A portable washing machine turns a bathroom, a closet or an RV galley into a laundry room. The full-automatic models hook to a sink faucet, fill themselves, wash, rinse and spin, then pump the water out through a hose; the cheaper twin-tub models ask you to fill them with a hose or a jug and move the clothes from the wash side to the spin side by hand. We ranked the portable washers in our appliances catalog by drum capacity, how much of the job the machine does for you, whether it has a drain pump or relies on gravity, the programs and water levels on offer, the footprint, and what thousands of owners report after months of weekly loads.
We have not run laundry through every one of these ourselves; the verdicts rest on the spec sheets and on the owner review history. Prices are not printed because they change daily; every button opens the live Amazon page. If you are setting up a small-space laundry corner, our laundry detergents guide covers what to put in the drum, and our microwaves guide covers the other compact appliance most apartment kitchens need.
How we picked
- Owner history first. Every pick has hundreds to thousands of owner reviews and solid to strong owner feedback; the two most-reviewed machines each have several thousand.
- Capacity stated honestly. We quote the manufacturer’s wash capacity in pounds or cubic feet and note where the spin side is smaller than the wash side on twin tubs.
- Drain method. Full-automatic picks have a built-in pump that lifts water into a sink or tub; twin tubs mostly use gravity, which matters if your drain is higher than the machine.
- Programs and water levels. We favored machines with several wash programs and at least three water levels, since a small load should not use a full drum of water.
- Real portability. Rollers or handles, a hookup that fits a standard faucet, and a footprint that fits a bathroom or closet.
The picks
BLACK+DECKER 1.7 Cu. Ft. Portable Washer, 11 lb. Capacity, BPWM16W, White
The BLACK+DECKER BPWM16W is the portable washer for people who want a real washing machine that happens to be on wheels. Its 1.7 cubic foot stainless steel tub takes 11 pounds of laundry, which is a full set of sheets or a week of one person’s clothes, and the control panel offers six cycles, three water levels and hot, warm or cold fills from the quick-connect faucet adapter. A built-in pump drains into the sink, a 24-hour delay start lets it run while you are at work, and a child lock keeps small hands off the dial. Owners praise how quietly the soft-close lid and balanced drum run compared with the twin tubs, and the thousands of owner reviews behind its strong owner feedback make it the safest choice here. The trade-off is bulk: at 36.6 inches tall and 70 pounds it needs a permanent corner rather than a closet shelf.
- Largest drum here: 11 lb loads handle jeans, towels and bedding
- Six cycles plus hot and cold fills, like a full-size washer
- Thousands of owner reviews with strong owner feedback, the biggest base on this page
- Rollers, side handles and leveling legs make it genuinely movable
- Heaviest and tallest machine on the page at about 70 lb
- Priced like two of the twin tubs
- Needs a faucet with a standard thread or an adapter for pull-down sprayers
COMFEE' Portable Washing Machine 0.9 cu.ft Compact Washer with LED Display
The COMFEE 0.9 cubic foot washer is the machine to buy when the BLACK+DECKER will not fit. At 18.1 inches wide and 31.5 inches tall it slides into a bathroom corner, an RV bay or even a bathtub, and it still does the whole job: five programs and three water levels, a rust-resistant steel tub, a drain pump that lifts water into the sink and auto unbalance detection that stops the dance across the floor. Owners like the clear lid and the quiet motor, and the thousands of owner reviews give it strong owner feedback that matches the BLACK+DECKER. What you give up is capacity: about six pounds per load means two or three small washes a week for one person, and the spin cycle leaves things damp enough to need a rack. For a studio apartment or a camper it is the best balance of size and automation on the page.
- Only 18 inches wide: fits beside a toilet, in an RV or on a shower tray
- Washes, rinses, spins and pumps out on its own
- Thousands of owner reviews with strong owner feedback
- Low energy use on the DOE label and an easy LED panel
- Small loads: a pair of jeans and a few shirts fill it
- Spin leaves clothes damp rather than nearly dry
- Inlet hose needs a threaded faucet or an adapter
Giantex Full-Automatic Washing Machine Portable Compact 1.34 Cu.ft Laundry Washer Spin with Drain Pump, 10 programs 8 Water Level Selections with LED Display 12 Lbs Capacity
The Giantex 1.34 cubic foot washer is the full-automatic machine owners rate highest, and the control panel explains why: ten programs, eight water levels and an LED timer that shows the preset delay before a wash and the minutes remaining during it. The honeycomb stainless tub is rated for 12 pounds, which puts it close to the BLACK+DECKER in load size while standing shorter, a built-in pump drains to the sink, and the automatic imbalance adjustment plus an adjustable foot keep a lopsided load from shaking the machine across tile. Thousands of owner reviews give it strong owner feedback, with the detergent and program choices singled out as helpful. It has a plastic cabinet rather than a metal one, washes only with the water temperature the faucet gives it, and the manual is brief, but for a one-bedroom apartment it is the best all-round full-automatic washer here.
- Best owner feedback of any full-automatic machine here
- Ten programs and eight water levels, the most flexible panel on the page
- 12 lb rated capacity in a smaller box than the BLACK+DECKER
- Delay start and child lock
- Plastic cabinet rather than metal
- Manual is terse; owners lean on the program chart
- No hot water inlet; it washes with whatever the faucet supplies
Giantex Portable Washing Machine, Full Automatic Washer and Dryer Combo, with Built-in Pump Drain 8 LBS Capacity Compact Laundry Washer Spin Dryer for Apartment RV Dorm
The Giantex 8-pound washer is the cheapest way to get a machine that fills, washes, rinses, spins and drains itself. Six program combinations cover everything from a quick spin to a soak-wash-rinse-spin, three water levels from 16 to 30 liters match the load, and the built-in aluminum pump sends water to a sink through the included tube, so there is no bucket bailing. It arrives ready to use with a clear lid to watch the cycle. Thousands of owner reviews give it solid rather than outstanding feedback: owners are happy with the price and the automation, and the common complaints are a noisy spin and the small 8-pound drum, which means a bath towel is a load on its own. The word dryer in the name refers to the spin cycle, not heat. For a dorm, an RV or a first apartment it is the sensible budget pick.
- Cheapest full-automatic washer on the page
- Pump drain and six programs cover every normal load
- Thousands of owner reviews with solid owner feedback
- Light enough for one person to carry up a dorm stairwell
- 8 lb capacity: towels and bedding go in one at a time
- Spin dry is a damp dry, not a tumble dryer despite the name
- Louder on spin than the COMFEE and BLACK+DECKER
SUPER DEAL Small Portable Washing Machine 9.9lb Mini Compact Washer Twin Tub Laundry Machine Top Load Spinning and Washing Combo 6.57 FT Inlet Gravity Drain Hose
The SUPER DEAL twin tub is the entry point to home laundry: a 5.5-pound wash tub on one side, a 4.4-pound spinner on the other, separate timers for each, and a 6.57-foot hose that hooks to a kitchen faucet. You fill it, set the wash timer, move the clothes across to spin, and let the gravity hose drain into a tub or onto a shower floor. Because the two sides work independently you can spin one load while the next washes, which makes it quicker than its size suggests. Thousands of owner reviews give it solid owner feedback; buyers in dorms, boats and tiny apartments like the price and the pace, and the complaints are about the small loads and the need for a drain lower than the machine. It will not wash a comforter, but for underwear, shirts and baby clothes it does the job for very little money.
- The lowest price on the page and the smallest footprint
- Wash one load while the previous one spins
- Thousands of owner reviews with solid owner feedback
- Light enough to lift onto a counter or into a car
- 5.5 lb wash side means small loads only
- Gravity drain: the hose must run downhill to a tub or floor drain
- You move clothes between tubs and fill by hand
COSTWAY Portable Washing Machine, 12Lbs Washer and 8Lbs Spinner, Blue+White
The COSTWAY twin tub is the one to choose if you like the twin-tub price but need to wash more than a few shirts at a time. Its wash side is rated for 12 pounds and the spinner for 8, so a load of jeans or a couple of bath towels fit, and the three-knob panel, with a wash selector, a 15-minute wash timer and a 5-minute spin timer, is simple enough for a grandparent or a teenager. A lint filter on the wash tub catches fluff and the whole thing is light enough to carry to a campsite. Thousands of owner reviews give it solid owner feedback; owners like how much it fits and how fast the spinner gets clothes line-ready, and the complaints are the usual twin-tub ones about gravity draining and moving wet clothes across by hand. For a family in an RV or a house without hookups it is the most capable semi-automatic washer on the page.
- 12 lb wash tub takes jeans, towels and a family load
- 8 lb spinner is the biggest spin side here
- Thousands of owner reviews with solid owner feedback
- Three plain knobs anyone can operate
- Still a gravity drain and manual tub transfer
- Bulkier than the SUPER DEAL and VCJ
- Hose may need an adapter for your faucet
VCJ Portable Washing Machine, Twin Tub Washing Machine Laundry Compact Washer spinner Combo with 14lbs capacity, 9Lbs Washer and 5Lbs Spinner dryer for Apartments RVs and Dorms
The VCJ twin tub splits the difference between the SUPER DEAL and the COSTWAY: a 9-pound wash tub with Gentle, Normal and Drain modes on the 15-minute timer, a 5-pound spinner on a 5-minute timer, and a 1300 RPM motor that owners say gets clothes close to dry before they hit the rack. The 14-inch depth is what makes it special; it stands in a closet or next to a toilet where the COSTWAY would not. Thousands of owner reviews give it solid owner feedback, with the spin speed and the clear window praised and the small spinner, which needs two runs to handle a full wash, the main complaint. It drains by gravity and you move the clothes across by hand, as on any twin tub. For a narrow apartment bathroom it is the twin tub to buy.
- 9 lb wash side with a gentle mode for delicates
- Narrow 14-inch depth fits a closet or beside a toilet
- Thousands of owner reviews with solid owner feedback
- Strong 1300 RPM spin wrings clothes nearly dry
- 5 lb spinner means two spins for a full wash
- Gravity drain and hand transfer like every twin tub
- Plastic hose fittings; owners suggest checking them for leaks
Compare the picks
| Product | Capacity | Type | Drain | Programs | Our score | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLACK+DECKER 1.7 cu ftBLACK+DECKER | 11 lb | Full-automatic | Pump | 6 cycles, 3 levels, hot/cold | 8.8/10 | 8.8 | See price |
| COMFEE 0.9 cu ftCOMFEE' | About 6 lb | Full-automatic | Pump | 5 programs, 3 levels | 8.8/10 | 8.8 | See price |
| Giantex 1.34 cu ftGIANTEX | 12 lb | Full-automatic | Pump | 10 programs, 8 levels | 9.0/10 | 9.0 | See price |
| Giantex 8 lbGIANTEX | 8 lb | Full-automatic | Pump | 6 programs, 3 levels | 8.4/10 | 8.4 | See price |
| SUPER DEAL twin tubSUPER DEAL | 5.5 lb wash / 4.4 lb spin | Twin tub | Gravity | Wash and spin timers | 8.4/10 | 8.4 | See price |
| COSTWAY twin tubCOSTWAY | 12 lb wash / 8 lb spin | Twin tub | Gravity | 3 knobs | 8.4/10 | 8.4 | See price |
| VCJ twin tubVCJ | 9 lb wash / 5 lb spin | Twin tub | Gravity | Gentle/Normal/Drain, 2 timers | 8.4/10 | 8.4 | See price |
Full-automatic or twin tub?
A full-automatic portable washer (BLACK+DECKER, COMFEE, both Giantex) works like a scaled-down top loader: connect the inlet hose to a faucet, hang the drain hose in the sink, choose a program and walk away. The pump lifts the water out, so the machine can sit on the floor below the sink. A twin tub (SUPER DEAL, COSTWAY, VCJ) costs a third to half as much and is lighter, but you fill it, move the wet clothes from the wash side to the spinner by hand, and drain it by gravity, which means the hose must run downhill into a tub or floor drain. Twin tubs also let you wash one load while spinning another, so they are faster per hour than their size suggests. If the machine will live in a bathroom and you can stand the hands-on routine, a twin tub is fine; if it is going to be your only washer for years, buy a full-automatic.
Capacity, water and hookups
Rated capacity is dry weight of laundry. As a rule of thumb, a bath towel is about 1.5 pounds, a pair of jeans 1.5 to 2 pounds, a T-shirt a third of a pound and a queen sheet set around 4 pounds. The 11 and 12 pound machines handle a full sheet set; the 5.5 to 8 pound machines take a day or two of clothes. Every machine here fills from a faucet with a threaded aerator, so check yours: pull-down kitchen sprayers and some bathroom taps need a cheap adapter, and the full-automatic machines wash at whatever temperature the faucet supplies except the BLACK+DECKER, which has separate hot and cold selections. Twin tubs can also be filled from a jug or a shower head, which is why they are popular on boats and at campsites.
Living with a portable washer
Put it on a level, waterproof floor; a bathroom or a laundry tray is ideal, and all four full-automatic picks have unbalance detection that stops the cycle if a heavy load shifts, but a tilted floor still makes them walk. Leave the lid open between loads so the tub dries, clean the lint filter weekly, and use a high-efficiency detergent in small doses, since the drums are small and rinse with less water than a full-size machine. None of these machines has a heater or a dryer: the spin leaves clothes damp, so plan on a drying rack or a clothesline, and in winter a small heater in the room shortens drying time considerably.
Do portable washing machines need special plumbing?
No. Every pick here connects to an ordinary faucet with an inlet hose and drains through a hose into a sink, tub or floor drain. Full-automatic models have a pump, so the drain hose can run upward into a sink; twin tubs drain by gravity and need the hose to run downhill.
How much laundry fits in a portable washer?
The BLACK+DECKER and Giantex 1.34 cu ft take 11 to 12 pounds, roughly a full sheet set or a week of one person clothes. The COMFEE and the Giantex 8 lb take about 6 to 8 pounds. Twin tubs wash 5.5 to 12 pounds but spin less at a time.
Will a portable washer dry my clothes?
No. The spin cycle removes most of the water but clothes come out damp. Twin tubs with a strong spinner, like the VCJ and COSTWAY, leave them nearly dry; full-automatic machines usually leave them a little wetter. Use a drying rack or line.
Are portable washing machines allowed in apartments?
Usually, because they plug into a standard outlet and connect to a sink rather than permanent plumbing, but check your lease. Put the machine on a waterproof floor and never leave a gravity-drain twin tub unattended with the hose off the drain.
Which portable washer is best for an RV?
The COMFEE 0.9 cu ft is the full-automatic pick for an RV because it is 18 inches wide and light on water and power. If you prefer a twin tub, the SUPER DEAL is the smallest and lightest and can be filled from a jug when there is no pressurized water.
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