Laundry Size Calculator
What size washer and dryer do I need?
Answer a few quick questions and we'll match you with the right size from our range, using Bi-Rite's own laundry buying guides. Takes under 30 seconds.
Find the right size for your household
Planning to grow the family? Count them in now.
Measure the gap in your laundry. We'll hide anything that won't fit, leaving 3 cm behind for the hoses.
You need a 10 kg washing machine
Washing machines that suit you
Dryers to go with it
Before you buy: check it will fit
- Width and depth: leave about 1–2 cm each side and 5 cm behind for the hoses. Front loaders also need room in front for the door to swing open.
- Height: top loaders need space above for the lid to open. Stacking a dryer on a front loader needs about 1.75 m and a stacking kit. See the laundry range.
- Getting it in: check your doorways and hallway are wider than the machine.
Washing machine and dryer size guide
Bi-Rite's guide to the right size for your household. Capacity is the weight of dry clothes the machine can take in one load.
| Household | Washing machine | Dryer (line and dryer – mostly dryer) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 7 kg | 4.5–5 kg |
| 2 people | 7.5 kg | 5.5–6 kg |
| 3 people | 8.5 kg | 6.5–7 kg |
| 4 people | 10 kg | 8–9 kg |
| 5 people | 11 kg | 9–10 kg |
| 6+ people | 12 kg+ | 10 kg |
Before you buy, measure these
Most washers and dryers are about 60 cm wide, but height and depth change a lot between models. Check the product's specifications for exact sizes.
Width
Measure the gap at its narrowest point. Leave 1–2 cm each side so it doesn't rub or rattle.
Height
Measure under benches or shelves. Top loaders need extra room above for the lid to open.
Depth
Allow about 5 cm behind for hoses and power. Front loader doors also need room to open in front.
Doorways
Check doorways, halls and stairs are wide enough to get the machine into your laundry.
How we work it out
No guesswork, just Bi-Rite's own laundry guides and a few honest adjustments for how you wash.
1. Household sets the size
We start with Bi-Rite's size guide above: more people means more washing, so a bigger drum.
2. How you wash fine-tunes it
Washing once a week nudges you up a size, washing most days nudges you down. Doonas at home need 9 kg or more. How often you use the dryer sets its size and type.
3. We check it fits
If you give us your space, we only show machines that fit it, with room left behind for the hoses. Then we show the best matches from our range.
Laundry size FAQs
What is the standard washing machine size?
A standard front loader washing machine in Australia is about 600 mm wide, 850 mm tall and 600 to 700 mm deep. Top loaders are usually a little taller and can be wider. Here’s how the main laundry appliances compare.
| Type | Width | Height | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front loader | about 600 mm | 850 to 950 mm | 600 to 700 mm |
| Top loader | 600 to 700 mm | 850 to 1,000 mm | 600 to 750 mm |
| Dryer | about 600 mm | about 850 mm | 600 to 700 mm |
| Washer dryer combo | about 600 mm | 850 to 900 mm | 600 to 700 mm |
| Stacked washer and dryer | about 600 mm | about 1,700 mm | 600 to 700 mm |
Always check the spec sheet. Some brands leave the door and control panel out of the depth.
What size washing machine do I need for a family of 4?
A family of four usually needs a 6 to 8.5 kg washing machine if you wash through the week, or 9 to 12 kg if you do one bigger wash each week. The kg rating is the weight of dry clothes the machine can wash, not the weight of the machine. One or two people generally do well with 2 to 5.5 kg, and households of more than four should look at 9 kg and up. If you wash bedding at home, a 6 to 8.5 kg machine can usually handle one queen size linen set, and a 9 kg or bigger machine can handle a king size set.
What size dryer do I need?
Choose a dryer that matches the size of your washing machine. An 8 kg washer pairs well with an 8 kg dryer. A smaller dryer means splitting every full wash into two drying loads.
Can you put a dryer on top of a washing machine?
Yes, you can stack a dryer on top of a front loader washing machine using a stacking kit. The dryer always goes on top, because the washer is heavier and shakes more during the spin cycle. You can’t stack anything on a top loader, since the lid opens upwards.
Do I need a stacking kit for a washer and dryer?
Yes, you need a stacking kit to stack a dryer on a washing machine safely. The kit locks the two machines together so the dryer can’t slide or fall off during a spin cycle. Kits are made for specific brands and models, so buy the one your dryer’s manufacturer lists for your washer.
What size space do I need for a stacked washer and dryer?
A stacked washer and dryer usually needs a space about 650 mm wide and 1,750 mm high. As an example, one stacked Haier front loader and heat pump dryer needs a cupboard at least 1,721 mm high, 635 mm wide and 619 mm deep, not counting the doors. Add 100 to 150 mm of depth behind for hoses and the power plug, and leave room in front for both doors to open.
Are washer dryer combos good?
Washer dryer combos are a good choice for apartments and small laundries, but they suit light drying loads better than big family washes. A combo dries less than it washes, often about half. A 10 kg/5 kg combo can wash 10 kg of clothes but only dry 5 kg at once, so a full load has to be split. You also can’t wash one load while drying another. If you do a lot of laundry and have the space, a separate washer and dryer will get through it faster.
What is a condenser washer dryer?
A condenser washer dryer is a combo machine that dries clothes without needing a vent to the outside. It cools the hot, damp air inside the drum so the moisture turns back into water, which drains away through the washing machine’s hose. That makes it a good fit for apartments and laundries with no outside wall.
How much space does a washing machine need?
Leave about 20 mm on each side of a washing machine and 100 to 150 mm behind it for the hoses and power plug. A front loader also needs clear floor space in front for the door to swing open. A top loader needs clear space above so the lid can open fully, so check the open-lid height on the spec sheet before putting it under a shelf.
Is a top loader or front loader better for a small laundry?
A front loader is usually better for a small laundry. At about 850 mm tall, most front loaders fit under a standard benchtop, and you can stack a dryer on top. A top loader can’t go under a bench or have a dryer stacked on it. Top loaders are easier to load without bending and often run shorter cycles, so they suit laundries with floor space to spare.
Not sure? See them in person.
Pop into your local Bi-Rite store to compare sizes side by side. We'll give you honest advice, even if that means the cheaper model.
This calculator is a guide. It uses Bi-Rite's laundry buying guides and adjusts for how often you wash and dry. Please check the product specifications for exact sizes, or see the machines in store. Prices and availability can change.
