Best Portable Washing Machines for Apartments in 2026
The best portable washing machines for apartments in 2026: a roomy BLACK+DECKER, a compact ROVSUN automatic and a light Costway twin tub, compared in depth.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Prices and availability are accurate as of the time of publication and are subject to change.
The BLACK+DECKER BPW30MW is the best portable washer for most apartments: it takes up to 26.5 pounds of laundry, runs six automatic cycles in a stainless steel tub and rolls back into a closet on its own wheels. We compared portable washing machines for apartments that hook up to an ordinary sink, and two others stood out: the ROVSUN 1.5 cu. ft. washer for tight floor plans, and the COSTWAY FP11067US twin tub for anyone who needs a machine light enough to carry.
Quick answer: Get the BLACK+DECKER BPW30MW if you have room for a 24-inch-wide machine and want warm or hot washes. Get the ROVSUN for push-button washing in a 20-inch-wide body. Get the COSTWAY twin tub if weight matters most and you don't mind moving wet clothes to the spinner by hand.
| Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| BLACK+DECKER BPW30MW | Bigger loads and warm or hot washes | View |
| ROVSUN 1.5 cu. ft. Automatic | Singles and couples short on floor space | View |
| COSTWAY FP11067US Twin Tub | Carrying up stairs and hands-on washing | View |
How we compared portable washing machines for apartments
We read each machine's current Amazon listing alongside the manufacturer's manual or official product page, then checked aggregated owner reviews for recurring complaints. We focused on what decides whether a washer works in a rental: how it gets water from a sink, how high the drain hose must reach, how much space and lifting it demands, and how much laundry fits in one run.
Our picks
BLACK+DECKER BPW30MW 3.0 cu. ft. Portable Washer
The BPW30MW earns the top spot because it behaves most like a regular top-loader. Its 3.0 cu. ft. stainless steel tub holds up to 26.5 pounds per load, and the impeller design has no central agitator, so sheets and delicates are less likely to tangle. Six cycles (Normal, Heavy, Delicate, Quick, Bulky and Spin Only) pair with three water levels and a 24-hour delay start, and the manual lists roughly 34 minutes for Normal and 15 to 22 minutes for Quick. It suits couples or small families who want towels and bedding done at home. The tradeoff is bulk: it weighs 99.2 pounds, measures 23.7 by 24.8 inches, and the manual warns that two people may be needed to move it. Warm and hot washes also need separate hot and cold faucets, because on a single kitchen tap with the quick adapter the manual recommends cold washes only.
Pros
- Holds up to 26.5 lb per load in a 3.0 cu. ft. stainless steel tub
- Separate hot and cold inlets allow real warm and hot washes with a permanent hookup
- Two rollers and two side handles help it roll into a closet between laundry days
- 24-hour delay start, child lock and automatic unbalance detection
Cons
- Weighs 99.2 lb, and the manual says two people may be needed to move it
- With the quick adapter on a single mixing faucet, only cold washes are recommended
- The manual places the drain hose outlet 32 to 39 inches off the floor, which suits a sink better than a tub edge
ROVSUN 1.5 cu. ft. Automatic Portable Washer
ROVSUN fits a fully automatic wash, rinse and spin into a body 20.1 inches wide, 18.6 inches deep and 34.1 inches tall, and at 48.5 pounds it weighs about half as much as the BLACK+DECKER. You get eight wash modes, five water levels and a 26-minute quick cycle, plus a stainless steel drum, child lock, tub-clean program and a memory that resumes the cycle after a power cut. ROVSUN rates wash noise at 60 dB or less, which matters in a studio. It earned our compact pick because it keeps push-button convenience in the smallest automatic footprint here, but ROVSUN itself describes a full load as six or seven T-shirts, so it is best for one or two people. A single inlet hose means the wash temperature is whatever your faucet delivers. If the quick connector won't fit your tap, the brand explains how to start a program and pour water in by hand.
Pros
- Fully automatic wash, rinse and spin in a 20.1-inch-wide body
- Eight modes and five water levels, including a 26-minute quick wash
- Rated at 60 dB or less while washing and 70 dB or less while spinning
- Can be filled by hand when a faucet won't accept the quick sink connector
Cons
- A full load is about six or seven T-shirts, so towels and sheets take extra runs
- Single water inlet with no hot and cold mixing; temperature depends on your faucet
- The manual asks for lint filter cleaning every five cycles and a tub-clean run every two weeks
COSTWAY FP11067US Twin Tub Washer
The FP11067US is a twin tub, so it trades automation for simplicity: a 12-pound wash tub and an 8-pound spin dryer sit side by side, each driven by its own motor. Three knobs under the lid set the wash time from 0 to 15 minutes, the mode (gentle, normal or drain) and a spin timer of up to 5 minutes. A built-in pump pushes drain water up to 39 inches, high enough for most sinks, and the spin tub has a spray function to rinse away leftover foam. At 30.5 pounds with side handles and a cord organizer, it is the easiest machine here to carry up stairs or stash in a closet, which is why it gets our lightweight pick. It suits renters who wash a few small loads a week and can stay nearby while it runs. The catch is the routine: you move wet clothes between tubs by hand, and Costway's warranty lasts only six months.
Pros
- Weighs 30.5 lb and adds side handles plus a cord organizer for storage
- Built-in drain pump lifts water up to 39 inches to reach a sink
- Separate wash (0 to 15 min) and spin (0 to 5 min) timers give direct control of each step
- Spray function in the spin tub helps rinse out leftover detergent foam
Cons
- Wet clothes must be moved from the wash tub to the spinner by hand
- The 8 lb spin tub is smaller than the 12 lb wash tub, so a full wash load spins in batches
- Six-month warranty is the shortest of the three picks
What to check before you buy
Your faucet. Both automatic machines ship with a quick-connect sink adapter. Per the BLACK+DECKER manual, it screws onto faucets with internal or external threads (on internally threaded taps you unscrew the aerator first), the washer needs 14 to 70 psi of water pressure, and the faucet must sit within 4 feet of the back of the machine. If your faucet tip has no threads at all, the adapter has nothing to grip, so check before ordering.
Drain height. The drain hose must reach a sink, tub or standpipe. BLACK+DECKER puts the outlet 32 to 39 inches high, ROVSUN wants the highest point of its hose between 0.7 and 1.2 meters (about 28 to 47 inches), and the COSTWAY pump lifts water up to 39 inches.
Power and space. The BLACK+DECKER and ROVSUN manuals both rule out extension cords, and BLACK+DECKER asks for a 120-volt, 15-amp circuit and a solid floor rather than carpet. Measure height as well as floor space: the BLACK+DECKER stands about 56 inches tall with its lid raised, while the COSTWAY reaches 37 inches open.
FAQ
Can a portable washing machine work in an apartment without washer hookups?
Yes. All three picks are designed for kitchens and bathrooms with no laundry plumbing. The BLACK+DECKER and ROVSUN take water through a quick-connect adapter on a sink faucet, while the COSTWAY fills through a 4-foot hose with an adjustable metal clip. Each one drains through a hose hung over a sink, tub or standpipe, within the height limits described above. The two automatic models also need a grounded outlet without an extension cord.
How dry are clothes after a portable washer's spin cycle?
Owner reviews of the BLACK+DECKER describe laundry coming out clean and almost dry, and its manual lists a separate 26-minute Spin Only cycle for extra extraction. ROVSUN owners report clothes drying within hours on a rack. The COSTWAY spins in its own basket for up to 5 minutes per batch, which you can repeat. None of the three dries clothes completely, so plan for a drying rack or a separate portable dryer.
How much laundry fits in a portable washing machine?
The BLACK+DECKER takes up to 26.5 pounds in its 3.0 cu. ft. tub, the most room here for towels and bedding. The ROVSUN is rated at 17.8 pounds, yet the brand describes a full load as six or seven T-shirts, ideal for one or two people. The COSTWAY washes 12 pounds at a time but spins only 8, so a full wash load goes through the spinner in two rounds.
Our recommendation
For most apartments, buy the BLACK+DECKER BPW30MW: it has the largest tub, real warm and hot washes once both faucets are connected, and wheels for tucking it away. Choose the ROVSUN if floor space is tight and you wash for one or two people, or the COSTWAY FP11067US if it has to be light enough to carry and you are happy with a hands-on routine.
Prices and availability are accurate as of publication and can change.