I would always choose side-by-side because it is far easier for shorter people as well as older people to get to both machines.

I've never had a stacked washer/dryer, but if there's room I would opt for side-by-side so I don't have to lift laundry higher than necessary.

hi… just from experience… would not do a stacked setup for the simple fact of having to repair or do maintenance on either the washer or dryer… also consider your space if you ever have to replace your current washer/dryer, they just don’t last for years and years… consider your dryer vent location too for the ease of maintenance… Hopefully these little hints will be helpful to you…

Thanks all. I’m actually planning the space as though I will be putting in a full sized set as my plan is to replace the actual w/d in a year or two.

First how big is the utility sink? And how will taht be accessed after the doors are installed. I have almost the exact set up but no utility sink since there would be no way to use it. W/D 60" so how big is the sink and how do uou plan to use it. We are in the planning syages of redoing out 2 bathrooms and laundry room to gain more space in the bathrooms so will be going with a stacked set and we have had them before and I acualy loved them the dryer was so easy to get stuff out of an the washer was the same either way.

I would caution against the shelf design in the bottom photo. Just today I had the appliance guy out to re-attach our Miele dryer to the vent pipe (long story & expen$ive thanks to stupid Miele engineering/design on this T9802) and he had to pull it out from the wall to get behind there. That could not have happened (maybe at all?) if it was sitting on a permanent shelf above the floor.

I would always go with side-by-side, with appliances directly on the floor (not elevated). Easier for servicing, as has been said. But, just as important, I cannot understand how anyone can reach the controls on the upper stacked appliance. They would be 80” above the floor. And getting clothes out from the rear or the top of the upper appliance chamber would also be impossible. Can someone who has a stacked arrangement tell me how any of this is possible? Do you have to use a step stool? As for your particular situation, I would enlarge the doorway opening at left and at right so that the washer door can be fully opened. (You may need to move the light switches, which should not be difficult.) And I would put a wall-hung cabinet above the W&D for storage. Lastly, do you really need doors on that alcove? The whole garage space is conditioned, so it should have a reasonably tight envelope (i.e., the dust should be no worse than inside a house).

If there is room I would go with side side. I am short. We recently moved my daughter into an apartment which has the apartment size stacked units which is an all in one unit. The controls are low enough on the dryer for me to reach but I could not see into the dryer if there were any articles of clothing still in there. I had to feel around with my hand then had my husband double check. It was annoying. I don't think I would be able to reach the controls on stacked units where the dryer controls were up top. Forget about seeing in the dryer.

The utility sink is 22” wide. The door was on until a few weeks ago when we moved the fridge out there and the appliance guys knocked it off the tracks. There was no issue getting to the sink, its the one I use to feed the dogs. All that stuff stacked there will be gone in a couple of days, daughter had to move out of college place and parked a bunch of junk here. The washer dryer unit shown is a smallish set, when stacked they are only about 66” tall, but of course any replacements would be taller I’m sure.

I would always choose side-by-side because it is far easier for shorter people as well as older people to get to both machines.

Interesting, because I find stacked easier on me physically as I am aging - I like having the dryer higher up.....now I only have to bend or squat for one appliance, not two. I agree that side-by-side would be better for shorter people.

Side by side, on the floor.

Once you commit to stacking them, when the washer goes kaput, you have to replace both appliances.

Side by side, easier for making repairs.

Side by side, much easier to clean the dryer vent (which should be done at least 1x per year--assuming a vented dryer.)

I use the top of my machines for folding laundry.

I much prefer side by side. Stacked makes any work that needs to be done later problematic.

I'd do side by side, but put a flat surface over the top of both so you have an area to set down your laundry basket, or sort clothes, etc. And that way you can add cabinets and/or drying racks across the entire upper area.

Low Prairie · More Info

I have stacked. I am old. The dryer is easily reachable. The washer is easily reachable.

People on Houzz make a really big deal about stacked on the grounds of maintenance, but it's the same as for side by sides! There's two separate units. What's the problem?

People on Houzz make a really big deal about stacked on the grounds of maintenance, but it's the same as for side by sides! There's two separate units. What's the problem?

The problem with stacked units is the sum of the whole. I'd rather move them in pieces--187# for a washer and 122# for a dryer. Instead of having to move the whole 309# in one go.

And maybe it is only the dryer that needs service--so I get off easy with needing to move only 122#.

Plus, with stacked, you're locked into having to replace both W and D when one dies. My current dryer has outlived 2 new washers; the replacement washer is over 7 YO and that old dryer is still humming along.

I would do side by side and put them on their matching pedestals. The pedestals are attached so each machine can be moved easily. My dryer needed to be repaired and it was quite easy to move it away from the wall.