Budget laundry

Spend less.
Buy with confidence.

The LG washers and dryers I would start with when Speed Queen stretches the budget.

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I prefer a front-load washer over a top-loader for long-term use. For an affordable washer, the LG front-loader below is where I would start. Pair it with a straightforward dryer, or choose the LG WashTower below for a stacked setup.

My LG budget picks

Separate machines or a WashTower.

You do not have to pay the Speed Queen premium to buy laundry I recommend.

LG WM3420CW
My long-term preference

LG WM3420CW

The front-load washer I would start with on a smaller budget.

  • 4.5 cu. ft. · front-load washer
  • 27-inch width · ENERGY STAR certified
Check price at Lowe’s →
LG DLE6100W
My value electric dryer

LG DLE6100W

A straightforward electric dryer I would use beside the washer above.

  • 7.3 cu. ft. · vented electric dryer
  • Sensor Dry · rear controls
  • Side-by-side setup; this is not a stackable pair
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LG WashTower WKE100HWA
My stacked option

LG WashTower WKE100HWA

Want a stacked setup? This is the LG WashTower I would compare with buying separate machines.

  • 4.5 cu. ft. front-load washer
  • 7.4 cu. ft. electric dryer
  • Single stacked unit · controls in the center
Check WashTower price at Lowe’s →

Need gas or another stackable dryer? Compare my gas dryer picks or browse electric dryers. Confirm the exact washer, dryer and stacking-kit combination before choosing a stacked setup.

From my repair work

Why I recommend newer LG laundry

My recommendation comes from the machines I work on. I like the improvements I have seen in newer LG laundry, and I am comfortable recommending these as a lower-cost route to long-term ownership.

My take on rollers, heaters, pumps and valves

Dryer rollers: I prefer the newer roller designs to the older ones I have worked on. That improvement is part of why I recommend newer LG dryers.

Electric-dryer heating elements: In my repair experience, heating-element failures are uncommon on the LG dryers I recommend.

Washer drain pumps: The newer pumps are an improvement in my experience; I rarely see them fail on the newer machines I work on.

Washer inlet valves: I have more confidence in the newer valves and see fewer valve-leak problems in my repair work.

These are my observations from service calls. Parts and revisions vary by model, and any machine can still need repairs or develop a leak. I am recommending the ownership value, not promising a maintenance-free machine.

Prefer a top-loader? My LG alternative

I still prefer front-load for long-term use. If you want an agitator top-loader, this is the LG option I would compare.

LG WT6105CW
Top-load alternative

LG WT6105CW

The classic agitator option, with a matching DLE6100W electric dryer.

  • 4.1 cu. ft. · agitator top-load washer
  • 27-inch width
Check price at Lowe’s →

Check Lowe’s for current pricing, delivery and installation options. I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases through these links, at no extra cost to you.

Model details: LG WM3420CW · LG DLE6100W · LG WashTower WKE100HWA. My repair observations above are my own, rather than manufacturer failure-rate claims.

Ownership help: LG washer care and leaks · LG Parts dryer heating guide.

See all my laundry recommendations