Stacked machines are more difficult to access for service, and servicers charge more to do it.

Also depends on user height -- with a lot of machines, I wouldn't be able to use the controls for the upper machine without a step ladder!

Side by side.

Lower center of gravity. Easier to service. Offers a place to fold/place laundry.

I find that stacked washer/dryer units get much more efficient space usage. I would never go back to side-by-side. The top unit typically will be the dryer. And dryers are are generally quite light and don't cause a lot of vibration (unless defective).

The downside is that you often can only stack like models. So, stacking a Maytag on top of a Miele might not work. This is a problem, if you for some reason want to buy from different manufacturers. It also is a problem, if your washer dies after five years, when your dryer still has another ten years of usable life.

Having said that, unless they sell as a single combined unit, which is rare these days, the two units are really easy to break apart. Service cost might be slightly higher, when the bottom unit needs to be accessed. But realistically, it shouldn't cost more than 5min extra time for the service technician.

I got rid of my over the machines shelves when I bought a new w/d set with pedestals.

The storage is wonderful.

I do miss the ease of folding on top, but have a folding table that now has to handle it all.

We are super happy with our stacked washer/dryer in a small laundry room. A cute stool makes it easy for the height challenged in the family to reach everything. The units do not shake or make more noise than when we had side by side in the same space. Lots of options for how to use the freed-up space on the side. In our case, we have everything on casters so it's easy/fun to pull out what you need and then roll it back. For example, we have a 36x24" stainless steel work table with a shelf that slides beside the w/d. Four laundry baskets fit on the lower shelves. When I have laundry to fold, I roll this out so it's right beside me for folding table + clothes go right into each person's basket below and then I tuck it back. In front of it is a rolling laundry/hamper sorter with hanging rack that easily rolls out of the way. We also considered shelving or a pantry type cabinet or a pull down folding table/hanging rack or "almost" enough space for a dog wash station. Whatever goes beside the stacked w/d was, for me, much more accessible and interesting than shelves or cabinets high above side by side w/d.

By necessity I have a stacked set. I would prefer a side by side set with pedestals. Since I’m tall I find it annoying pulling clothes from the washer (low) & I’ve banged my head several times on the dryer door swinging above while taking clothes from the washer & placing them in the dryer.

I have stacked in a somewhat small laundry room. Right now, the dryer is making a loud, unusual noise. I know I've got to get someone in to look at it, but I'm wondering how the heck he's going to be able to do it in the space. Ca-ching, ca-ching.

Yes, HateToShop ... that's the thing. Stacked sets are often placed into a confined space or "cubby-hole" with very little room to maneuver them and access the vent ducting, power cords, water and drain hoses.

My wife is realtively short and originally we had planned to stack the HE frontloader pair but I'm glad we didn't. We're pretty sure she'd have had trouble with the stack if we had.

I lived with stacked units for 16 years. The first year or so it did not bother me. Ever after I was very unhappy with the set up. It meant taking everything from the dryer to the kitchen table or the sofa in the family room to fold. If I did not do that it meant trying to fold things and drop them into the laundry basket. I would never recommend this set up unless it is the only way to have a washer and dryer located where you want them to be. I contemplated many times getting rid of the sink in the LR and unstacking the units but I used the sink frequently. If you can avoid it I recommend having the units side by side. It makes it so much more convenient. The surfaces of the washer/dryer are very useful.

Small laundry room here. I wished I stacked mine, it would've used the space more efficiently. You can line them up in the talk space, so nothing is wasted. You can create a folding spot if you need one, with easier access to storage.

Shelves over the washer and dryer are deep and impossible to reach. Also, if you do side by side, make sure you can line your doors up so it's easy to get your clothes from one to the other. Some have reversible doors, some don't.

Good luck.

Actually, the last house we had a very small laundry and we didn't even put in the pedestals. This gave us the top of both units to use as a folding/sorting area.

You'll have much more flexibility with side by sides.

I am investigating new appliances and was considering stacked until I got to thinking about issues associated with aging -- not sure what age you are, but not really the best choice for the elderly. If you have to get stacked because of space issues, well then there you have it.