Compatibility
Which washers and dryers can take a countertop?
A countertop over the machines is one of the easiest laundry room upgrades, but it only works with the right setup. Here is a quick way to tell whether yours is one of them.
The short answer
| Your setup | Countertop on top? |
|---|---|
| Side-by-side front-loaders | Yes, the ideal setup |
| Front-loaders on matching pedestals | Yes, if both sit at the same height |
| Top-load washer | No, the lid opens upward |
| Stacked washer and dryer | No |
| All-in-one washer-dryer | Not for a two-machine countertop |
Side-by-side front-loaders: the best fit
Front-load washers and dryers load from the front, so their tops are free. When the two machines stand side by side at the same height, their tops form one long, flat surface that a countertop can bridge, gap included. This is the setup Airolity is designed for.
Machines on pedestals
Pedestals raise the machines, and the countertop with them. That works as long as both machines end up at the same height, so a level surface sits across them. Before ordering, check that the raised surface is still a comfortable height for folding, and that there is enough room above it.
Top-load washers: no
A top-load washer opens from the top, so anything resting on it has to come off every time you start a load. That defeats the point of a countertop, and the same goes for a top-load washer next to a front-load dryer.
Stacked machines and all-in-ones
A stacked pair has only one top, usually at or above head height, which is not a useful work surface. An all-in-one washer-dryer is a single, narrower machine, so a countertop made to span two machines would overhang a lot on either side.
How to check your own machines
- Both front-loading? If either machine opens from the top, a countertop is not for you.
- Flat tops? Look for raised control panels or consoles along the back edge.
- Same height? Lay a level across both tops and adjust the leveling feet if needed.
- Right size? Measure the combined width and the depth (see how to measure).
Airolity comes in two sizes: 54 × 27.5 in (2-piece) and 54.15 × 27.5 in (3-piece). If your side-by-side machines measure close to that, you have a good match.