Home Blog How Tall Should The Cabinet For The Washing Machine or Dryer Be?

How Tall Should The Cabinet For The Washing Machine or Dryer Be?

Published on: 1/08/2023 Author: Babette

When creating a laundry room with ergonomics in mind, cabinet height is a design key consideration.

Laundry cabinets need to be tall enough to allow for adequate space for the machines. However, the height and width must also allow for machine ventilation and easy access for maintenance.

In particular, aspects such as being able to access the functions of the machine, including any buttons located on the top which can be difficult to reach are commonly overlooked.

Opting for a slimline cupboard for your washing machine or dryer will maximise available space without compromising on functionality. However, there are still some things to bear in mind to ensure the heights of the cabinets are also tall enough depending on the required space.

To explain further, here are our top tips at Washtower on selecting a suitable height for your laundry room cabinets.

Factors that Determine the Ideal Height for Slimline Cabinets:

✔ Dimensions of the appliances
✔ Dimensions of the cupboards
✔ Clearance for ventilation and maintenance access
✔ Overall ease of use

Check out our Product Range

Fully customisable cabinets blend your washing machine into the room's aesthetic with black oak or white options

Dimensions of the Appliances

All new laundry setup projects must consider the dimensions of the appliances so that any cabinets offer a suitable fit.

The standard washing machine dimension includes a height of 85cm and a width of 60cm. However, the depth of a washing machine can change according to the size of the drum.

It’s always a good idea to consult manufacturer guidance to get the exact measurements of your machines before planning to house them in cabinets. This is bearing in mind the need to leave clearance space for ventilation and maintenance. Also, you’ll need easy access above the machine where any buttons are located.

Thankfully, Washtower slimline cabinets are compatible with the vast majority of appliances.
On each product listing, you can find details about the size of the cabinets, so that you can work out if the available space would be adequate depending on the size of the appliance.

Be sure to take into account the size of any legs on your appliances, as this can impact their fit within the available space in the Washtower slimline cabinets.

In summary, the washing machine cabinet dimensions you need will depend on the individual appliances required along with the overall system chosen.

Washtower Slimeline

Explore the modular system format of Washtower cabinets, where cupboard size is customizable based on user preferences.

Dimensions of the Cupboards

Beyond measuring the dimensions of the appliances, you should also consider the available space in your property. Specifically, in the location in your home that offers the required utility connections.

As we’ve just touched upon, on each product listing, you can view details of each cupboard dimension size we stock on our website to guide you.

Don’t worry, we have options to suit every property, whether you have lots of room to play with or are limited on space!

Washtower's basic cupboard (WSCS146(2)) has a height of 146.05 cm (57.5 inches). It increases the height of the machine to 60 cm (23.7 inches), and is designed to accommodate a standard washing machine or dryer.

Washtower cabinets have a modular system format, which can also be seen when viewing any of our product listings. What this means is that you have plenty of choice over how you wish to arrange the cupboards, i.e. side-by-side or stacked.

Stacking machines on top of each other will require different cupboard dimensions compared with placing the machines side-by-side.

However, do be aware that when wanting to stack a dryer on top of the washing machine, it is not possible to raise the height of a dryer so it sits well above ground level. This is not feasible as it would make it more challenging to access the washing machine.

Instead, cabinets such as our Slimline 3.1 would provide the most efficient use of space when wanting a double-height configuration of your appliances. Often rated as our ‘Best tall cupboard for washing machine and dryer’, it allows for safe and practical appliance stacking. Crucially, the washing machine is kept at ground level to be able to maintain access to the dryer above.

A side-by-side solution would allow for both the washer and dryer to be raised above the ground, rather than being stacked, and likewise, to avoid losing access to the dryer. This configuration can be seen by checking out our Original 2.1 cabinets.

Finally, if your laundry room is generously sized, then you can make the most of the available space by opting for a full wall cabinet design.

With a full cabinet wall, you can integrate lots of handy storage close to your laundry appliances. This can be useful for storing laundry detergents safely out of reach of children or pets.

So, it’s time to take that tape measure out to see which of the above solutions would best suit your available space and overall needs!

Ergonomics and Accessibility

Consider the ergonomics and accessibility of the appliances when determining the height of the slimline cupboard. The top of the cabinet should be at a convenient height that allows you to load and unload clothes comfortably without excessive bending or stretching. Given how often the laundry needs to be done, a practical height not only improves user experience but also reduces the risk of strain or injury over time.

Explore space-saving options for your laundry setup with stacked washing machine and dryer cabinets

Integration with Surrounding Fixtures

Ensure that the height of a slimline cupboard will complement the surrounding fixtures in your laundry area. Consider the height of existing shelves, wall-mounted cabinets or any other features adjacent to the slimline cupboard. A well-integrated design will enhance the overall aesthetics and functionality of the space of your laundry room.

A black oak tumble dryer cupboard with a pull out shelve and two storage cabinets

Future Proofing

When deciding on the height of the slimline cupboard, think about any potential changes or upgrades in the future. If you plan to replace your current appliances or acquire larger ones, it is essential to account for this possibility by creating some flexibility within the available space. Ideally, you would need to opt for a like-for-like swap for your appliances to avoid having to make changes to the setup.

Why Is The Height Of Laundry Room Cabinets Important?

You might not have given your laundry room cabinet height much thought before. But just like other repetitive tasks you perform in your home like cooking or vacuuming, ergonomics make all the difference in how easy the laundry is to complete.

When your washing machine and dryer are raised off the ground, this helps avoid awkward bending and twisting motions. Even if you currently don’t suffer from any ailments or impairments, having to get down to the floor to load and unload your machines can be a hassle.

Therefore, ensuring your laundry cabinets offer a more comfortable working height is really important. Lifting your appliances off the ground can also future-proof your setup so that as you get older, you won’t suddenly find doing the laundry a very difficult and even potentially painful task to complete.

Can Ergonomic Laundry Cabinets Still Be Stylish?

Absolutely! If you head over to our Instagram page, you’ll find countless examples of how our customers have created a user-friendly laundry space that crucially doesn’t skimp on aesthetics.

We know that creating a beautiful laundry space is important to homeowners just like you. That’s why we’ve made it simple to choose between white or black laundry cabinets, giving you a neutral base to work from. These simple colour choices also benefit from complementing practically any decor you have going on in your home.

Once you’ve installed your new Washtower cabinets, you can then upgrade other features in the room as you see fit. For instance, some of our customers like to add a herringbone floor to modernise their laundry room. Even adding in some new shelving, lighting and other accessories can make the space feel far more homely.

Whatever plans you have for your laundry room, starting with ergonomic cabinets gives you a great base to move forward with your design without having to compromise on comfort or practicality.

Head to our online configurator to tailor dimensions and features to your specific needs, creating a perfect fit for your washing machine or dryer.

Washtower - Design Your User-Friendly Utility Room With Our Online Configurator

Now you’ve picked up some top design tips, all that’s left for you to do is begin your design. Simply head over to our online configurator to get started.

Here, you can customise the dimensions and features of the cupboard according to your specific needs. This includes the exact height, width, and depth to create a tailor-made solution that perfectly accommodates your washing machine or dryer.

For added inspiration, discover how others have utilised slimline cupboards to create functional and stylish laundry rooms.

Need any help with all things cabinet heights for your washer or dryer, or Washtower products in general?

Please give us a call on 0330 818 3548 or send us an email at info@washtower.co.uk and our friendly team will be in touch.

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