Clothes Washers
ENERGY STAR certified clothes washers, with tub volume, IMEF and IWF efficiency ratings, and annual energy and water use.
398 models · 44 brands
- Best
- 3.20cu ft/kWh
- Median
- 2.76cu ft/kWh
- Worst
- 2.06cu ft/kWh
IMEF across 380 models that report it.
Clothes washers are rated by integrated modified energy factor (IMEF, cubic feet per kWh per cycle) and integrated water factor (IWF, gallons per cycle per cubic foot). Higher IMEF and lower IWF mean less energy and water per load. Front-loaders typically beat top-loaders on both metrics because they tumble clothes through a shallow pool rather than filling a deep tub.
Capacity ranges from 2 cubic feet (compact) to over 6 cubic feet (full-size). A larger drum washes more per load, reducing the number of cycles per week — but only if you fill it. Running a half-empty 5 cu ft washer is less efficient than running a full 3 cu ft one.
Most efficient
Ranked by IMEF, an efficiency ratio that does not scale with size.
| Model | Brand | Volume | IMEF |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELFW7738*** | Electrolux | 4.5cu ft | 3.20cu ft/kWh |
| WM9700H*A | LG SIGNATURE | 5.8cu ft | 3.20cu ft/kWh |
| WM9900H*A | LG SIGNATURE | 5.8cu ft | 3.20cu ft/kWh |
| WM9901H*A | LG SIGNATURE | 5.8cu ft | 3.20cu ft/kWh |
| WM9998H*A | LG SIGNATURE | 5.8cu ft | 3.20cu ft/kWh |
| WM3420C* | LG | 4.5cu ft | 3.10cu ft/kWh |
| WM4200H*A | LG | 5cu ft | 3.10cu ft/kWh |
| WM4500H*A | LG | 5cu ft | 3.10cu ft/kWh |