Looking for the best place to get washer and dryer units for your home? You are not alone. Every year, millions of shoppers compare the same handful of big-box stores, online marketplaces, and local appliance shops trying to figure out who actually delivers the best value.
I have spent the last few months researching where to buy washer and dryer sets, comparing bundles, add-on fees, and after-sale support across the major retailers. In this guide, I will walk you through where to buy, what to watch for in the fine print, and how to stretch your budget on a washer and dryer set that actually fits your laundry room.
If you have ever asked yourself “is Costco good for washer and dryer” or “who has the best deal on a washer and dryer right now,” this article gives you concrete answers drawn from real shopper experiences, retailer policies, and price comparisons in 2026.
Where Is the Best Place to Get a Washer and Dryer?
The best place to get a washer and dryer depends on what you value most. Costco wins on bundle pricing with delivery, haul-away, and basic installation included. Home Depot and Lowe’s lead on selection and side-by-side comparison tools. Best Buy stands out for its 90-day price-drop protection and Geek Squad installation. Local independent appliance stores win on after-sale service and flexible price matching. Online-only retailers like Amazon and Wayfair work well if you already know the model you want and do not mind arranging installation yourself.
Big-Box Stores: Home Depot and Lowe’s
Home Depot and Lowe’s are the two giants most shoppers think of first when shopping for a washer dryer bundle. Both stores stock the major brands, including Samsung, LG, GE, Whirlpool, and Speed Queen, and both run frequent holiday promotions that can knock 20 to 30 percent off sticker price.
Home Depot’s website has particularly strong comparison tools. You can filter by capacity, fuel type, and Energy Star rating side by side. Lowe’s leans hard on its installation service, Lowe’s Installation Services, which handles everything from uncrating the units to hauling away the old set. In our price comparison, the two retailers were within $50 of each other on identical bundles roughly 80 percent of the time.
What I like about shopping at the big-box stores is the option to walk the floor and inspect finishes in person before committing. The downside is that delivery, haul-away, and installation are almost always charged as add-ons, so a “deal” can quickly snowball once fees are added at checkout.
Costco: Bundle Pricing With Services Included
Costco is consistently recommended on Reddit’s r/Appliances and r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer as the best place to buy a washer and dryer set for the money. The reason is simple: Costco bundles include delivery, haul-away, and basic installation accessories at no extra charge on most sets.
Members get an extended 2-year manufacturer warranty on top of the standard coverage, and Costco’s customer service is famously no-hassle. The trade-off is selection. Costco typically carries a curated lineup of Samsung, LG, and Whirlpool sets rather than the full catalog, so if you have your heart set on a specific model, you may not find it there.
One Reddit user summed it up well: “I paid $1,049 for a Samsung set at Costco. Same set was $1,199 at Best Buy before tax, and that did not include delivery.” That kind of all-in pricing is exactly why Costco appears on nearly every “best place to buy washer and dryer” roundup.
Best Buy: Price Protection and Geek Squad
Best Buy is a strong pick for shoppers who want flexible return and price protection policies. The store’s 90-day price-match guarantee means if your washer and dryer set goes on sale within 90 days of purchase, Best Buy refunds the difference. That is a real money-saver on big-ticket appliances during holiday sales.
Geek Squad installation is the other big draw. Technicians will uncrate, install, level, and test your new units, plus haul away the old appliances, all in a single appointment. Pricing is typically $150 to $200 for the full package, which is competitive with the big-box stores once you factor in everything.
Best Buy works especially well if you are already shopping for matching electronics or want the convenience of one delivery day. The downsides are a smaller floor selection than Home Depot and a tendency for in-store stock to lag behind online availability.
Online Retailers: Amazon and Wayfair
Amazon and Wayfair are the two most popular online-only options for buying a washer and dryer set. Amazon’s strength is selection. You can find virtually every model from every major brand, often at competitive prices, with detailed customer reviews that help you sort quality from marketing fluff.
Wayfair leans more toward design-forward and stackable washer and dryer units, which makes it a good fit for apartments, condos, and smaller laundry rooms. Pricing is often aggressive, especially during Way Day and seasonal sales events.
The catch with online-only retailers is installation. You will almost certainly need to book your own delivery and installation service, which can add $150 to $300 to your total. Some models, especially LG and Samsung, also require a separate water hose or electrical adapter kit that is not always obvious in the product listing.
If you already know exactly what you want, online retailers are hard to beat on price. If you want white-glove service, they are probably not the right fit.
Local Appliance Stores: Service and Price Matching
Independent local appliance stores are easy to overlook, but they are consistently the highest-rated option on Reddit threads about washer and dryer buying. The reason is straightforward: local stores compete on service.
Most local stores will price-match any big-box competitor on an identical model, and many offer free delivery within a 30-mile radius. The owner is often on the floor and can give you straight advice on reliability, availability, and which brand plays well with your home’s electrical and plumbing setup.
After-sale support is where local stores really shine. If something goes wrong with your washer or dryer six months in, a local store is far more likely to pick up the phone and help you than a big-box retailer. The trade-off is selection. A local store may only carry 8 to 12 models on the floor at any given time, so you may need to special order if you want a specific brand or feature set.
Budget and Scratch-and-Dent Outlets
For shoppers on a strict budget, scratch-and-dent outlets and refurbished sellers can save 50 to 80 percent off retail. The most reliable options are the dedicated outlet stores run by Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Best Buy, which sell cosmetically damaged units at deep discounts with the same manufacturer warranty as a brand-new set.
Independent local repair shops also sell refurbished washer and dryer units, often with a 30- to 90-day shop warranty. These are ideal for first apartments, rental properties, and short-term solutions where a 10-year lifespan is not required.
One common Reddit tip: check the scratch-and-dent section at the back of your local Home Depot or Lowe’s every Saturday morning. Stock rotates quickly, and the best deals on returned and dented units tend to go within hours.
When to Buy for the Best Deals
Timing matters as much as the retailer you choose. The best washer and dryer sales in 2026 cluster around three windows: Presidents’ Day in February, Memorial Day in late May, and the Labor Day push in early September. Black Friday in late November is the deepest single discount of the year, but selection is often limited to last year’s models.
If you can wait six to eight weeks, set a price alert on a unit you like and wait for one of these windows. In our shopping comparison, identical sets were 20 to 35 percent cheaper during a major holiday sale than during a regular week.
What to Look for in a Washer and Dryer Retailer
The right retailer for you depends on more than sticker price. Before you commit, check five things.
First, find out what is included in the price. Does delivery cost extra? Is haul-away included? Is installation free or a $200 add-on? A $999 “deal” can easily turn into a $1,400 order once fees are added.
Second, look at the warranty. Standard manufacturer warranties are typically one year, but Costco, Home Depot, and some credit card issuers extend that to two or even five years at no extra cost.
Third, confirm the return policy. Best Buy’s 15-day return window is shorter than Costco’s 90-day satisfaction guarantee, which matters if you discover a defect after the first month.
Fourth, ask about price protection. Best Buy’s 90-day price match is a real differentiator. Most other retailers will only match a competitor’s price at the moment of purchase, not after the fact.
Finally, check reviews for the local store itself on Google Maps. Independent stores with a 4.7-star average and 200-plus reviews tend to deliver a much better experience than chains with 3.5 stars and constant complaints about missed delivery windows.
Total Cost Beyond the Sticker Price
The single biggest mistake shoppers make is comparing only the sticker price of the washer and dryer set. The total cost almost always includes delivery, haul-away of the old units, installation labor, and any required accessory kits like new water hoses, dryer vent tubing, or a 240-volt power cord.
Across the retailers I compared, the average all-in cost on a $1,200 set ranged from $1,200 at Costco to $1,650 at Amazon, where you are responsible for booking installation separately. The cheapest “sticker price” rarely translates to the cheapest total purchase.
Reliable Washer and Dryer Brands to Consider
While this guide focuses on where to buy, the brand matters too. Speed Queen is widely considered the most reliable washer and dryer brand for long-term ownership, with units that routinely last 20-plus years, though they cost more upfront. LG and Samsung dominate the high-end front-load market with smart features and steam cycles. Whirlpool and GE are the safe, mainstream picks with strong nationwide service networks and affordable parts.
For most shoppers, the best value tends to be a Whirlpool or LG mid-range set purchased from Costco or Home Depot during a holiday sale. That combination delivers reliable performance, full warranty coverage, and the lowest all-in cost in our comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to get a washer and dryer?
The best place depends on what you value most. Costco offers bundles with delivery and installation included. Home Depot and Lowe’s have the largest selection and best comparison tools. Best Buy is strong on price protection and Geek Squad installation. Local appliance stores are the top pick for after-sale service and price matching.
Is Costco really the cheapest place to buy a washer and dryer?
Costco is usually the cheapest once you add up delivery, haul-away, and installation fees at other retailers. Members get a 2-year extended warranty, and the bundle pricing includes basic installation accessories. Selection is more limited than Home Depot or Amazon, but the all-in total is consistently lower.
Is Best Buy a good place to buy a washer and dryer?
Yes, especially if you want price protection. Best Buy’s 90-day price-match guarantee refunds the difference if the set goes on sale after you buy it. Geek Squad installation and haul-away are competitive with the big-box stores, and you can bundle the appliance purchase with other electronics on the same delivery.
When is the best time of year to buy a washer and dryer?
The deepest discounts on washer and dryer sets cluster around Presidents’ Day in February, Memorial Day in late May, the Labor Day window in early September, and Black Friday in late November. Holiday sales routinely offer 20 to 35 percent off the regular sticker price on identical sets.
What is the most reliable washer and dryer brand?
Speed Queen is widely regarded as the most reliable brand for long-term ownership, with units that often last 20-plus years. LG and Samsung are top picks in the high-end front-load category, while Whirlpool and GE are dependable mainstream choices with strong nationwide service networks.
Final Verdict: Which Retailer Should You Choose?
If you want the lowest all-in cost, Costco is the best place to get a washer and dryer in 2026. If you want the biggest selection and the ability to inspect the units in person, Home Depot or Lowe’s will serve you well. If price protection and professional installation matter most, Best Buy earns the top spot. And if after-sale service and supporting a small business are high on your list, an independent local appliance store is hard to beat.
Whichever retailer you pick, time your purchase around a major holiday sale, compare total cost after fees, and double-check the warranty before you commit. That approach consistently delivers the best place to get washer and dryer value, regardless of the brand you end up buying.
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