The 7 Best Washer/Dryer Sets, Tested by BHG

If your current washer sounds like it is preparing for takeoff and your dryer treats every T-shirt like it owes it money, it may be time for an upgrade. The good news is that today’s best washer/dryer sets are smarter, quieter, and better at handling real-life messes than the clunky laundry pairs many households have limped along with for years. The even better news? Better Homes & Gardens put these machines through long-term testing, so this list is not built on showroom sparkle alone.

In BHG’s testing, seven pairs rose above the rest for different reasons: one was whisper-quiet, one handled pet hair like a champ, one made family-size laundry less of a weekend punishment, and one packed serious features into a surprisingly practical package. When you compare those results with what other major U.S. testing outlets have found, a pattern appears. LG keeps showing up for all-around performance and quiet operation. Electrolux shines when stain removal and cycle quality matter most. GE brings clever anti-odor and automation features. Whirlpool remains a strong top-load option, while Maytag earns points for pet households.

This guide breaks down the seven best washer/dryer sets tested by BHG, explains who each one is best for, and helps you figure out which type of laundry setup actually makes sense for your home. Because buying appliances is expensive, and “looks nice in the laundry room” should not be the only reason you hand over your credit card.

The 7 Best Washer/Dryer Sets, Tested by BHG

1. Best Overall: LG Smart Wi-Fi Enabled Front-Load Washer & Dryer

The headline pick is LG’s front-load pair, and it is easy to see why. BHG found this set especially user-friendly, impressively quiet, and consistently effective across regular weekly loads, including bedding and towels. That quiet performance matters more than shoppers sometimes realize. A machine that cleans beautifully but sounds like a metal band rehearsing in your hallway gets old fast.

This LG pair also stands out for its strong cycle variety. It covers the usual suspects such as normal, delicates, heavy duty, and speed wash, but it also adds more specialized cycles for bedding, towels, sanitary cleaning, allergy care, and sportswear. In practical terms, that means less fiddling and more confidence that your loads are getting the treatment they actually need.

The trade-off is that BHG preferred using timed dry over some preset dryer cycles because a few loads came out a little damp. Still, that is a manageable complaint when the overall package is this polished. For most households, this is the sweet spot: enough capacity for bulky items, quiet operation, smart features that are actually useful, and an interface that does not require a graduate seminar.

2. Best Front-Loading: Electrolux SmartBoost Washer & Dryer

If the LG set is the crowd-pleaser, the Electrolux SmartBoost pair is the laundry nerd’s favorite. This set earned BHG’s top front-loading spot thanks to easy controls, strong stain-fighting performance, and an auto-sensing dryer that adjusts dry time based on how wet your clothes really are. In other words, it pays attention, which is more than we can say for some people who load dishwashers.

One of the biggest advantages here is usability. BHG liked the clearly visible controls and the straightforward layout, and the 15-minute fast-wash cycle is a particularly strong selling point for busy homes. That makes this set ideal for families dealing with sports uniforms, school clothes, kitchen towels, or that mysterious category known as “why is this already dirty again?”

The downside is noise. This set is not obnoxious, but it is not the hush-hush champion that the LG pair is. If your laundry setup sits near a bedroom, home office, or open-concept living area, that might matter. But if your top priorities are great cleaning, strong cycle performance, and front-load efficiency, Electrolux makes a persuasive case.

3. Best Top-Loading: Whirlpool Smart Top-Load Washer & Electric Dryer

For shoppers who prefer a top-loader, Whirlpool’s smart set gives you the familiar format without feeling stuck in the past. BHG praised its advanced features, especially the automatic detergent dispensing and targeted rinse capability. The removable agitator is also a huge advantage for households that want flexibility. Keep it in for robust wash action, take it out for larger bulky loads. That is a practical feature, not a gimmick.

The large-capacity washer and roomy dryer make this set a strong fit for households that regularly wash comforters, sheets, and oversized loads. BHG also noted that the set handled king-size bedding well, which is one of the most useful real-world tests any laundry pair can pass. Plenty of machines look capable until you stuff in a comforter and discover you have accidentally made a sad fabric burrito.

The drawback is the learning curve. This set offers a lot, but it is not the most intuitive on first use. If you love settings, options, and app-connected features, that may feel exciting. If you just want to press a button and move on with your life, it may feel slightly over-engineered. Still, among top-load sets, this one offers a strong mix of capacity, convenience, and flexibility.

4. Best for Pet Hair: Maytag Pet Pro Filter Top-Load Washer & Electric Dryer

Anyone who shares a home with a dog or cat knows that pet hair has a law degree and knows how to stay put. BHG’s best pick for pet households is the Maytag Pet Pro set, which impressed testers by pulling hair and lint off dog towels, blankets, and toys with notable success. That is not a small win. It is the difference between “freshly washed” and “still looks like it lost a fight with a golden retriever.”

The Pet Pro system is the main attraction, but the set also scored well for ease of use and steady performance on larger loads. Testers found it simple to operate, and the ability to pause and add missed items mid-cycle is genuinely helpful. Every laundry room needs at least one feature designed specifically for people who remember the missing sock exactly six seconds too late.

The main annoyance is the lack of end-of-cycle alerts. That may sound minor, but it matters in daily use. If you are busy, distracted, or managing multiple tasks, a machine that finishes in total silence can leave clean laundry sitting longer than it should. Even so, for pet owners, this set directly solves a problem that many general-purpose machines only sort of wave at from across the room.

5. Best for Families: LG Stackable Smart Front-Load Washer & Dryer

Families do not need cute laundry appliances. They need machines that can keep up. BHG’s family pick from LG earns its spot with large capacity, quiet performance, and AI-powered wash and dry cycles that reduce the guesswork. That combination is especially useful in homes where laundry is not a weekly chore but a permanent weather system.

BHG found this set well suited to frequent use, and the machine’s quiet operation stood out again. That consistency is one reason LG keeps appearing in top laundry rankings. The AI wash cycle automatically reads the load and fabric mix to decide timing, while AI dry adjusts based on moisture and weight. When those features work well, they save time and reduce the trial-and-error that turns laundry into a mildly annoying science experiment.

The biggest limitation is the lack of a spin-only cycle. Some shoppers will not care. Others will absolutely care, especially if they hand-wash items, want extra water removal, or need more flexibility with bedding and athletic gear. But if your top need is high-volume performance for a busy household, this set is a workhorse with modern polish.

6. Best Laundry Tower: Electrolux Stacked Washer & Electric Dryer Laundry Tower

Small-space shoppers often assume they must choose between compact size and good performance. This Electrolux laundry tower politely disagrees. BHG named it the best laundry tower because it saves space without surrendering meaningful capacity. It can still handle bedding, offers a healthy list of cycles, and puts controls in a central location that is easier to reach than the sky-high dryer panel on some stacked units.

This kind of setup makes a lot of sense in condos, apartments, mudrooms, and laundry closets where every inch matters. A single-unit vertical design also creates a cleaner visual footprint, which is nice if your laundry area is visible instead of hidden behind a door that no one dares open.

BHG did flag a couple of issues: water pooling in the detergent tray and the occasional need for an extra dry cycle on towels. Those are not dealbreakers, but they are reminders that space-saving design still comes with compromises. Even so, for homes where side-by-side machines are simply not realistic, this tower offers a much better answer than settling for a tiny underpowered setup.

7. Best Features: GE HE Stackable Smart Front-Load Washer & Electric Dryer

Some laundry machines promise smart features and then deliver an app you forget about after three days. GE’s stackable set makes a stronger case for modern convenience. BHG liked its generous menu of wash and dry settings, its refresh cycle for de-wrinkling and deodorizing, and especially the Washer Link feature that allows the dryer to automatically pick up the right settings from the washer.

That kind of automation is useful because it removes a surprisingly common source of user error: forgetting to match the dryer cycle to the washed load. BHG also found the 10-minute steam refresh setting helpful for clothes that were clean enough to wear but not fresh enough to wear with confidence. We have all had that shirt. The shirt knows what it did.

The compromise is sound. This GE pair is not as quiet as the very best options here. Still, if you want a feature-rich set that leans into convenience, connectivity, and flexible cycle choices, it is one of the more convincing smart laundry systems in the category.

What These Results Say About the Best Washer/Dryer Sets Today

Front-load sets still lead the field

The strongest overall performers on this list are front-load machines, and that lines up with broader industry guidance. Front-load washers are typically more efficient with water and energy, and they tend to extract more moisture during spin cycles, which helps reduce drying time. That is part of why so many premium and highly rated sets lean front-load, especially for shoppers who prioritize cleaning performance and efficiency.

Top-loaders still make sense for many households

That said, top-load sets are far from obsolete. They are often more comfortable to load, can feel more familiar, and may better suit buyers who want shorter wash cycles or prefer an agitator option. Whirlpool and Maytag show that top-load machines can still be smart, versatile, and highly effective when designed well.

Specialized features now matter more than flashy extras

The best modern sets do not just pile on random technology. They solve real problems. GE tackles front-loader odor concerns with anti-moisture ideas and linked cycles. Maytag addresses pet hair directly. Electrolux improves stain removal and cycle efficiency. LG focuses on quiet operation and AI assistance that actually lightens the mental load. The winning sets are not just “smart”; they are helpful.

How to Choose the Right Washer/Dryer Set for Your Home

Start with your laundry habits

Ask what you wash most often. If your routine is full of towels, bedding, kids’ clothes, and large loads, capacity matters more than sleek design. If you live in a smaller home or apartment, footprint and stackability may be your first filter. If you own pets, specialty filtration can be more valuable than an extra five cycles you will never use.

Prioritize the features you will actually use

Steam refresh, sanitize, quick wash, auto-dosing, moisture sensing, and app alerts can all be worthwhile. But be honest with yourself. Buying a machine with 36 cycles does not magically make you the kind of person who sorts laundry by mood. Pick the features that solve problems you already have.

Measure first, celebrate later

Before you fall in love with a set, measure the width, depth, height, door swing, venting needs, and any tight turns in your home. A washer/dryer pair can be technically perfect and still become your personal villain if it does not fit through the doorway or leaves no room to open the doors comfortably.

Real-World Experiences: What Living With These Washer/Dryer Sets Is Actually Like

The biggest difference between a decent washer/dryer set and a truly great one usually does not show up in a spec sheet. It shows up on a Tuesday night when someone needs a clean school uniform by morning, the dog has rolled in something unholy, and a load of towels is already waiting in the dryer. In those moments, capacity, noise, cycle speed, and usability stop being abstract shopping terms and start becoming the entire mood of the house.

For many households, the first thing they notice with a better set is not cleaning power. It is peace and quiet. A quiet washer changes how a home feels, especially in apartments, townhouses, or open layouts where laundry noise spills into everyday life. That is one reason the LG front-load models make such a strong impression. When you can run a late-evening load without sounding like you are crushing gravel indoors, laundry becomes easier to fit into real life.

Families tend to talk less about fancy features and more about flow. They want machines that handle bulk loads, finish without drama, and do not require constant babysitting. AI cycles, auto-sensing dry, and detergent dispensing become valuable here because they reduce decisions. You are not standing there decoding settings while holding a fitted sheet and questioning your life choices. You load, press, and move on.

Pet households have their own reality. The challenge is not only washing visible fur off blankets and pet beds. It is getting hair and lint off everyday clothes, reducing that clingy leftover fuzz, and keeping the machine from becoming a second residence for dander. A set like the Maytag Pet Pro matters because it addresses the specific frustration pet owners complain about most: clothes can smell clean and still look suspiciously fluffy. That is not victory.

Small-space buyers usually have a different emotional journey. They are less worried about whether a machine can handle six beach towels and more concerned with whether they can open the doors without performing yoga in a hallway. Laundry towers and stackable sets change the conversation here. When a vertical setup works well, it can make a cramped laundry closet feel surprisingly functional. The best versions do not just save space; they save annoyance.

Another common experience with better washer/dryer sets is that little maintenance issues become more manageable. Moisture control, lint capture, app reminders, self-clean prompts, and easy-to-reach dispensers sound boring until you live with a machine that lacks them. Then you realize that “boring” is often exactly what you want from an appliance. Boring means fewer odors, fewer damp loads, fewer mystery beeps, and fewer moments of staring into the drum wondering why your supposedly clean clothes still need another round.

In the end, the best laundry setup is the one that fits your home and makes the routine feel less like a battle. That may be a whisper-quiet LG, a stain-fighting Electrolux, a pet-focused Maytag, a spacious Whirlpool, or a feature-packed GE. The point is not to buy the fanciest machine on the floor. It is to buy the one that makes laundry less disruptive, less time-consuming, and a whole lot less irritating.

Conclusion

BHG’s tested list makes one thing clear: there is no single best washer/dryer set for every home, but there are excellent options for specific needs. The LG front-load pair is the strongest all-around choice for most people because it balances quiet operation, easy controls, and consistently strong performance. Electrolux is a standout for front-load shoppers who want stain-fighting confidence and better fast-cycle utility. Whirlpool remains a compelling top-load buy, Maytag is the obvious choice for pet owners, and GE is the pick for shoppers who love smart convenience that actually does something useful.

If you shop with your household in mind instead of chasing every shiny feature, you are much more likely to end up with a washer/dryer set you still love after the honeymoon period ends. And that, in laundry terms, is true romance.