. The differences between the brands are detailed in our LG washing machine and Samsung washing machine guides.

A top load washing machine is almost the only solution when the niche is narrower than ⁦60 cm⁩: it is about ⁦40 cm⁩ wide and opens from above, with no door that needs room to open.

Per the specs and prices on comparison pages:

• Electrolux EW5T7612AM: 6 kg, 1,200 RPM, about 40×91×⁦61 cm⁩ per one seller, AutoSense and retractable wheels. About ₪⁦1,600–2,200.⁩
• Electrolux EW6T3733BM: 7 kg, 1,300 RPM, from about ₪2,180.
• AEG LTX6G7211AM: 7 kg, 1,200 RPM, ProSense, from about ₪2,070.
• AEG LTX6G6211AM: 6 kg, 1,200 RPM, from about ₪1,850.

What to check before choosing a top loader:

• Free height: the machine is taller than ⁦85 cm⁩ (about 91 on the EW5T7612AM), and you also need room to open the lid upward. It cannot go under a countertop or low shelf.
• Depth: about ⁦60 cm⁩, like a regular machine. It saves width, not depth.
• Consumption: top loaders usually get a lower label rating. The EW5T7612AM is listed as class D under the previous system by most sellers.
• Price: a 7 kg top loader costs as much as a ⁦9–10⁩ kg front loader. It is a space solution, not a money saver.

An advantage people do not always consider: no bending. For older people or those with back pain, that is reason enough to choose a top loader even when there is space.

The full comparison of top loaders, including consumption and dimensions, is in our top-load washing machine guide, and Electrolux and AEG models in our Electrolux and AEG washing machine guide.

And note: you cannot stack a dryer on a top loader, because the lid opens upward. If you want a dryer, it will need its own space.

For one person, students or a studio apartment, a ⁦6–7⁩ kg front loader for about ₪⁦850–1,500⁩ is enough, as long as you know what you are giving up.

Per store prices in November 2026:

• Fujicom FJ-WM69: 6 kg, 1,000 RPM, from about ₪850, about ⁦44 cm⁩ deep per a seller.
• Midea MF100W60: 6 kg, 1,000 RPM, about ₪⁦1,000–1,490,⁩ class D under the previous system.
• Midea MFL70-U1201: 7 kg, 1,200 RPM, about ₪⁦1,040–1,490.⁩
• Samsung WW7ST4043CE: 7 kg, 1,400 RPM, about ₪⁦1,400–2,000.⁩
• Electrolux EWF7028M6WA: 7 kg, 1,200 RPM, class A on the new standard, about ₪⁦1,570–1,990.⁩

What do you give up with cheap 6 kg machines? Spin (1,000 RPM and sometimes 800), quiet (about ⁦76–⁦80 dB⁩⁩ per sellers), and sometimes energy rating and a known importer's service. In a student apartment that is usually fine. In an apartment where you hang laundry indoors in winter, weak spin is noticeable.

How much laundry fits in 6 kg? One person's laundry for a week, or a double bedding set with a few towels. For a couple it is already tight, and 7 kg gives some headroom. Cheap machines, sales and second-hand are detailed in our cheap washing machine guide.

A common question is about portable mini machines of ⁦2–4⁩ kg, which connect to a tap and suit a caravan or balcony. We did not check such models in this guide. They can suit very small loads, but most do not replace a regular machine: capacity is small, spin is weak and some have no water heating. If you are considering one, check the spec and warranty carefully.

Remember that many ⁦6–7⁩ kg machines have no shallow version, so in an apartment with a shallow niche they are not necessarily the solution. In such cases, an 8 kg Slim will fit better and wash more.

In a small niche every centimeter counts, so measure not only the machine's spot but also the plumbing, the door opening and the way in.

Measuring checklist:

• Width: wall to wall or cabinet to cabinet, at the narrowest point. Leave ⁦1–⁦2 cm⁩⁩ on each side so you can slide the machine in and out.
• Depth: from the wall to the front edge of the countertop or door frame. Add ⁦5–⁦10 cm⁩⁩ at the back for the tap, drain hose and cable.
• Height: under a countertop, check for ⁦85 cm⁩ plus clearance. For a top loader, also measure the height needed to open the lid.
• Door opening: on a front loader the door sticks out when open. Make sure it does not hit a wall, cabinet or toilet.
• The way in: front door, bathroom door, narrow hallway, elevator and stairs. The Standards Institution of Israel explicitly recommends measuring the openings in your home before buying.

Common mistakes:

• Measuring the niche and forgetting the tap that sticks out of the wall.
• Assuming every 7 kg machine is shallower. Not always.
• Relying on one measurement from a seller's page. We saw gaps of up to ⁦6 cm⁩ in depth between sellers for the same model.
• Forgetting the drain outlet: a hose that kinks behind a machine pushed against the wall can block draining.

If the dimensions are borderline, ask the store for the model's manual or installation drawing. Most manufacturers include exact dimensions there, including with the door open.

And once the machine is in place, run a short empty cycle and check for leaks at the back and that the machine does not move during spin. In a narrow niche it is hard to notice a leak until it has already damaged the cabinet or floor.

With a small machine, the key questions are about exact dimensions and returns; a machine that does not fit the niche is the most expensive problem that can happen.

Questions to ask before paying:

• What is the exact depth, with and without the door? Ask for the number from the manual or the importer, not just the product page.
• What is the return policy if the machine does not fit? At some stores returning a large product involves a delivery fee, and sometimes a cancellation fee. Make sure you know in advance.
• Do the movers put the machine in place, or leave it at the entrance? In a narrow niche this matters.
• Does delivery include taking out and removing the old machine?
• Is there a dryer stacking kit that fits this model, if you want to add a dryer later?
• Who provides the warranty, and for how long? With cheap brands like Fujicom the importer's name does not appear on the product page.

It also helps to photograph the niche with an open tape measure and show the seller. Experienced sellers can spot problems like a protruding tap, a low drain hose or a door frame that narrows the entrance.

And if you are between two models of similar depth, prefer the one with more clearance. A machine that fits exactly, with no room for plumbing, will press on the hoses behind it, and over time that can kink the drain hose or cause a leak. An extra ⁦2–⁦3 cm⁩⁩ of clearance is worth more than any feature.

Finally, if the machine stands on an open service balcony, ask whether it is suitable for outdoor placement and how to protect it. Direct sun and rain damage the control panel and seals, and some manufacturers mention this in the warranty terms.

If the problem is no room for both a washer and a dryer, a small machine will not solve it; the solutions are a washer dryer or a washer and dryer stack.

A washer dryer washes and dries in the same appliance, in a regular machine's body (60×⁦85 cm⁩). For example, the Samsung WD90T6542BE washes 9 kg and dries 6 kg, and per store prices starts at about ₪2,180. The downside: it dries less than it washes, and a wash-and-dry cycle is long. The full comparison is in our washer dryer combo guide.

Stack: a washing machine below and a dryer above, with a stacking kit. It takes the same floor space as one machine, but needs about 1.75 m of height or more. If your machine is a Slim, check that the dryer suits it in depth and that there is a matching stacking kit. The differences between dryer types are in our best dryer guide.

In a small apartment there is another consideration: heat and humidity. A heat pump dryer heats the room less than a condenser dryer, and uses about ⁦600 W⁩ instead of about 2,800. In a small bathroom without a window this is noticeable.

And if there is no room for any dryer, choose a machine with the highest spin possible. Every extra 200 RPM removes more water from the clothes, which shortens drying on an indoor rack.

In a small apartment the machine is close to every room, so it is worth investing in a stable installation, a proper electrical connection and ventilation.

Noise and vibration:

• Level the feet with a spirit level. A narrow machine is less stable, and vibration during spin is more noticeable.
• Remove the transit bolts before the first run.
• Stand it on a hard floor. A wooden floor or raised platform increases vibration.
• Run spins at reasonable hours; in older buildings the noise carries to the neighbors.

Electricity and water:

• Connect to a fixed outlet, not a power strip or extension cord. A washing machine draws about ⁦2,000 W⁩ while heating. (Israel runs on 230V/50Hz; a US 110V machine would need a transformer.)
• In a bathroom, the outlet must be protected from water splashes and at a suitable distance from the shower. If in doubt, ask an electrician.
• Make sure the tap is accessible, so you can close it when you leave home for a long time.

Ventilation and maintenance: in a small bathroom without a window, leave the machine door and detergent drawer open after every wash, otherwise odor and mold will appear in the seal within weeks. Run a drum-clean program once a month and clean the filter every month or two. The manufacturers' instructions are in our washing machine cleaning guide.

In a rented apartment, check with the landlord whether you may install in the spot you chose, and whether there is a proper drain connection. Moving a drain or tap is a plumber's job, not a store's.