Top Load Washing Machine: Who It Suits and Which to Buy

A top load washing machine is a narrow machine, about ⁦40 cm⁩ wide, loaded from above through a lid, and it mainly suits a narrow niche or anyone who finds bending difficult.

Contrary to what many think, the drum in such a machine does not stand vertically as in old American top loaders. On most models sold in Israel the drum is horizontal, as in a front loader, and you open it through small doors in the drum itself. So the washing itself is similar: the drum turns, lifting and dropping the clothes, rather than agitating them.

Who it suits:

• Anyone with a niche of only ⁦40–⁦55 cm⁩⁩, for example on a narrow service balcony or in a bathroom.
• Older people and anyone with back pain, since you do not need to bend to load and unload.
• Anyone who wants to add a garment mid-wash without looking for a special feature. On some models you can pause and open the lid early in the program.

Who it suits less: families of 5 or more, anyone who wants to stack a dryer on top (impossible, since the lid opens upward), and anyone looking for a spin of 1,400 RPM or more. If you have ⁦60 cm⁩ of width, read our best washing machine guide first, because in most cases a front loader gives more for less money.

In the Israeli market top loaders are a niche: on price comparison pages most of the best-selling washing machine list is front loaders, and top-load models come mainly from Electrolux and AEG. That means the choice is narrower, and it is worth checking stock before falling for a model. On the other hand, the limited range makes the decision easier: there are basically three levels, a basic 6 kg, a 7 kg with an inverter motor, and a 7 kg with advanced programs for wool and delicates.

A front loader gives more capacity, a stronger spin and a better energy rating at the same price; a top loader wins on width and ease on the back.

Per the specs and prices we saw in stores in November 2026:

• Width: top load about ⁦40 cm⁩; front load about ⁦60 cm⁩.
• Height: top load about ⁦89–⁦91 cm⁩⁩, plus room to open the lid; front load about ⁦85 cm⁩.
• Depth: top load about ⁦60 cm⁩; front load ⁦47–⁦65 cm⁩⁩ depending on the model.
• Capacity: top load ⁦6–7⁩ kg; front load ⁦7–13⁩ kg.
• Spin: top load ⁦1,200–1,300⁩ RPM; front load ⁦1,200–1,600⁩ RPM.
• New-label rating: C to E on the top-load models we saw; A is common on front loaders.
• Price: top load about ₪⁦1,600–2,900⁩ for ⁦6–7⁩ kg; an ⁦8–9⁩ kg front loader starts at about ₪⁦1,750–1,900.⁩

The practical meaning: if you have the space, an 8 kg front-load washing machine will cost about the same and wash more. If you do not, a top loader is the right solution, not a bad compromise. The difference in electricity use exists, but in an average household it is a few dozen shekels a year, not hundreds.

Another less known difference: a top loader has no large door seal collecting water and hair, so the seal mold problem familiar from front loaders is less common.

Another point is daily convenience. Anyone who washes several times a day, for example parents of babies, quickly feels the difference between bending to a front loader and loading from above. On the other hand, a front loader can be raised on a pedestal or drawer to ease the back, and that can give you the best of both worlds if you have the width. If you are torn, try both types in the store at your natural height before deciding.

To see the difference in tangible numbers: on a budget of about ₪2,200 you can buy a 7 kg top loader with ⁦1,200–1,300⁩ RPM, or a ⁦9–10⁩ kg front loader with 1,400 RPM, like the LG WF9014WB or LG WF10114WBW per store prices. In other words, for the same money you get ⁦2–3⁩ kg more with a front loader. That is the price of the narrow width, and it is perfectly fine when there really is no room.

A top loader is narrow, but tall and deep, and needs free space above it to open the lid; you need to measure these three numbers.

Per a spec published by one store, the Electrolux EW5T7612AM is ⁦91 cm⁩ high, ⁦40 cm⁩ wide and ⁦61 cm⁩ deep. Most top-load models in Israel have similar dimensions, but check the specific model on the importer's page.

Measuring checklist:

• Niche width: at least ⁦41–⁦42 cm⁩⁩, so the machine does not touch the walls during spin.
• Free height: the machine's height plus about ⁦40–⁦50 cm⁩⁩ to open the lid. If there is a shelf or cabinet above, this is the critical number.
• Depth: the machine's depth plus ⁦5–⁦10 cm⁩⁩ for the tap, drain hose and cable.
• Access: measure the doors on the way to the service balcony. The Standards Institution of Israel recommends doing so before buying any washing machine.

Most models include retractable wheels (mentioned in the EW5T7612AM spec), which make moving the machine for cleaning easier. After installation, lock the wheels and adjust the feet so the machine does not move during spin.

If your problem is depth rather than width, a slim front loader (Slim, about ⁦47.5 cm⁩ deep) may suit you better. Details in our 8 kg washing machine guide.

On older Israeli service balconies, the tap and drain are sometimes at a height or position suited to a wide machine. Before delivery, check that the hoses supplied with the machine are long enough to reach the tap and drain from the new position, without an extension. If a tap or drain point needs to move, that is a plumber's job and better done before the machine arrives.

A common mistake is measuring only the niche and forgetting how the drum doors open inside the machine. To load and unload you need to stand over the machine and reach deep inside, so body room in front of the machine matters too. On a very narrow service balcony, make sure you can stand comfortably in front of the machine, not just fit it in.

On the new European energy label, top loaders usually get C to E, mainly because of a small drum relative to the body and a limited spin, not because they are especially wasteful.

Since September 1, 2022 Israel has been moving to the European standard and label (A–G, with no pluses), but the old regulations were not repealed. So you may see a high old Israeli rating (for example A) and a lower new European rating for the same model. For example, on the Electrolux EW5T7612AM comparison page one seller shows an Israeli A rating, while the general spec shows class D under the new standard.

How to compare properly:

• Electrolux EW6T3733BM, 7 kg: about ⁦1.02 kWh⁩ and 54 liters on a full Eco ⁦40-60⁩ program (per seller data), class C.
• AEG LTX6G7211AM, 7 kg: about ⁦1.16 kWh⁩ and 50 liters on a full 205-minute Eco program, class E.
• For comparison, the 8 kg AEG LF61842BM front loader declares about ⁦0.79 kWh⁩ and 52 liters.

In shekels: the difference of about ⁦0.15–⁦0.35 kWh⁩⁩ per cycle, over 200 cycles a year, is about ⁦30–⁦70 kWh⁩⁩, i.e. a few dozen shekels a year. That should not decide things on its own, but know that a top loader will not save electricity compared with a front loader. The full explanation of the label is in our best washing machine guide.

If you mostly wash on short programs at low temperature, the difference between models is even smaller, because most of a washing machine's electricity goes to heating the water. Washing at ⁦30–40⁩°C instead of 60 saves more than moving from class E to C. So when choosing between two top loaders, also give weight to noise, motor quality and service, not just the letter on the label.

Also note the spin-drying efficiency on the label: on the Electrolux EW6T3733BM and EW5T7612AM it is class B per seller data, which means laundry comes out relatively well spun for a narrow machine and dries faster on the line.

Most top loaders in Israel are Electrolux and AEG, sold through an official importer; that is an advantage, because parts and service for narrow models are less available with parallel imports.

On the comparison pages of the three models in this guide, most sellers list "official importer", and some offer VIP or extended warranty. What to check before paying:

• The official importer's name on the invoice and warranty certificate.
• Warranty length: at least one year, and check whether there is extra warranty on the motor.
• Technician arrival times in your area, especially outside the center of the country.
• Whether installation is included, and what removing the old machine costs.

Top loaders have a few typical faults worth knowing in advance: the drum doors must close until they lock before you close the lid, otherwise the machine will not start or will show a fault. If laundry stays wet, check the pump filter; and if the machine "walks" during spin, check that the wheels are locked and the feet are level.

If you are also considering another brand's front loader, we have separate Bosch washing machine and LG washing machine guides, including each brand's importer and warranty details.

Another tip if you buy online: the same model can appear at dozens of sellers, and on comparison pages we saw a gap of a few hundred shekels between the cheapest and most expensive price. Sometimes the gap comes from extended warranty, delivery or installation, and sometimes from the seller being a third-party distributor. Compare the final price including delivery and installation, and check the return policy in case the machine does not fit the niche.

Also keep the invoice and warranty certificate together, and photograph the model sticker and serial number on the machine. When you call the service center, these details shorten handling a lot, and some importers ask for them in the first call.

A top loader also suffers from limescale in Israel's hard water, so a monthly cleaning program and cleaning the filter are a must, not a recommendation.

Some models deal with this in their design: on the Electrolux EW6T3733BM, per the spec, the Platinum heating element is coated against limescale. The AEG LTX6G7211AM and other models have dosing systems (FlexiDose Plus) that make it easier to use the right amount of detergent, which prevents residue.

Recommended maintenance routine:

• Once a month: a cleaning program or an empty cycle at ⁦60–90⁩°C with a machine cleaner.
• Every ⁦1–2⁩ months: clean the pump filter.
• After each wash: leave the lid open so the drum dries.
• Powder or gel in moderation. Per the Standards Institution of Israel, excess powder leaves white marks, and then you need to rewash with water only.

Because of the narrow drum, do not load the machine to the top. In a ⁦6–7⁩ kg machine, a load of large towels fills the drum very quickly. Washing double comforters is usually beyond a top loader's capacity, so a laundromat or a larger machine is better.

A top loader has no large glass door and no thick seal, but it does have drum doors with hinges and catches. Every few months, wipe around them and make sure no threads or hair interfere with closing. The detergent drawer under the lid also collects residue; take it out and rinse it in hot water once a month, along with the drum-clean program.

If there are babies or people with sensitive skin at home, look for an extra rinse or allergy program. On top loaders too, some models offer an extra rinse at the press of a button, a simple solution for detergent residue in hard water.

If the constraint is depth rather than width, a slim front loader is better; if the constraint is room for a dryer, a washer dryer is better; a top loader wins only when the width is really less than ⁦60 cm⁩.

The three main alternatives:

• Slim front loader: ⁦60 cm⁩ wide, about ⁦47.5 cm⁩ deep, ⁦8–9⁩ kg. For example the LG WFS8014WB or WFS9014WW, about ₪⁦1,750–2,900⁩ per store prices. Suits a shallow niche.
• Washer dryer: ⁦60 cm⁩ wide, washing and drying in one appliance, usually 9 kg wash and 6 kg dry. Suits anyone without room for a stack of two appliances.
• Washer and dryer stack: two ⁦60 cm⁩ appliances one above the other, with a stacking kit. The most flexible, but needs about 1.75 m of height.

If you are also thinking about drying, note that you cannot stack a dryer on a top loader. You can place a dryer beside it if there is another ⁦60 cm⁩, or wall-mount a dryer on models that allow it. The differences between dryer types are explained in our condenser dryer guide.

In the end, the choice is simple: measure the width, free height and depth. If you have ⁦60 cm⁩ of width, start with our best washing machine guide. If you have less, choose a 7 kg top loader with an inverter motor if the budget allows, or a basic 6 kg for a couple and a small apartment, and make sure it has official importer warranty.

And if you rent, remember that a narrow top loader will fit almost any service balcony in your next apartment, while a wide, deep front loader may not. That is worth factoring in if you plan to move in the next few years.