Can a Countertop Sit Right on Top of Your Washer and Dryer? Vibration, Weight and Getting Behind It

The short answer: a countertop made for it can sit right on top of side-by-side front-loaders with flat tops. OfficeSimpli's countertop sits on rubber pads, has raised rails on the back and both sides, and lifts off for the hoses. Check both machines' manuals first. If your manual says not to place objects on top (LG's and Samsung's do), a countertop that rests on the machines goes against that caution, and a top supported on the wall is the way to follow it (see our DIY countertop guide). If yours does not mention it (the Whirlpool and GE guides we read do not), a countertop made to rest there is the simpler choice.

What do washer manuals say about putting things on top?

We read the manuals for four washers and three dryers from four makers, LG, Samsung, Whirlpool and GE, each saved from the maker's own website. LG's and Samsung's manuals both caution against placing objects on top. The Whirlpool and GE guides we read do not mention items on top. Here is what each one says, word for word.

Why? LG lists its line under a general caution: “To reduce the risk of minor or moderate injury to persons, malfunction, or damage to the product or property when using this product, follow basic precautions, including the following” (page 6). The one specific reason it gives is for laundry products: they “can damage the washer's finish and controls” (page 21). Samsung's dryer manual gives its reason too: heavy or sharp objects “can scratch or damage the top cover of the dryer” (page 52).

What this countertop has

Worth knowing: if your manual says not to place objects on top (LG's and Samsung's do), a countertop that rests on the machines goes against that caution, and a top supported on the wall is the way to follow it. Our DIY guide shows how to build one. If yours does not mention it (the Whirlpool and GE guides we read do not), a countertop made to rest there is the simpler choice.

Will it slide or shake when the washer spins?

A front-load washer moves when it spins. GE's washer manual says the washer is designed to move 1/4 inch, and that this movement is normal (page 32).

The washer and the dryer do not move the same way. When one moves more than the other, a board that rests on both can shift a little. Jessica (June 2025) wrote: “It moves slightly when washer and dryer are on but not to the extend of it being a burden.”

The countertop has rubber pads on every corner that grip the machine tops. It also has raised rails on the back and both sides, so things do not slide off into the gap behind the machines.

Level machines shake less, too. LG's washer manual warns, on page 14: “Using the washer without leveling it may cause excess vibration and noise, leading to a washer malfunction.” Level both machines with their adjustable feet, as our product page suggests.

What do owners say? Of the 78 written reviews on our product page at time of posting, 26 say how the top acts while the machines run. 19 of those 26 say it stays put. 2 say it moved or felt unstable. Elizabeth (July 2024) wrote that “it is a little unstable”. 5 owners added their own grip, such as extra rubber pieces, hook-and-loop tape or non-skid furniture coasters.

Separately, 7 reviewers wished the pads were bigger or that there were more of them. 3 of those 7 also say it stays put.

Does a top on both machines pass vibration from one to the other?

It can: the countertop rests on both machines through rubber pads, so it touches both. That goes against LG's dryer manual, which says on page 15: “There should be at least a little space around the dryer (or any other appliance) to eliminate the transfer of vibration from one appliance to another.” It also goes against Samsung's washer manual, which lists this fix for noise and vibration on page 51: “Make sure the washer is not contacting any other object.” And for an alcove or closet, Samsung's dryer manual asks for 1 inch of space above the dryer (page 16).

In the reviews on our product page, Dan (January 2025) wrote: “We have heard no additional rattles or squeaks since adding the top.” Jessica's review above says it can still move a little. If your pair starts to knock or rattle with the top on, lift it off and listen: that tells you whether the top is the cause.

How heavy is it?

About 43, 47 or 50 pounds, for the Standard, Large and Extra Large sizes.

Is that too much for the machines? No maker we read gives a weight limit for the top. LG's and Samsung's manuals both caution against placing objects on top, whatever they weigh, and Samsung's dryer manual names heavy objects in particular (page 52).

On the other side, owners say the weight helps it stay put, as in the review below. It also makes the countertop harder to lift, so plan on two people (next section).

From the owner who took this photo

“This one is heavy and takes a minute to get it situated, but that extra weight is great for keeping it in place.”

How do you get behind it to reach the hoses?

Lift it off. That is the point of a removable countertop over a washer and dryer. Nothing is bolted down, so the whole countertop lifts off to reach the hoses and connections behind the machines. Then it sets back in place.

It is heavy, so plan on two people. Bargain (March 2026) liked that “it just lays on top of the appliances and isn't permanently attached.”

Because it is not fastened down, do not sit, stand or climb on it, and keep kids from pulling on it. GE's manuals say the same about the machines themselves: “DO NOT climb or stand on this unit.”

New washer and dryer? Take the countertop off and set it on the new pair, as long as they are side-by-side front-loaders with flat tops.

On lifting it

“Two people needed to lift it because it is heavy.”

Removable or hinged: which top does your washer need?

It depends on how your washer opens. A front-load washer opens at the front, so a removable countertop for a washer and dryer can rest on both machines. You take it off only now and then. That is our countertop: removable, not hinged.

A top-loading washer opens at the top, so a countertop resting on it would block the lid, and ours does not fit top-loaders. For a top-loader, look at a hinged countertop over a washer and dryer: it is fixed at the back and lifts like a lid. It has to clear the washer's lid when that lid is open, and it needs support from the wall, not the machines. Our DIY guide shows how to fasten strips to the wall to hold a top.

Countertops on top of a washer and dryer, questions answered