The Best Times and Places To Buy a Washer and Dryer

A new appliance is a major purchase, and it’s worth it to do some research and planning to make sure you get the best price.

Our team at ClarkDeals.com has been tracking the best deals on appliances, including washers and dryers, for several years now.

We’ve found that the best time to buy a washer or dryer is in April leading up to Memorial Day followed by new models releases in September and again during Black Friday weekend. We’ve seen the most deals from Lowe’s and The Home Depot, while Costco and Best Buy also offer consistently great prices.

In this article, I’ll take a close look at the best time and place to buy a washer or dryer as well as how prices compare across the board.

This article was updated in September 2023 and I review it every 12 months. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here.

The Best Times To Buy a Washer and Dryer

Before you leap into purchasing a washer or dryer, be sure to know how long your appliances should last. Unless something major has happened and you need a replacement right away, the odds are that you’ll have at least a few months to shop around.

Most appliances can be found at great prices during Memorial Day, Labor Day and Black Friday. You’ll also see low prices in September and October when manufacturers roll out new models, which makes older models a good deal.

The reality is that year-to-year upgrades are typically limited to style and features, so buying last year’s model will not put you at a functional disadvantage.

Here’s when we’ve seen the best deals online at ClarkDeals.com.

As you can see, we’ve found the most deals on washers and dryers in April. This is a great time to check for sales leading up to Memorial Day. 

If you’re looking to buy closer to the end of the year, you’ll see more great deals beginning as early as September. As with nearly anything else, you’ll also see deals popping up around Black Friday in November.

Don’t forget that seasons, promotions and product lifecycles all contribute to pricing fluctuations, which is why tracking prices is essential — even after the purchase. Many big-box retailers offer price adjustment policies, so you may qualify for a refund if the price drops after your purchase.

The Best Places To Buy a Washer and Dryer

At ClarkDeals.com, we’ve seen some of the biggest markdowns at The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Sears and Costco. You may also find some great options at stores like Best Buy, BrandsMart USA and Sam’s Club.

Here’s where we’ve found the best deals over the past few years:

Major appliances tend to go on sale during holidays and when new stock arrives, which means there aren’t many deals available consistently throughout the year. Though we haven’t shared an abundance of deals on washers and dryers, we have found great savings at The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Costco, Sears and Best Buy.

In addition to great deals, you’ll also find great prices on major appliances throughout the year at The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Costco and Best Buy. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen many deals from Sears in the past couple of years.

Let’s take a look at some of the current prices across the board on highly-rated washers and dryers.

To start, let’s take a look at the ratings for washing machines and dryers from Consumer Reports. If you don’t already have a subscription, you can visit ConsumerReports.org to get digital access to the full report for $39 a year or $10 a month. The following machines in both categories are some of the most affordable recommended machines by the magazine:

Prices on Highly-Rated Affordable Washers and Dryers

	LG WM3400CW Washing Machine	Samsung WF45R6100AW Washer	LG DLE7100W Dryer	LG DLE3400W Dryer
The Home Depot	$748	$628	-	$748
Lowe's	$748	-	$849	$748
Best Buy	$749.99	$629.99	$594.99	$749.99

You’re likely going to find pretty consistent pricing across the board on many models. However, you may find a great deal on the same model at one store. As you can see, at the time of writing, you could save hundreds of dollars on the LG DLE7100W Dryer at Best Buy. For this reason, it’s important to keep an eye out for deals and take advantage of a great price when you see one.

The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Costco and Best Buy offer competitive prices year-round as well as free shipping on most washers and dryers. Plus, we’ve seen several great deals posted from all four stores throughout the years.

When you’re ready to make your purchase, remember that appliance sellers such as Best Buy, Lowe’s and Home Depot will price-match identical items, with Lowe’s and Home Depot offering 10% off competitor prices on similar appliances. Best Buy also honors online price matching with competitors like Amazon if you do find a better deal on the same product.

Once you find the appliance you want, use a tool like Google Shopping to compare prices among retailers to really make sure you’re getting the best deal.

Where To Buy a Washer and Dryer

When you’re shopping for a washer and dryer, be sure to take into account more than just the base price. Look for delivery fees, installation fees or any other additional costs.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the best places to find great deals and buy an affordable washer and dryer:

Lowe’s

Lowe’s offers great prices on major appliances including washers and dryers. In fact, over the years, we’ve posted more great deals on washers and dryers available at Lowe’s and The Home Depot than at any other retailers.

You can order online and get free delivery available all week long on all major appliances that cost $396 or more. Lowe’s will also install the appliance, ensure that it works and provide a quick demo on how to use it if necessary.

Lowe’s carries washers and dryers made by Whirlpool, Maytag, Samsung, LG, GE appliances, Bosch and more. It’s also easy to read customer ratings and reviews on products at Lowes.com, which is always a great way to get information before making a purchase.

The Home Depot

At ClarkDeals.com, we’ve seen the most deals from Lowe’s and The Home Depot. In addition to great seasonal offers, you can also find some of the lowest consistent prices here year-round.

The Home Depot offers free and comprehensive appliance delivery service on appliance purchases over $396.

Online, you can choose from a huge selection of popular brands including Bosch, LG, Maytag, Samsung, Whirlpool and more.

Costco

If you’re a Costco member, this is another great place to shop for washers and dryers. You’ll find gas and electric washers and dryers as well as washer/dryer combo units. 

Costco carries washers and dryers from LG, Samsung, Whirlpool, GE, Maytag, Allstate and Midea.

Gold Star or Business members are eligible for free in-home delivery and installation, free haul-away and a two-year warranty (one year of a manufacturer’s warranty plus an additional year of Costco’s extended warranty) on washers and dryers. 

Best Buy

We’ve found quite a few deals at Best Buy on washers and dryers at ClarkDeals.com, and you can typically find a reasonable price even without discounts and promotions. In fact, when I comparison-shopped in September 2023, Best Buy was offering the best prices by several hundred dollars on one of the highest-rated, most affordable dryers.

Best Buy offers a 90-day workmanship warranty on all appliance services and provides free delivery for major appliance purchases of $399 or more. You can also get free installation on washing machines and electric dryers, but you may be charged for additional parts necessary for installation.

At Best Buy, you can choose from Insignia, Whirlpool, Samsung, LG, Maytag and more.

Final Thoughts

As far as getting a great deal on a washer and dryer, we’ve seen the most from Lowe’s and The Home Depot throughout the year. You’ll also find great prices at Costco and Best Buy, particularly in April, September and November.

If you’ll be replacing more than a washer and dryer, be sure to check out our guide on the best time and place to buy appliances. For the best current sales and discounts on washers and dryers, visit ClarkDeals.com.

Five More Ways To Save

1. Avoid the warranty. Money expert Clark Howard says: “Salespeople will tell you that an extended warranty ‘protects your investment,’ but a TV, a washer or a DVD player is not an investment.”
2. Instead, look at your model’s record of reliability and buy brands/models that are historically most reliable. That way you’re less likely to need the warranty.
3. Make your purchase on a credit card that automatically doubles the manufacturer’s own warranty. You’ll give yourself additional peace of mind without having to spend anything extra.
4. If you’re looking for a really low price, consider shopping for “scratch and dent” appliances. Washers and dryers typically aren’t the focal point of a room, so buying one with a little cosmetic damage will only help you save!
5. Check Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. You may be able to get a significantly lower price on lightly used appliances, but keep in mind that you’ll be hauling and installing them yourself!

Where have you seen the best deal on appliances lately? Let us know in our Clark.com Community!