Best Washers for $800 or Less
These workhorses from CR's tests handle loads of laundry at a relatively low price
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You don’t have to pay $1,000 or more to get a washing machine that cleans well. Consumer Reports tests plenty of washers that cost that or more, but most of us would rather spend less.
And many of us do. According to the data intelligence firm OpenBrand, 69.5 percent of washers sold in the last four quarters ending in March 2025 were $789 or less. But there’s a wildcard in the wash: Tariffs could drive a spike in washer and dryer prices. That price increase is likely to be less painful than the 30 to 40 percent bump predicted for consumer electronics, says OpenBrand’s chief economist, Ralph McLaughlin. But it would still be painful.
“We expect less of an impact on appliances, about 15 percent, since the U.S. has existing appliance manufacturing capabilities,” he says.
Best Front-Loaders for $800 or Less
Front-load washers typically earn an excellent or very good score for cleaning performance in our tests, and many can be stacked with a dryer to save space. But their wash times are often long, and they require stooping down to load. Forty percent of front-loaders in our ratings are less than $800 (nine models).
Best Top-Load Agitator Washers for $800 or Less
Top-load agitator washers are usually the least expensive option, starting at around $450. Seventy-six percent of those in our ratings are priced at less than $800 (34 models). Their cycle times are typically shorter than those of other types of washing machines, but they also tend to be rough on clothes.
Best HE Top-Loaders for $800 or Less
Many high-efficiency top-loaders earn a very good or excellent rating for cleaning performance in our tests, but their cycle times tend to be on the longer side, often 70 to 110 minutes. Sixty-four percent of these washers in our ratings retail for less than $800 (16 models).
Best Compact for $800 or Less
Compact washers are typically electric front-loaders with smaller capacities and higher sticker prices (up to $2,450 in our ratings). At the time of this writing, just three compact washers we’ve tested cost less than $800, and we think only one is worth considering.
How CR Tests Washing Machines
To test how good a washing machine is at cleaning clothes, CR’s testers use fabric swatches stained with red wine, cocoa, carbon (which is similar to soot), and other hard-to-remove substances. They analyze each swatch with a spectrocolorimeter before and after washing. The lighter the stain after laundering, the higher the machine scores in washing performance.
We also evaluate how gentle a washer is on fabric, and record the amount of water and energy each machine uses. Our testers measure how much vibration the washer transmits to a wood floor, and our panelists judge the washer’s noise levels during the fill, agitate/tumble, drain, and spin cycles.
In addition to the lab test results, we incorporate each washer brand’s reliability and owner satisfaction scores from CR’s member survey into the Overall Score.
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