What is the ideal height for a washing machine?
The ideal height for a washing machine is an ergonomic working height that prevents back and knee complaints. A standard front loader is only 85 cm tall in itself, so you have to bend deeply for every wash. For optimal comfort when loading and unloading, raising it by 60 cm is advisable. That brings the drum opening to a comfortable hip height and lets you stay comfortably upright.
Standard washing machine height
Most washing machines have fixed dimensions that fit within the calculated recesses of our units:
Front loaders: 85 cm high, 60 cm wide and roughly 55 to 65 cm deep. This type of machine is particularly well suited to being built into a washing machine cabinet.
Top loaders and slimline models: these often differ in width or depth, or open at the top, so they do not fit in a standard closed recess.
The fixed internal recess for a Waschturm™ washing machine cabinet is 62.5 x 86.3 x 58.3 cm (WxHxD). The total external depth of the unit itself is 65 cm. Virtually every common front loader fits within these generous recess dimensions without trouble.
Ergonomic working height: why raise it?
The ideal working height for household tasks is around 1 metre. With a standard washing machine standing loose on the floor (85 cm), however, the drum opening sits far too low. That means bending considerably to load and unload the laundry, which puts real strain on your body.
By raising your washing machine, you bring the drum to a sensible level. Waschturm™ washing machine stands lift your machine by exactly 60 cm. That means never bending deeply again, maximum comfort and a healthy working posture during the daily laundry routine.
What raising options are there within our modular system?
Washing machine stand
Machine raised by: 60 cm
Biggest advantage: working ergonomically at the perfect height, plus extra storage in the drawer directly under the machine.
Dryer on washing machine (tower)
Machine raised by: 0 cm (washing machine at the bottom)
Biggest advantage: maximum space saving; the dryer sits at the top at a comfortable working height.
In a compact stacked washer and dryer setup, the washing machine stands on the floor at the bottom and the dryer goes in the recess above it. This saves valuable floor space and makes sure at least the upper appliance is perfectly reachable at eye level.
What to consider when raising your appliances
Absolute stability: Waschturm™ washing machine cabinets have a sturdy, continuous base plate. Vibration during the spin cycle is directed straight into the floor through our distinctive cabinet-in-cabinet construction.
A built-in anti-tip device: this comes as standard in all our cabinets, for maximum safety with an open door or a heavy load.
Adjustable feet: these let you level the complete cabinet wall perfectly, which is essential for keeping vibration to a minimum.
Room for connections: the cabinet has 5 cm of space at the back as standard and is placed about 5 cm further from the wall with the wall brackets, leaving roughly 10 cm of installation room at the back for hoses and cables.
Optimal ventilation: integrated ventilation grilles come as standard and provide constant, safe air circulation around your appliances.
Drain height: a technical guideline
The drain hose of your washing machine should ideally sit between 60 and 90 cm high for the internal pump to work well. In a raised setup in a Waschturm™ cabinet the machine is already higher, so it is recommended to raise the drain hose to 120 cm. Bear this in mind when installing the pipework in your laundry room.
Which setup suits your situation?
The ideal layout depends entirely on your personal wishes and the metres available:
Enough width available: choose a double washing machine stand to put both your washing machine and dryer neatly side by side at 60 cm.
Limited floor space: a vertical stacked washer and dryer setup in a sturdy tower cabinet saves valuable square metres.
Organised storage: extend your washing machine cabinets easily with tall modular storage cabinets for a streamlined, continuous cabinet wall in which laundry baskets and detergent are tidily out of sight.
All Waschturm™ cabinets are modular. That means you can combine them flexibly and put them together so they fit the dimensions of your utility room exactly.
Do you have specific questions about the ideal setup, or would you like personal advice? Feel free to contact our customer service or design the cabinet wall you want straight away using the online configurator.