You're standing in the middle of a gutted laundry room or maybe just staring at a leaking 15-year-old top-loader, and you have to make a choice. It’s the classic appliance store showdown. Do you stack 'em high to save floor space, or do you stick with a side by side washer dryer layout?
Most people think going vertical is the "modern" way. It’s trendy. It looks like those high-end Pinterest closets. But honestly? For a lot of actual human beings who do five loads of laundry a week, the side-by-side configuration is still the undisputed king of ergonomics and repairability.
Let's get real about the physics of your back.
When you have a side by side washer dryer, you have a massive, flat surface across the top. You might not think a countertop is a "feature," but try folding a king-sized fitted sheet while balancing a laundry basket on a wobbly plastic stool because your stackable unit took up all the folding space. You can’t.
The Countertop Advantage You Didn't Know You Needed
If you go with front-loaders side-by-side, you can install a single piece of laminate, quartz, or even a cheap butcher block across both machines. Suddenly, you have five or six feet of workspace. It changes the entire vibe of the chore. Instead of a cramped closet, you have a workstation.
I’ve seen people use that space for more than just socks. It becomes a potting station for indoor plants, a place to sort mail, or just a spot to dump the "mystery bin" of stuff found in pockets. You lose every square inch of that utility the second you stack them.
Then there’s the height issue.
If you’re shorter than 5'5", reaching the controls on a stacked dryer can be a daily annoyance. Some brands like LG and Samsung have started putting "Center Control" panels on their stacked WashTowers to fix this, but if you’re buying individual units and stacking them with a kit, that dryer dial is going to be way up there. With a side by side washer dryer, everything is at waist height. It's accessible. It's easy.
Repair Techs Secretly Hate Your Stacked Units
Ask any appliance repair technician—like the folks over at Yale Appliance or the guys who run the popular "Appliance Repair Forum"—about their least favorite jobs. They will almost always mention stacked units in tight closets.
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Why? Because if your washer (which is always on the bottom because it’s heavier) has a bearing failure or a pump leak, the technician has to physically unstack the dryer first. This often requires two people. That means you're paying for two labor hours just to get to the machine that needs fixing.
In a side by side washer dryer setup, you just pull the broken machine out. It’s a 10-second job. You save money on labor, and the tech doesn't spend half the appointment grumbling about your floor-to-ceiling cabinetry.
Dealing With the Vibration Myths
There is this weird idea that side-by-side units vibrate more because they aren't "locked" into a tower. It’s actually the opposite.
Front-load washers spin at incredible speeds—often 1,200 to 1,400 RPM. That creates a lot of G-force. When that machine is on the floor, the energy goes into the subfloor. When it’s the base of a 7-foot tower, any slight imbalance in the washer makes the dryer on top sway like a skyscraper in an earthquake.
If you live in an older home with wooden joists, a side by side washer dryer is almost always the quieter choice.
Pedestals: The Luxury of Not Bending Over
If you have the room for a side-by-side, you have the option of pedestals. These are the 10-to-15-inch drawers that sit under the machines.
They serve two purposes:
- They store all those heavy detergent jugs and vinegar bottles.
- They raise the door opening so you aren't doing a deep squat every time you move a wet towel.
You can't really do this with stacked units. Well, you could put a pedestal under a stacked set, but then the dryer would be practically touching the ceiling. It’s not practical. For anyone with chronic back pain or just a general dislike of kneeling on a hard laundry room floor, the pedestal-boosted side by side washer dryer is the gold standard of ergonomic design.
When Should You Actually Give Up and Stack?
I'm not saying side-by-side is perfect for everyone. It’s a space hog.
A standard washer is about 27 inches wide. Double that, and you need 54 inches of clear wall space. Add an inch or two for "chatter" so the machines don't bang into each other, and you're looking at nearly 5 feet.
In a condo in Seattle or a brownstone in Brooklyn? You don't have 5 feet. You have a 30-inch closet. In those cases, stacking is your only hope. But if you have the luxury of a dedicated laundry room or a wide basement wall, don't let a salesperson talk you into a "space-saving" stackable just because it looks sleek in the brochure.
The Door Swing Disaster
Here is something nobody tells you until the delivery truck is already in your driveway: door swing direction matters immensely for a side by side washer dryer.
Most washers have doors that open to the left (hinges on the left). Most dryers have reversible doors. To make a side-by-side setup work efficiently, you want the washer on the left and the dryer on the right. Why? So you can open both doors and have them act like a "funnel." You just scoop the wet clothes from the left and toss them to the right.
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If your plumbing is backwards—meaning the water hookups are on the right and the dryer vent is on the left—you’re going to be fighting those doors for the next decade. Some Electrolux models have reversible washer doors, but they are the exception, not the rule. Check your hookups before you buy.
Modern Tech: Are All-In-Ones Catching Up?
We have to talk about the new players: the Heat Pump Combo units like the GE Profile UltraFast or the LG WashCombo. These are single machines that wash and dry in one drum.
Technically, these aren't side by side washer dryer setups, but people are buying two of them and running them side-by-side.
Why would you do that?
Because you can wash and dry two full loads simultaneously without ever having to "flip" the laundry. You put dirty clothes in both, walk away, and come back to two loads of dry clothes. It’s a massive time-saver for big families. However, these machines are complex. They use heat pump technology, which is great for your electric bill but can be slower than a traditional vented gas dryer.
Real-World Longevity and Costs
Generally, a basic side by side washer dryer pair is going to be cheaper than a high-end integrated stack unit.
You can pick up a reliable set of Maytag or Whirlpool front-loaders for about $1,400 to $1,800 total. A high-end integrated tower usually starts around $1,900 and goes up fast.
The biggest financial advantage, though, is "orphan" replacement. If your dryer dies in a stacked unit, you might have to replace the whole thing if the new dryer won't fit the old stacking kit or if the controls are integrated. With a side-by-side, if the dryer kicks the bucket, you just go buy a new dryer. It doesn't even have to be the same brand, though your laundry room might look a little Frankenstein-ish.
Actionable Steps for Your Laundry Room Upgrade
- Measure your depth, not just width: Most people forget that hoses and vents take up 4-6 inches behind the machine. If your side by side washer dryer is 32 inches deep, you actually need 38 inches of clearance so you can close the laundry room door.
- Check your floor's structural integrity: If you're putting these on a second floor, ensure the floor is level. A side-by-side setup is more forgiving of minor floor flex than a heavy stacked tower.
- Prioritize the "Side-Kick": If you have the width for a side-by-side, consider a "pedestal washer" (like the LG SideKick). It’s a tiny drawer washer that sits under your main one. It’s perfect for that one gym outfit you need right now or a single delicate blouse.
- Invest in a work surface: If you go with a front-load side by side washer dryer, buy a "laundry work surface" mat or a custom countertop. It prevents things from falling behind the machines and gives you that crucial folding space.
- Swap the doors immediately: If your dryer door opens toward the washer, look at the manual. 95% of dryers allow you to flip the hinges to the other side. Do it on day one. Your shins will thank you.
Looking Ahead
The market is shifting toward ventless heat pump technology, which means in a few years, you won't even be tethered to that silver hole in the wall. You'll be able to put your side by side washer dryer anywhere there’s a water line and a drain. For now, the traditional vented side-by-side remains the most practical, repairable, and ergonomic choice for the average household.
Before you commit to a vertical stack, go to a showroom. Reach up and pretend to turn a dial that's 6 feet in the air. Then, stand in front of a side-by-side set and imagine having 5 feet of clean, flat counter space. The choice usually becomes pretty clear after that.
Don't buy for the "look" of a tiny apartment if you actually have the space for a full-sized setup. Focus on the workflow of your specific laundry day. If you do big loads of bedding or have kids in sports, that extra elbow room and the ability to easily swap machines when one inevitably breaks will save you more stress than a trendy-looking closet ever could.
Check your breaker box too. Remember that an electric dryer needs a 240V outlet, while the washer just needs a standard 120V. If you’re moving machines around to create a side-by-side look, you might need an electrician to drop a new line. It’s a small upfront cost that makes the long-term utility of the room much better.