Which Portable Washing Machine Should You Buy? 7 Compared

RBE top pick

BLACK+DECKER BPWM16W 1.6 Cu. Ft. Portable Washer

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For most buyers the BLACK+DECKER BPWM16W is the pick: a large 1.6 cu. ft. tub, fully automatic operation, and a recognized US brand standing behind the warranty. Choose the COMFEE' 0.9 cu. ft. if you want the same set-and-forget convenience in the smallest, cheapest footprint.

A portable washer earns its place in a small apartment, dorm, or RV only if it actually cleans, spins clothes dry enough to hang, and doesn't leak or throw error codes after a few months. Across owner reports and maker specs, full-automatic units win on convenience while twin-tubs win on raw cleaning power and price. Below are faucet-connected automatics from compact to large, one twin-tub that depends entirely on how hands-on you're willing to be, a premium washer-dryer combo on casters for people who want to skip the drying rack, and one popular full-automatic we'd steer most buyers away from.

RBE top pick

BLACK+DECKER

BLACK+DECKER BPWM16W 1.6 Cu. Ft. Portable Washer

Buy it

The closest a portable gets to a real apartment washer, with a recognized US brand behind the warranty.

Best for: Apartment and condo dwellers who want a large, set-and-forget portable and value real brand support.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• Roomy 1.6 cu. ft. tub handles a genuine small-household load, not just a few shirts
• Fully automatic: fill, wash, rinse, and spin run on their own once it's hooked to a faucet
• Backed by a mainstream US brand with parts and warranty support owners can actually reach

Know before buying

• Bigger and heavier than 0.9 cu. ft. compacts, so it's less grab-and-go portable
• Spin leaves clothes damp compared with a high-RPM twin-tub spinner

Find it on Amazon Read our detailed assessment ↓

COMFEE'

COMFEE' 0.9 Cu. Ft. Portable Washing Machine

Buy it

A slim, efficient full-automatic that slides into a closet or under a counter and just works.

Best for: Solo dwellers and couples who want a quiet, no-fuss automatic washer in the smallest possible footprint.

$ · budget

Why we like it

• Compact 0.9 cu. ft. footprint with built-in rollers fits dorms, RVs, and tight kitchens
• Full-automatic cycles plus a built-in lint filter and drain pump keep daily use simple
• Energy- and water-efficient design that owners report sipping resources on small loads

Know before buying

• Small tub means frequent loads for anything beyond one or two people
• Modest spin gets clothes damp-dry, not the near-dry a strong spinner delivers

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Magic Chef

Magic Chef 2.0 Cu. Ft. Compact Portable Top Load Washer

Buy it

The biggest tub in this comparison, with a stated 800 RPM spin and the most program flexibility of the top-loaders.

Best for: Couples and small families who want the largest faucet-connected automatic and have the floor space for it.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• Magic Chef states a 2.0 cu. ft. capacity, larger than any other washer here.
• Six wash programs including jeans and anti-wrinkle, three water levels, delay start and an end-of-cycle signal.
• A stated 800 RPM spin plus quick-connect and rear hot and cold water inlets for faucet setups.

Know before buying

• At 37 inches tall and 21.7 inches wide it is the bulkiest top-loader here, and Magic Chef publishes no unit weight.
• No casters or rollers are mentioned on the product page.
• Warranty length is not stated on the product page itself, only linked as a document.

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Auertech

Auertech Twin Tub Portable Washing Machine (28 lbs)

It depends

The cleaning and spin-dryness champ of the group - if you don't mind babysitting every load.

Best for: Hands-on users, campers, and big-load washers who prioritize cleaning power and dryness over convenience.

$ · budget

Why we like it

• Separate wash and spin tubs let you wash one batch while spinning another, cutting total time
• Dedicated spin tub wrings clothes drier than a typical full-automatic
• Large combined capacity and a low price make it the value pick for heavy laundry days

Know before buying

• Semi-automatic: you fill it, move wet clothes tub-to-tub, and drain it by hand every time
• Noticeably louder and more plasticky than the full-automatics, with a shorter expected lifespan

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Avanti

Avanti 1.38 Cu. Ft. Compact Portable Washer

It depends

A budget mid-size automatic with a full spec table and more cycles than the COMFEE', minus a published spin speed.

Best for: Budget buyers who want more capacity and cycle choice than a 0.9 cu. ft. compact and can live with an unknown spin speed.

$ · budget

Why we like it

• Avanti publishes a 44.1 pound unit weight and 19.75 x 20 x 33.25 inch dimensions, so you can plan where it goes.
• Eight cycles, three load sizes, three temperature options, delay start and a child safety lock.
• Includes a sink faucet attachment, runs on a standard 120V outlet and carries a stated 1-year limited warranty.

Know before buying

• No spin speed is published, so spin dryness is unknown.
• Avanti's own store states all sales are final and charges a 35% restocking fee if it does accept a return.
• At 1.38 cu. ft. it holds less than the BLACK+DECKER or Magic Chef.

Find it on Amazon Read our detailed assessment ↓

Equator

Equator EZ 4600 All-in-One Washer Dryer with Portability Kit

It depends

A 1400 RPM front-load washer that also dries, on casters with a faucet adapter, for buyers who want to skip the drying rack.

Best for: Renters and RV owners who want washing and drying in one movable unit and will pay for it.

$$$ · premium

Why we like it

• Equator states a 1400 RPM spin, the fastest published figure here, plus vented or ventless drying in the same drum.
• The included portability kit has four casters, a Y connector and a faucet adapter, and it runs on 110V.
• Fifteen programs including Sanitize at 165°F, Allergen, Pet, Quick 20 and a Winterize cycle for RV storage, with a 1-year parts and labor warranty.

Know before buying

• It costs several times what any top-loader here does.
• Equator publishes no unit weight on the product page, and a front-loader with a dryer is far heavier to move than a 0.9 cu. ft. compact.
• At 1.62 cu. ft. it is not built for comforters; Equator itself recommends a larger combo for oversized items.

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We'd skip it

Giantex

Giantex 1.5 Cu. Ft. Full-Automatic Portable Washing Machine

Skip it

A feature-packed spec sheet undercut by recurring reports of leaks, error codes, and thin support.

Best for: Almost no one at this price - the brand-supported BLACK+DECKER or budget COMFEE' is the safer buy.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• Generous 1.5 cu. ft. tub with a long list of programs and water levels on paper
• Full-automatic operation with child lock and auto unbalance detection

Know before buying

• Owners repeatedly report leaks, drain-pump failures, and error codes within months
• Lightweight build and hard-to-reach support make problems costly to resolve
• A same-size, brand-backed automatic like the BLACK+DECKER exists at a similar tier

See our pick instead See it at Amazon anyway Read our detailed assessment ↓

How we judged the field

A portable washer only matters if it cleans a real load, spins clothes dry enough to hang, hooks up to an ordinary faucet without drama, and keeps doing it for years without leaking or erroring out. We weighted cleaning performance, spin dryness, day-to-day effort, noise, and - heavily - reliability and how reachable the brand’s support is, over long spec-sheet lists of programs and water levels. RBE does not run its own laundry lab; we synthesize owner reports and maker specs, and we weigh recurring failure complaints as heavily as feature counts. For most people the BLACK+DECKER BPWM16W is the pick, with the COMFEE’ 0.9 cu. ft. the runner-up for tighter spaces.

The BLACK+DECKER BPWM16W is the closest thing here to a scaled-down apartment washer. At 1.6 cu. ft. it swallows a genuine small-household load rather than a token handful of shirts, and it runs fully automatically: connect the quick-connect adapter to a faucet, pick a cycle, and it fills, washes, rinses, and spins on its own. Owners like the capacity and - the quiet differentiator - that a mainstream US brand stands behind it, so parts and warranty help are actually reachable when something goes wrong. What they like less is the size: it’s heavier and less grab-and-go than a 0.9 cu. ft. compact, and its spin leaves clothes damp rather than the near-dry you get from a high-RPM twin-tub spinner. It’s the right pick for renters and small households who want a large, set-and-forget portable and value dependable support; it’s the wrong pick if you need something you can lift and stash in a closet weekly.

The COMFEE’ 0.9 cu. ft. trades capacity for footprint and efficiency. It’s a slim full-automatic on built-in rollers that tucks under a counter or into a closet, hooks to a faucet like the BLACK+DECKER, and runs its cycles without babysitting. A built-in lint filter and drain pump keep upkeep simple, and owners report it uses little water and power on the small loads it’s built for. The catch is exactly that smallness: the tub is fine for one or two people but means frequent loads for anyone else, and its modest spin leaves laundry damp-dry, so plan on hanging or a dryer. It’s the right choice for solo dwellers, couples, dorms, and RVs that want a quiet, efficient automatic in the least possible space; it’s the wrong one if you regularly wash for a household or want bigger batches.

The Magic Chef 2.0 cu. ft. is the step up for anyone who finds the BLACK+DECKER’s tub a little small. Magic Chef states a 2.0 cu. ft. capacity, the largest here, along with a stainless steel inner tub, six wash programs including normal, cotton, jeans, quick and anti-wrinkle, three water levels and a delay start. It connects through a quick-connect fitting with rear inlets for both hot and cold water, shows progress on an LED display and signals when the wash is done. The stated 800 RPM spin is a published number, which is more than several rivals here offer. The trade-off is bulk. Magic Chef lists it at 21.7 inches wide, 22.2 deep and 37 tall, publishes no unit weight and mentions no casters, so it is a washer you park, not one you roll into a closet after every load. Buy it if you wash for two or more and want fewer loads per week.

The Auertech twin-tub is the cleaning and dryness champion among the washer-only units here, and also the most work. Its separate wash and spin tubs let you wash one batch while spinning another, cutting total laundry time, and the dedicated spin tub wrings clothes drier than a typical full-automatic - a real win if you air-dry. Combined capacity is large and the price is low, so for heavy laundry days it’s the value play. The reason it’s an “it depends” rather than a clear buy is the workflow: it’s semi-automatic, so every load means filling it, physically moving wet clothes from wash tub to spin tub, and draining by hand. It’s also louder and more plasticky than the automatics, with a shorter expected lifespan. It suits hands-on users, campers, and big-load washers who prize cleaning power and near-dry spins; it’s wrong for anyone who wants to press start and walk away.

The Avanti 1.38 cu. ft. fills the gap between the COMFEE’ compact and the larger BLACK+DECKER, and its spec table is unusually complete. Avanti lists a 44.1 pound unit weight, 19.75 x 20 x 33.25 inch dimensions and a 15A, 120V power draw, and it ships with a sink faucet attachment. You get eight automatic cycles including whites, cotton and tub clean, three load sizes, hot, warm and cold settings, delay start and a child safety lock, with a stainless steel tub and a stated 1-year limited warranty. What is missing is a spin speed, so how damp clothes come out is anyone’s guess, and the purchase terms deserve a look: Avanti’s own store says all sales are final and applies a 35% restocking charge if it does take a return, so buying from a retailer with a normal return window is the safer route. It suits budget buyers in a dorm or studio who want more than 0.9 cu. ft. without paying mid-range money.

The Equator EZ 4600 answers the complaint every top-loader here shares: damp laundry. Equator states a 1400 RPM spin, the fastest published figure in this comparison, and the same 1.62 cu. ft. drum then dries the load, vented for speed or ventless when there is no duct. This version ships with a portability kit of four casters, a Y connector and a faucet adapter, runs on 110V, and offers fifteen programs including Sanitize at 165°F, Allergen, Pet, Quick 20 and a two-minute Winterize cycle for RV storage, with child lock, delay start and a 1-year parts and labor warranty. The catches are price and mass. It costs several times what the BLACK+DECKER does, Equator publishes no unit weight on the page, and casters on a front-loader are for repositioning, not stashing it in a closet. Equator also says oversized items like comforters need a larger combo. Choose it if you have no dryer and want one movable unit; otherwise a top-loader plus a rack costs far less.

The Giantex 1.5 cu. ft. is tempting on paper: a large tub, a long list of programs and water levels, child lock, and auto unbalance detection at a mid-range tier. In practice the concrete skip reason is reliability. Owner reports repeatedly describe leaks, drain-pump failures, and error codes appearing within months, and the lightweight build plus hard-to-reach support turn those faults into costly headaches rather than quick fixes. What buyers do like when it behaves is the capacity and the full-automatic convenience. But at this price a same-size, brand-backed automatic - the BLACK+DECKER - already exists, and a proven budget automatic - the COMFEE’ - costs less. Unless you find it heavily discounted and accept the risk, the safer money goes elsewhere.

Who should buy which

• Most apartments and small households: the BLACK+DECKER BPWM16W 1.6 Cu. Ft. Portable Washer. A large, fully automatic tub from a brand with reachable support.
• Washing for two or more and short on laundry days: the Magic Chef 2.0 Cu. Ft. Compact Portable Top Load Washer. The biggest tub here and a stated 800 RPM spin, if you have floor space.
• Dorms, RVs and closets: the COMFEE’ 0.9 Cu. Ft. Portable Washing Machine. The smallest footprint, on built-in rollers, at a budget tier.
• Budget buyer who wants a mid-size tub: the Avanti 1.38 Cu. Ft. Compact Portable Washer. Eight cycles and a child lock for little money, though no spin speed is published.
• No dryer and tired of damp laundry: the Equator EZ 4600 All-in-One Washer Dryer with Portability Kit. A 1400 RPM spin and a built-in dryer on casters, at a premium price.
• Hands-on washer who prizes cleaning power: the Auertech Twin Tub Portable Washing Machine (28 lbs). Separate wash and spin tubs clean hard and cost little, if you do the transfers yourself.

BLACK+DECKER BPWM16W vs COMFEE’ 0.9 cu. ft.: which should you buy?

Both are faucet-connected full-automatics, so the decision is size versus space. The BLACK+DECKER BPWM16W is the better everyday machine for an apartment or small household: its 1.6 cu. ft. tub means fewer loads, and the mainstream-brand warranty is added reassurance - at the cost of a larger, heavier body. The COMFEE’ 0.9 cu. ft. is built for the tightest spaces and budgets, sliding into a dorm, RV, or closet and sipping water and power, but its small tub and modest spin mean more frequent, damper loads. Choose the BLACK+DECKER if capacity and support matter most; choose the COMFEE’ if footprint and price come first.

What to look for

Get the BLACK+DECKER BPWM16W if you want a large, set-and-forget portable and value being able to reach real support; its size is the only real trade-off. Get the COMFEE’ 0.9 cu. ft. instead if space and budget lead your list and you wash small loads - just expect damp-dry results and frequent cycles. Consider the Auertech twin-tub if cleaning power and near-dry spins outrank convenience and you’ll accept filling, transferring, and draining by hand each load. Across all of them, confirm your faucet fits the included adapter and you have somewhere to drain, check the spin speed if you air-dry, and weigh the brand’s support and owner track record as heavily as the program list. Skip spec-sheet-rich but failure-prone units like the Giantex when a brand-backed automatic sits at the same price.

Our final take

For most homes the BLACK+DECKER BPWM16W is the sensible pick: a large 1.6 cu. ft. tub, fully automatic, and backed by a brand you can actually call. Step down to the COMFEE’ 0.9 cu. ft. for the smallest, most efficient footprint, or reach for the Auertech twin-tub if you want strong cleaning and a dedicated spin tub and don’t mind the hands-on routine. Skip the Giantex unless it’s deeply discounted and you accept the reliability risk. Whichever you choose, measure your faucet and drain setup first, and match the capacity to how often you’re willing to run a load.

Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: BLACK+DECKER BPWM16W 1.6 Cu. Ft. Portable Washer vs COMFEE' 0.9 Cu. Ft. Portable Washing Machine.

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