Best Portable Washing Machine · Apartments

Best Portable Washing Machine for Apartments

For an apartment without laundry hookups, choose a fully automatic washer that fills from a sink faucet and pumps its water back into the sink: our top pick is the COMFEE’ 1.6 cu ft. It rolls on wheels, so it can live in a closet and come out on laundry day. Before you buy, check your lease, measure the floor space and look at your faucet: you need standard threads once the aerator comes off.

Compact white portable washer beside a kitchen sink in a small apartment, inlet hose clipped to the faucet

Our top 3

Top picks at a glance

Best for apartments#1
COMFEE' 1.6 cu ft Portable Washer washer

COMFEE’ 1.6 cu ft Portable Washer

Mid-range price range

Fully automatic with a drain pump, six programs and wheels, in a footprint of about 20 by 20 inches.

See details ›
Best for studios#2
BLACK+DECKER 0.9 cu ft Portable Washer washer

BLACK+DECKER 0.9 cu ft Portable Washer

Mid-range price range

The small, light pick for one person and cold-water loads; HGTV’s best overall portable washer.

See details ›
Best narrow footprint#3
Giantex Full-Automatic Portable Washer washer

Giantex Full-Automatic Portable Washer

Mid-range price range

Automatic washing in about 20 by 20 inches, with a long 78.8-inch drain hose.

See details ›

In detail

Who each one suits

Specifications and capacities are each brand’s own; awards are credited to the publishers that gave them. We did not test these machines ourselves.

Best for apartments#1

COMFEE’ 1.6 cu ft Portable Washer

For most small households, this is the sweet spot: a fully automatic washer that fills, washes, rinses and spins on its own, with a pumped drain and wheels. COMFEE’ rates it at 1.6 cu ft and 11 lb, enough for a few days of clothes for one or two people, in a footprint of about 20 by 20 inches.

Why it stands out

  • Six programs, including Bulky, Delicate and Spin Only, with a built-in drain pump that pushes water up into a sink.
  • Rolls on wheels, so you can park it in a closet and wheel it to the sink on laundry day.
  • The brand’s spec sheet lists an 850 RPM maximum spin, a child lock and UL safety certification.
TypeFully automatic, top load, wheels
Capacity (brand)1.6 cu ft, 11 lb
Weight70.5 lb
Fill & drainFaucet hose; built-in drain pump
Hot waterCold, warm or hot settings; no heater

Good fit if

  • You rent and have a kitchen or bathroom faucet you can attach an adapter to.
  • You want hands-off cycles rather than moving clothes between tubs.
  • You wash for one or two people a few times a week.

Skip it if

  • You only have floor space smaller than about 21 by 21 inches.
  • You want to wash king bedding or a family’s weekly load in one go.
  • You need a hot-water inlet: the brand lists temperature settings but no heater.

BestReviews notes that some buyers found the supplied hoses short or reported leaky connections, so measure the distance from the faucet before you buy. The spec sheet lists the capacity as 1.7 cu ft under the DOE method; the product name says 1.6.

Best for studios#2

BLACK+DECKER 0.9 cu ft Portable Washer

The smallest fully automatic washer here, and the one HGTV named its best overall portable washer. At 0.9 cu ft and a brand-rated 6.6 lb, it suits one person doing small, frequent loads in cold water, and it is light enough (44.1 lb by the brand’s figure) to roll into a closet.

Why it stands out

  • Five presets (Heavy, Gentle, Normal, Rapid, Soak) plus custom wash, rinse and spin times.
  • Quick-connect adapter for a single kitchen faucet is in the box; the manual covers both inside- and outside-threaded faucets.
  • HGTV puts it at about 300 watts, low enough that it calls the washer generator-friendly.
TypeFully automatic, top load
Capacity (brand)0.9 cu ft, 6.6 lb
Weight44.1 lb (brand)
Fill & drainQuick-connect sink adapter; drains to a 32–39 in sink or standpipe
Hot waterCold water only

Good fit if

  • You live alone in a studio, dorm-style room or small apartment.
  • You are happy washing in cold water: the manual says to operate it with cold water only.
  • Your sink or tub edge sits 32–39 inches high, the drain height the manual asks for.

Skip it if

  • You wash towels or bedding for a family. NBC Select listed it as the smallest of its picks.
  • You want hot or warm washes.
  • You need an RV washer: BLACK+DECKER’s larger models’ manuals say they are not designed for RVs.
Best narrow footprint#3

Giantex Full-Automatic Portable Washer

A fully automatic washer in a narrow footprint, about 20 by 20 inches, at a lower price than the big-brand models. Giantex rates it at 9.92 lb and lists 10 programs; BestReviews picked it for saving space.

Why it stands out

  • Narrow, about 19.7 by 19.8 inches, and 51 lb with side handles.
  • Long 78.8-inch drain hose for reaching a sink or tub.
  • 310 W wash and 250 W spin, by Giantex’s figures.
TypeFully automatic, top load
Capacity (brand)9.92 lb rated
Weight51 lb
Fill & drainFaucet hose; 78.8 in drain hose
Hot waterNot stated by the brand

Good fit if

  • Space is tight but you still want hands-off cycles.
  • You want automatic washing at a lower price.

Skip it if

  • You want clear instructions: BestReviews flags confusing setup.
  • You want wheels: it has handles only.
  • Your sink needs a special adapter; PureWow says some buyers needed extra hoses or adapters.

The Amazon title says 12 lbs; Giantex’s own spec table rates it at 9.92 lb.

Also worth a look

COMFEE’ 2.0 cu ft Portable Washer

NBC Select’s best overall portable washer: a larger COMFEE’ with a 2.0 cu ft drum, about 15 lb of capacity, wheels, a child lock and three water temperatures. It is the step up from the 1.6 when you want fewer loads.

Why it stands out

  • Six programs including Bulky and Spin Only.
  • Wheels and handles, plus a stainless-steel inner tub (NBC Select).
  • 1-year limited warranty.
TypeFully automatic, top load, wheels
Capacity (brand)2.0 cu ft, 15 lb
Weight79.4 lb
Fill & drainFaucet hose; check drain details on the listing
Hot waterThree temperature settings; no heater

Good fit if

  • You want more capacity than the 1.6 but a similar layout.
  • You wash for two to three people.

Skip it if

  • You need full spec details before buying: COMFEE’ no longer lists the 2.0 on its own store, so check the listing.
  • You cannot handle about 79 lb.

Have a threaded faucet and a sink?

That is all a pumped automatic washer needs. Measure the floor space and the height with the lid open, then check your faucet threads.

Read buyer reviews ›

Tips

Three things that make the difference

01

Ask before you install

TenantCloud, a property-management publisher, says some landlords ban washing machines in buildings without hookups because of water-damage risk. A short email to your landlord avoids a lease problem.

02

Check the faucet first

Unscrew the aerator: if you see threads inside or outside, the quick-connect adapter can usually fit. Magic Chef warns some faucets need an extra adapter, and Consumer Reports found no faucet that fit all five portables it tested.

03

Plan the drain height

Pumped washers want the hose end at a set height. BLACK+DECKER asks for 32 to 39 inches, Magic Chef about 34 to 40; a kitchen sink rim is usually in that range.

Honest note

A portable washer is still a water appliance in a home not built for one. Renters insurance usually covers sudden, accidental water damage but not wear and tear, according to American Family Insurance, so stay nearby while it fills, and check the hose connections every few loads.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Can I use a portable washing machine in an apartment?

Usually, if your lease allows it. Some landlords ban washing machines in buildings without hookups because of the risk of water damage, according to TenantCloud. Ask first, then pick a model that fills from your sink and drains back into it.

What is the best portable washer for an apartment without hookups?

Our pick is the COMFEE’ 1.6 cu ft: it is fully automatic, fills through a faucet hose, pumps water up into the sink, and rolls on wheels. For a single person with little space, the BLACK+DECKER 0.9 cu ft is smaller and lighter.

How do I hook up a portable washer to a kitchen sink?

Unscrew the faucet aerator, screw on the washer’s faucet adapter, and click the inlet hose onto it. Then hook the drain hose over the sink edge. BLACK+DECKER’s manual says the faucet must be within 4 feet of the back of the washer.

Can I put a portable washer in the bathroom?

Yes, if you have a threaded faucet and the tub or sink edge is at the right height for the drain hose. Bathroom outlets need GFCI protection under the electrical code, per a summary of NEC 210.8, and the manuals say not to use an extension cord.

Will a portable washer damage my floor?

It should not if it sits level on a solid floor. BLACK+DECKER says not to install on carpet and that wood floors may need reinforcing to reduce vibration. Place a towel under the hose connections on the first loads to catch drips.

Can I leave a portable washer connected to the faucet?

Most owners disconnect it after each use so the sink can be used normally. BLACK+DECKER says to turn off the faucets after the day’s washing, and GE says supply hoses degrade over time and should be replaced every 5 years.

Laundry at home, without the laundry room

Want the full picture? See all our best portable washing machine, compared by home type, and the FAQ on hookups, drying and care.