Compact Apartment Washer & Dryer Dimensions
A compact washer or dryer is 24″ wide — three inches narrower than the 27″ full-size standard — which is the whole reason it exists: it slips into a 24″ cabinet bay, a hall closet, or under a counter where a full-size machine simply won’t go. Expect roughly 33–34″ tall and 22–26″ deep per unit, a stacked 24″ pair around 66–70″ tall, and — the part that actually decides apartment installs — a ventless dryer that runs on a normal 120V outlet instead of demanding a 240V circuit and an exterior vent.
The numbers that matter
“Compact” is a real form factor, not marketing. The defining dimension is width: 24″. Everything else follows from building these machines to drop into a European-style 24″ cabinet opening or a tight North American closet.
| Dimension | Compact (24″) | Full-size (27″) |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 24″ | 27″ |
| Height | 33–34″ | 38–43″ |
| Depth (body) | 22–26″ | 30–34″ |
| Capacity | 2.2–2.6 cu ft | 4–5 cu ft |
Note the height gap: at 33–34″ a compact tucks under a standard 36″ countertop with room for the connections behind it. A full-size front-loader, at 38–43″ with the control panel, will not.
Ventless is the apartment superpower
If you take one thing from this page, take this: in an apartment, the dryer’s venting matters more than its size. Most compact dryers are ventless — condenser or heat-pump — so they need no hole in an exterior wall. They go in interior closets, against partition walls, anywhere a vented dryer is flatly impossible.
Condenser vs. heat-pump
A condenser dryer pulls moisture from the air and drains it (to a tank you empty, or a drain line). A heat-pump dryer recycles its own heat — gentler on clothes, far more efficient, and it usually runs cooler and slower. Both are ventless and both fit the same 24″ footprint; heat-pump models cost more up front and earn it back on the electric bill.
Power: 120V vs. 240V
This is the second apartment dealbreaker, and it’s invisible until install day. A full-size electric dryer needs a dedicated 240V circuit with a large dryer receptacle. Many older buildings — and most apartments wired for a single washer/dryer closet — don’t have one.
A large share of compact ventless dryers run on an ordinary 120V household outlet. That means no electrician, no panel work, and no “the closet has water and a drain but no 240V” surprise. Always confirm the spec sheet — some compact dryers still want 240V — but 120V capability is common and it’s often the deciding feature.
How they install: stack, side-by-side, or under-counter
Stacked
- Dryer on washer with a brand-matched stacking kit — never improvise the bracket.
- A 24″ stacked pair lands around 66–70″ tall; confirm closet height and door clearance.
- Smallest floor footprint — the classic apartment-closet answer.
Side-by-side or under-counter
- Two 24″ units side by side need ~48″ of wall, plus door-swing room.
- At 33–34″ tall, a single unit slides under a 36″ counter — a tidy kitchen or bath install.
- Leave 1–2″ behind each machine for hoses and the rear bulge.
Measure before you commit
Published dimensions are the cabinet body only. The real opening you need is bigger: add depth for hoses and the power cord (budget ~4–6″ behind), and on front-loaders account for the door, which swings out 20″+ and needs clearance to open fully. Measure the doorway and any hallway turns too — a 24″ machine that fits the closet but not the path to it is a return waiting to happen.
Frequently asked
How wide is a compact washer compared to a regular one?
How tall is a stacked compact washer & dryer?
Do compact dryers need a vent?
Can a compact dryer run on a normal outlet?
Measured from official ENERGY STAR data + manufacturer spec sheets · Last verified June 2026