Standard Laundry Room Dimensions (with Photos)

How much time do you spend each week doing laundry? It’s hard to know for sure, but it’s safe to say you spend loads of time doing loads of laundry. Since laundry is such a normal task in your day-to-day life, it’s helpful to know the standard dimensions of different types of laundry rooms you can have in your home. In this article, we will provide homeowners like you basic tips on the most common preferences. Read on to learn more!

It’s no secret that doing loads of laundry isn’t anyone’s favorite task. However, it is a necessary one, so someone has to do them. Fortunately, the right laundry room set-up can make the process much more bearable.

Laundry room sizes can range from 3 x 3 feet to 8 x 10 feet or larger with the average laundry room dimensions sitting at approximately 6 x 9 feet. Layouts for these spaces can vary depending on your available space, budget, and personal preferences. We’re going to go over the basics, so you can make an informed decision.

If you have the room to spare, laundry rooms can be suitable for a lot more than doing the wash. On the other hand, you can also carve out a small niche or use a closet in an existing room if space is tight. Let’s take a look at those options and everything in between.

Laundry closets with side-by-side units also typically contain storage since there is open vertical space above the units. You can hang shelving or cabinets above the washer and dryer to hold laundry essentials like detergent and cleaning supplies. If you have front-loading units, you can also install a counter above them to provide a large folding and work station.

To accommodate a side-by-side washer and a dryer in a laundry closet, the ideal dimensions are three feet deep by five feet wide.

This width provides enough room for both units to fit easily. Plus, it allows for adequate maneuvering room if you need to get either appliance out of the space. A depth of three feet will provide ample space for hook-ups, plugs, and the dryer vent.

If your laundry closet is narrower, you can opt for a stackable or combo unit. With stackable washers and dryers, you won’t have as much space for storage. That said, you could still squeeze in some vertical storage space. Instead of double shelves or 24-inch-tall cabinets, you could opt for slightly shorter cabinets or a single shelf.

In many cases, you could make do with a three-by-three-foot closet for your laundry area.

On the other hand, you can try out a few different layouts within the confines of the 15 square feet laundry closet with a stacked washer and dryer. Assuming a minimum ceiling height of 8 feet, you can opt for a stackable system. This choice frees up an area next to the appliances for more storage, folding space, or even a sink.

The other consideration when it comes to determining the width of your laundry closet is the closet doors. In many cases, laundry closets feature bi-fold doors, so you need to account for the space these doors take up when they are open.

An open bi-fold door uses up about five inches of space. A standard washer and dryer take up roughly 54 inches when side-by-side. Therefore, a minimum closet width of 60 inches accounts for this 54 inches plus extra space for the open door.

Of course, if you feel really cramped when it comes to your laundry closet doors, you could always opt for a curtain instead. It’s all a matter of your personal preferences.

Note: If you have a top-load washer, leave ample room between the washer and wall-mounted storage for opening the machine’s lid. The typical washer lid is about 16 to 17 inches deep.

A step above a laundry closet is a small laundry room. This gives you a bit more freedom in terms of layout and provides more storage space, too.

A small laundry room is roughly 5 x 8 feet, or 40 square feet. This means it is five feet wide for side-by-side units—like the width of some laundry closets—and seven feet long.

This seven-foot length provides the three feet needed for the units and hook-ups, plus an additional four feet of open space. This free space allows you to do laundry more comfortably. Plus, it provides some extra space for things like a hamper or laundry-sorting station.

Like with a laundry closet, you have some options for the design of your space. For example, you can hang shelving or cabinets above the unit for storage. You can opt for stacking units and add more storage next to them.

Alternatively, you can install a counter over front-load appliances for a work zone. Keep in mind, if you plan to add a counter above your machines, this will add about 3 inches to your overall appliance height.

The typical laundry room will give you enough room to move around, so you can do your chores more comfortably. These types of spaces take the basic laundry room one step further by adding a work zone, which is usually across from the washer and dryer.

The average laundry room will typically be 6 feet wide by 9 feet long.

In addition to your appliances and free, open space, you now have room for an extra counter. This counter can provide an extra work surface or folding station or even incorporate a utility sink.

If you’ve got the space, laundry rooms can be as big as bedrooms. Many houses today feature larger laundry rooms that are showcased as upgrades.

In these spacious laundry havens, you can find 80 square feet of space and beyond. This translates to 8 feet wide by 10 feet long (or more!).

In addition to doing laundry, there’s lots of extra space for storage, wrapping presents, crafting, or whatever your heart desires.

Of course, the basic dimensions remain the same. You need at least three feet of depth for your dryer and washing machine. If your units are side-by-side, you need to allow a space of at least 60 inches, etc.

However, a large laundry room that measures 8 x 10 feet gives you room to play. You can add extra cabinets, a sink, and more work surface. Plus, when you start working with larger laundry rooms, your layout options increase.

You can go for a galley-style setup, where everything lives along one wall or the two longer walls. Or, you can opt for an L-shaped design, where your counter surface wraps around a corner of the room.

When it comes to absolute necessities in your laundry room, a washer and dryer are pretty much non-negotiable. Therefore, when figuring out your laundry space’s dimensions, your first step is considering your washer and dryer’s measurements. 00:0000:30

You will have many different options to explore when choosing the right appliances for your laundry room. Standard side-by-side units can be either front-loading or top-loading, depending on the dimensions of your laundry room and your own wants and needs.

The average full-size washing machine and dryer is roughly 27 inches wide x 31 inches deep x 39 inches tall each.

However, the average washer size and dryer sizes will vary based on brand and type. Some of the most popular brands include:

While the standard setup is side-by-side, you can also purchase stackable units. Stacking your washer and dryer will cut the width needed in half but double the height requirement.

Front-load washing machines and dryers usually come with stacking kits that install between the two units. This kit ensures the machines stack safely on top of each other. Different brands of machines usually cannot be stacked on each other.

It’s not recommended to stack units without a stacking kit, which will typically cost anywhere from $35 to $100 or more depending on your machines.

Make sure to purchase a kit that is specifically made for your model of washer and dryer.

If space is really tight, you can opt for a combo laundry unit. These appliances are both a washer and dryer in one, meaning it can both wash and dry your clothes. These are great for very small living spaces, like studio apartments, tiny houses, and even RVs.

A combo unit can be the same size as your average washer or dryer. It’s like getting two appliances within the footprint of one. There are also smaller units that measure closer to 24 inches wide x 25 inches deep and 33 inches tall.

Laundry room sinks, also known as utility sinks, are not like bathroom or kitchen sinks. These hard-working basins are typically deeper, allowing room for everything from soaking clothes to bathing the family pet.

A laundry room sink’s average size is anywhere from about 17 x 20 inches or 22 x 25 inches. The basin can range from 10 to 25 inches deep. Utility sinks can be drop-in, under-mount, wall-mounted, or free-standing, and can be made from a variety of materials. Some options of materials are fiberglass, plastic, and stainless steel.