The Best Washing Machines of 2026
| Product | Score | Cleaning performance(30%) | Capacity & cycles(15%) | 3-Year Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Samsung Bespoke WF53BB8700AVBest Overall |
8.4 |
9.0/10 |
8.5/10 |
$1,451.53checked Sep 15, 2026 |
 LG WM6700HBABest Value |
8.3 |
9.0/10 |
8.0/10 |
$1,402.55checked Sep 15, 2026 |
Whirlpool WFW6605MWAlso Consider |
6.7 |
6.5/10 |
8.3/10 |
$876.49checked Sep 15, 2026 |
Maytag MTW6205RWAlso Consider |
6.6 |
7.0/10 |
7.0/10 |
$849.00checked Sep 15, 2026 |
Sorted by score. Prices come from each seller's site on the date shown and change often.
If you want the biggest drum and the lowest running cost in this lineup, buy the Samsung Bespoke WF53BB8700AV. It holds 5.3 cu. ft., uses just 103 kWh per year, and carries the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient badge, for $1,399.00 at Samsung.com. The LG WM6700HBA is close behind at $1,349.00: the same ENERGY STAR Most Efficient tier, a 1,300 RPM spin that pulls more water out before the dryer even starts, and a 10-year parts warranty on the direct-drive motor.
On a tighter budget, the Whirlpool WFW6605MW covers the most wash cycles of any washer here, 37 in total, for $799.99, though its 150 kWh/yr energy use is the highest of the three ENERGY STAR-certified machines. If you prefer a top-load agitator washer, the Maytag MTW6205RW runs $849.00 and backs its direct-drive motor and stainless steel basket with a 10-year limited parts warranty, but it carries no ENERGY STAR rating.
How we picked
We scored each washer on five criteria: cleaning performance (30% of the total score), capacity and cycle count (15%), water and energy efficiency (20%), reliability and warranty (20%), and 3-year cost of price plus energy (15%). These are researched picks, not machines we ran in a lab: we read each brand’s own product page and official spec sheet (lg.com, samsung.com, whirlpool.com, maytag.com) plus the ENERGY STAR Product Finder certification record for each model’s kWh per year and Integrated Water Factor. Full methodology at /how-we-score/.
What to look for
- Integrated Water Factor (IWF) of 3.0 or lower. ENERGY STAR’s clothes washer specification rates efficiency partly on IWF; the four washers here range from 2.9 to 3.2.
- Annual energy use under 110 kWh/yr. The ENERGY STAR-certified washers in this list run 103 to 150 kWh/yr. That 47 kWh/yr gap adds roughly $24 in electricity cost over 3 years at $0.17/kWh.
- Capacity of at least 5.0 cu. ft. That is enough room to wash a queen-size comforter without a second load.
- Motor warranty of 10 years or more. All four washers here back their direct-drive motor for a decade; treat anything shorter as a red flag on a washer over $700.
- At least 20 wash cycles on a front loader. Steam, sanitize, and delicate cycles only help if the washer actually has them: this list ranges from 10 cycles on Maytag’s top loader to 37 on the Whirlpool.
- Max spin speed of 1,200 RPM or higher on a front loader. A faster spin pulls more water out before the dryer starts, which cuts dry time.
FAQ
Is a front-load or top-load washer better?
The front-load washers in this list, from LG, Samsung, and Whirlpool, use less water and energy per their ENERGY STAR IWF and kWh/yr ratings than the top-load agitator Maytag, which is not ENERGY STAR certified. Top-load agitator washers like the Maytag MTW6205RW load without bending down and skip the front-load door seal, but they are rougher on delicate fabrics.
What do IMEF and IWF actually measure?
Integrated Modified Energy Factor (IMEF) measures cu. ft. of capacity washed per kWh of total energy, covering the machine, water heating, and standby power. Integrated Water Factor (IWF) measures gallons used per cu. ft. of capacity. A lower IWF and a higher IMEF both mean a more efficient washer.
How much does a washing machine cost to run for 3 years?
Using each washer’s ENERGY STAR annual kWh figure at the U.S. average residential rate of $0.17/kWh, 3-year electricity cost ranges from about $52.53 for the Samsung WF53BB8700AV at 103 kWh/yr to $76.50 for the Whirlpool WFW6605MW at 150 kWh/yr. That is on top of the purchase price, and it does not include water or detergent.
Does a 10-year motor warranty cover the whole washer?
No. On the LG, Samsung, and Maytag washers in this list, the 10-year term covers parts only on the direct-drive motor, not labor and not other components like the control board or door seal. Full parts-and-labor coverage on all four washers here runs 1 year from the manufacturer.
Why isn’t the Maytag MTW6205RW ENERGY STAR certified?
Maytag’s own product page lists “Energy Star Qualified: No” for the MTW6205RW. Many agitator-style top-load washers use more water per cycle than front-load designs, which can keep a model out of ENERGY STAR certification even when other specs, like a 10-year motor warranty, are competitive. See /cleaning-laundry/ for more on matching a washer to your laundry routine.
Best Overall: Samsung Bespoke WF53BB8700AV
Samsung Bespoke WF53BB8700AV
We don't earn anything from this link.
What we like
- +Largest drum in this lineup at 5.3 cu. ft.
- +Lowest annual energy use in the group at 103 kWh/yr
- +10-year motor warranty plus a separate 3-year stainless drum warranty
What we don't
- −Highest purchase price in this lineup at $1,399.00
- −1200 RPM max spin is slightly lower than the LG's 1,300 RPM
Skip it if
Skip it if $1,399.00 is above budget; the Whirlpool below covers most of the same core cycles for about $600 less.
The Practical Math · 3 years
| Washer | $1,399.00 |
| Electricity: 103 kWh/yr (ENERGY STAR) x 3 yrs x $0.17/kWh | $52.53 |
| Total | $1,451.53 |
Best Value: LG WM6700HBA
LG WM6700HBA
We don't earn anything from this link.
What we like
- +1,300 RPM spin pulls out more water, so dryer time drops
- +ENERGY STAR Most Efficient rating at 105 kWh/yr
- +10-year parts warranty on the direct-drive motor
What we don't
- −$1,349.00 puts it above the group's median price
- −5.0 cu. ft. drum is smaller than the Samsung's 5.3 cu. ft.
Skip it if
Skip it if you want a lower upfront price and do not need AI-guided cycle selection.
The Practical Math · 3 years
| Washer | $1,349.00 |
| Electricity: 105 kWh/yr (ENERGY STAR) x 3 yrs x $0.17/kWh | $53.55 |
| Total | $1,402.55 |
Also Consider: Whirlpool WFW6605MW
Whirlpool WFW6605MW
We don't earn anything from this link.
What we like
- +37 wash cycles, the most of any washer in this list
- +Lowest purchase price among the front-load picks at $799.99
- +Stainless steel drum with a 2-spring, 4-damper suspension
What we don't
- −150 kWh/yr is the highest energy use of the ENERGY STAR-certified models here
- −IMEF of 2.76 trails the LG and Samsung's 3.1
- −Whirlpool's product page does not publish a maximum spin RPM
Skip it if
Skip it if efficiency ranks above price for you; 150 kWh/yr adds real electricity cost over 3 years.
The Practical Math · 3 years
| Washer | $799.99 |
| Electricity: 150 kWh/yr (ENERGY STAR) x 3 yrs x $0.17/kWh | $76.50 |
| Total | $876.49 |
Also Consider: Maytag MTW6205RW
Maytag MTW6205RW
We don't earn anything from this link.
What we like
- +10-year limited parts warranty on the direct-drive motor and stainless steel basket
- +Lowest purchase price in this lineup at $849.00
- +Extra Power button adds a boosted pre-wash to any cycle
What we don't
- −Not ENERGY STAR certified, so no published kWh/yr or IWF figure exists to estimate energy cost
- −Only 10 wash cycles, fewer than any front-load pick here
- −Top-load agitator design is harder on delicate fabrics than a front loader
Skip it if
Skip it if you wash delicates often or want a published efficiency rating to estimate running cost.
The Practical Math · 3 years
| Washer | $849.00 |
| Total | $849.00 |