Laundry is a chore, but having an appropriately-sized laundry room can certainly raise your spirits while on laundry duty. Most homes usually come with a laundry room, and it’s usually one of the first things on the list of requirements for first-time homeowners.
If you were to guess, you’d probably say that laundry isn’t anyone’s favorite chore to do. While you might not enjoy doing laundry, having the right laundry set can make this chore more bearable.
You may be wondering what the average dimensions of a laundry room are.
In the United States, the average laundry room size is 35 square feet. In dimensions, this would be a 5-foot by 7-foot room.
In this article, we will discuss the standard size of a laundry room and much more. So, if this interests you in the slightest, sit back, pay attention, and read on to find out more. Hopefully, this will be an enlightening read for you!
What Is a Standard-Size Laundry Room?
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Until only recently, the laundry room was one of the most overlooked areas in houses. This is because the room isn’t usually used for entertaining guests. So, most homeowners have neglected the design of the space, opting instead for more function.
Surveys suggest we spend more than eight hours weekly on laundry tasks. So, any room that sees that much use needs a functional layout.
At this point, you may be wondering what the standard-size laundry room is. Well, I have just the answer for you.
Before answering the question, we should mention that there are different sizes of laundry rooms. These include laundry closets, small laundry rooms, medium-sized laundry rooms, and large-sized laundry rooms.
With that said, the average size of a laundry room is 35 square feet. In dimensions, this is typically a 5-foot by 7-foot room.
What Size Are Washers and Dryers?
When you think about the absolute necessities in your laundry room, then a washer and dryer are pretty much non-negotiable. Therefore, when determining the size of your laundry room, the first step is usually considering your washer and dryer’s measurements so you know how much space you can work with.
However, you have some options when it comes to these appliances. The standard setup is usually side by side, but you can also get stackable units or even combo units.
The average size of a washing machine is roughly 27-inches wide by 31 inches wide by 39 inches tall. If you don’t have enough room to put two units side-by-side, you can get the stackable variety.
Stacking the two units would reduce your needed width by half but double the height requirement.
If the space is really limited, you can get a combo laundry unit. These are appliances with both a washer and a dryer in one, meaning they can both wash and dry your clothes. These work well for very small living spaces such as studio apartments, tiny houses, and also RV’s.
A combo unit can be identified as your midsized washer or dryer. It’s like getting two appliances within one. There are also smaller combo units measuring closer to 24 inches wide by 25 inches deep by 33 inches tall.
What Are the Various Sizes of a Laundry Room?
So, we have already talked about how much space you may need for a laundry room. But, what actually qualifies a laundry room as being a laundry room? Well, for a room to be considered as such, it must have a washer or a dryer hookup.
However, not every home or apartment has these. For someone, a laundry room is just an area for you to fold and iron your clothes. So, if you have a small room with a sink or cabinets and you use it as a laundry area, this can be called a laundry room.
So, let’s look at the types and sizes of laundry rooms;
1. Laundry closets
The smallest type of laundry room is a laundry closet. This is usually found in apartments or in smaller homes. Laundry closets usually just have enough space for a washer and dryer with shelves or a cabinet above or beside if you own a stackable washer or dryer.
Most laundry closets have doors or curtains to hide the appliances, provided they don’t impede your ability to load and unload the laundry.
These laundry rooms are usually a 5-foot by 3-foot area. If you are going to stack your washer and dryer, you should also consider the height of the ceiling too.
2. Small laundry room
A small laundry room might not be so big as a laundry closet, but it usually allows more movement around the appliances. Small laundry rooms are usually 5-foot to 6-foot wide and 7-foot long.
If you have such a laundry room, stacking a frontloading washer and dryer can give you more room for a sink and more cabinet space.
3. Medium-sized laundry room
A medium-sized laundry room usually has enough room for all your laundry-related duties, including ironing. The ease of doing these duties usually depends on the dimension and the layout of other features such as sinks or cabinets. A medium-sized laundry room usually measures around 7-foot by 9-foot.
4. Large-sized laundry room
If you have the space, a laundry room can be as big as a bedroom. In such laundry rooms, you can find 60 or 80 square feet of space or even more. In addition to space for doing laundry, there’s lots of extra space for storage, crafting, ironing, or whatever you desire.
Of course, the elemental dimensions remain the same. You’ll require at least 3 feet of depth for your dryer and washing machine. If your units are side-by-side, you need space of at least 60 inches.
A large laundry room measuring six by 10 feet usually gives you a bit more room to work around with. You can add extra cabinets, a sink, more work area, and more. You can have all you desire if you have a laundry room measuring eight by 10 feet or more.
For example, you can set aside one side of the room to be your washroom, and the other side can be a folding, ironing, and workstation.
How Much Space Do You Need Behind a Washing Machine and Dryer?
When buying a washer or dryer, it’s quite important to make sure you have adequate space for them. Measure your space carefully, and understanding the clearance space such machines require is important to avoid expensive room renovations.
Having the right amount of space for your washer and dryer does not mean that they can fit into the room, but they will function properly and safely.
In addition to the physical space a washer or dryer takes up, it requires additional space called clearance. It’s usually recommended that there’s at least one inch of space around the washer or dryer to allow for proper air circulation. The space also helps minimize noise transfer.
Another aspect to take into consideration is to leave adequate space behind your washer or dryer. Both washers and dryers require significant space for their water hoses and hookups. Dryers also require extra space for adequate ventilation. Around 6 inches of space behind your washer and dryer should do.
In conclusion, now you know the average laundry room size. Hopefully, we’ve also enlightened you on other laundry room sizes and what they might include. With enough space, laundry might seem less like a chore.
