I am also just five feet tall. My LG washer and dryer are stacked and I have had no problems reaching into my dryer at all. Sometimes I might have to stretch just a bit to retrieve a stray sock but I am not sorry I stacked them as my laundry room is very small.

And without a stool?? I really thought I would need one to reach the back of the dryer!

Haven't had to use one yet! But then if I really get into a pickle my hubby is 6'4" so there you go. I have had my units for a year. Really made a difference in my laundry room. I have four doors in that room, one to the basement , from the garage, into the kitchen, and my pantry. My husband was able to to put a base cabinet in for me, one wall cabinet and also cabinets across the top of the dryer. Of course I can't reach those without his help but I just put rarely used items in those cabinets. All of the cabinets are on the same wall as my washer/dryer.

Good information to know. Thanks so much Jasperpriddy!

I am 5'2" and I Love my stacked washer dryer! It saves so much space for us. I haven't had a problem reaching things either.

And my husband is 6'4" also. :)

It looks like all of us shorties chose our mates well. Mine is 6 feet tall. Very handy to have around (changing lightbulbs, reaching high shelves, etc.) Maybe I shouldn't worry, then, about reaching the back of the dryer - perhaps I should "press" him into service??

I know this is an old post. Hoping someone will chime in and read my response and question. This is good discussion! I'm just over 5 ft and my husband is also over 6ft but it isn't always convenient to track him down. lol So, climbing on counters and ladders to reach things has been my lifelong dilemma. I'm just wondering how those who have stacked theirs and are petite, reach the controls?! I would like to stack mine to save space but I'm not sure I want to add yet another situation where I'm having to use a step ladder! Anyone else have to use a step stool to reach controls and don't mind?!

L R: The usability of the controls is key. My dryer has an oversized dial to select cycle and a big start/pause button. The less-frequently used options like steam or drum light are buttons with large text. I'm 5'3" and never use a stool. HTH

My 5' kids have never mentioned having a problem with ours. If it helps, a short stool that the washer door can clear could remain in place. It wouldn't be terribly inconvenient if you didn't have to move it back and forth between loads.

I have a cute colorful stool from IKEA that we keep nearby and it's simple to step up to reach in the back or make it easier with the controls. Really not a problem AT ALL. Our laundry room is a million times better once we got stacked units.

Kenmore make a brilliant control panel called the "flip" that is moveable for stacking. A blank panel cover can easily replace the upper location when the panel is moved to the location under the dryer door. Very, very clever. I have yet to read how Consumer Reports rates the machines. But this accommodation is a terrific design feature.

I have to say that I really do not like my washer and dryer stacked, I have Samsung washer and dryer and they both are tall to begin with so once the dryer is stacked on top I can't even see the settings to know what I am choosing, and I'm really not interested and having to use a stool. Especially if my mom who is 81 wants to come over and do laundry, it will be a huge inconvenience. If you have the room to have them side-by-side and you were just trying to make more room I would go with side-by-side hands down.

Yikes mine just arrived and they are enormous! I will need a stool. I wish the sales person had warned me about this issue. Trying get them To uninstall. Will be a big headache. Are there some that are smaller ? Little old 4’ 11”

Glad to see a more recent post. I am just 5‘1” and really want to stack the washer and dryer because our laundry room is so small. Looking for recommendations on a brand that has controls that may be easier to reach. Thank you.

I am 5'3" and I had mine stacked at my previous home and did not have a problem. If something was stuck on top, maybe, but everyday laundry I did not need a stool. Since they weren't on a pedestal I had to stoop down to get clothes out of the dryer, but it wasn't bad. We recently built a house and we put the washer and dryer side by side in the laundry room and I hate it. For one thing it's hard to transfer clothes to the dryer without dropping things. And for another, I belated realized there was no place to hang anything to dry. So we're going to stack them and put a rod up where the dryer is now so I have a place to hang things.

Robyn I'm in the market now. I'm 5'5". My fiance's machines were stacked and I always had difficulty because his dryer control panel laid back on an angle (convenient if positioned on the floor but no good when stacked high!) So I've been looking in stores at the angle of the control panels to decide which is going to work best for me. I've decided stacked is best for our space, and I'm not opposed to a stool. I'm staying away from the Samsung set that uses a dial for settings because that's where I couldn't see the lines match up well when turning to select a setting. Other thing is the light-up display panel. If its too large & facing up to the ceiling it'll only reflect the light & I won't be able to read it. So I'm paying attention to the configuration of the buttons so I'll be able to read them easier from a foot down. Sorry I can't offer brand suggestions, I think that's a personal choice. But don't buy the models that are extra tall, Watch the angle of the control panel, and don't be afraid of a small stepstool! Good luck!

Just installed the Samsung set and deeply regret it. For a 5’2” person with an elderly mom, this was a mistake. Will be returning and getting a traditional “stacked” W/D instead. They don’t look cool but do a great job.

^^ Agree. It's not just about height.

It's also about aging, and what your shoulders are like or may be like as you age and arthritis kicks in, and are you steady on a step-stool.

It sucks. I'm 5'3 and am using stacked machines for the first time. I literally can not see the dryer's top control panel at all as it is on top and pointed upward. I got a stool and set it to "normal" and just live with it because there is no place to leave the stool out all the time and I don't want to go back and forth for each load of laundry. Also, holding on to the laundry basket while on tip toes to reach the back of the dryer for the final items sucks as well - and that is not just sometimes, it is all the time. The washer, on bottom, is a a front facing washer which means that i have to navigate clothes coming back out when I'm trying to load and then clothes falling out when trying to unload. This is the worst decision I have ever made.

Robyn Pascale Did you end up stacking your washer & dryer? If so, how is it working out, & what did you get? I'm 5'1" too. I'm wondering if I'll be able to reach the clothes & controls. I don't want to have to use a step stool. Our laundry room's small.

Perhaps instead of installing a drawer beneath your stackable washer and dryer you could have a pull out step stool? I am 4’ 11”. Would never do stackable w/d but DO have stacked ovens! And…didn’t even know I had a button to automatically program the ovens for 350. I couldn’t see the panel! Yes, I use a stool! 😆

@Decorate - I stacked Whirlpool WFW5620HW because the control panel on dryer is flat & faces forward (not angled up), and because the buttons on it are all very obvious to read from below. I'm 5'5" but my son who WAS shorter than me lol used them while 5'1". But getting every last little item out of the dryer is sometimes more effort. The value to me in having them stacked is getting the space to hang clothes next to the unit. Its all inside a closet in my half bathroom, so I was short on space too. It never would have worked side by side & hanging clothes on rod over the machines. See if you know anyone (or friend of a friend) who's got stacked units & ask if you can check theirs out. The lip of the dryer opening is about 53"H so you probably can see inside no problem but reaching to get stuff out will depend on your shoulder range of motion. Same for controls, which are about 74-77" H from the floor. I guess you could always hang clothes in a different manner if that's all too high for reaching. Good luck!