Washing Machines

Compare washing machines in New Zealand at Canstar Blue. Bosch, Panasonic, Fisher & Paykel, LG, Samsung and Haier were compared on Overall Satisfaction, Design, Ease of Use, Performance and Reliability, Quietness while Operating and Value for Money.

See our Ratings Methodology.

Most Satisfied Customers | Bosch

Bosch cleans up in this year’s Washing Machines Award ratings, ranked the No.1 washing machine brand by Kiwi consumers.

bosch_logo

How we rate washing machines

Our review compares washing machines on customer satisfaction, so you can discover what other Kiwis think about our compared washing machine brands before you go ahead and make a purchase. Think of it like asking hundreds of your closest mates which make of washing machine they think is best!


Canstar Blue surveyed 730 Kiwis who had bought a washing machine over the past three years for their feedback on the washing machine they bought.

  • The outcomes reported in these ratings are measured via accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics.

Respondents rate their satisfaction with their washing machine brands from zero to ten, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and ten is extremely satisfied. Brand satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria:

  • Overall satisfaction: measures consumer satisfaction with a washing machine brand as an individual score NOT a combined total of all criteria.
  • Design: the washing machine has a functional and aesthetically pleasing design.
  • Ease of use: the washing machine has a range of functions and settings that are easy and straightforward to use.
  • Performance & reliability: the washing machine cleans clothes to a high standard on every wash setting and its performance hasn’t diminished over time.
  • Quietness: the washing machine’s noise levels are low and not a disturbance.
  • Value for money: the price of the washing machine was reasonable given the quality and longevity of the product.

The winning brand is the one that receives the highest Overall Satisfaction rating once all the scores from the Overall Satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.

  • Overall Satisfaction is asked as a specific question and represents an individual measure, not a combined total of all criteria.
  • When we cannot determine a clear winner from the criteria for the Overall Satisfaction rating, we will then look at the other criteria measured in the rating.
    • The brand with the highest number of five-star ratings within the supporting criteria will become the five-star recipient in overall satisfaction, and thus win the award. If a clear leader still cannot be determined from the supporting criteria, joint winners will be declared.

Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.

  • Bosch
  • Panasonic
  • Fisher & Paykel
  • LG
  • Samsung
  • Haier


Find more information on our Most Satisfied Customer methodology.

Best washing machines in New Zealand

  1. Bosch
  2. Panasonic
  3. Fisher & Paykel
  4. LG
  5. Samsung
  6. Haier

bosch_logo

Bosch

Ratings Results

For the second year in a row, Bosch has taken out our top Washing Machines Award. This year’s top award comes on the back of Bosch also winning our Clothes Dryer Award, for which the German appliance manufacturer also achieves a superb set of ratings from its customers.

Bosch is the only washing machine brand to earn a top 5-Star rating for Overall Satisfaction, a rating it achieves in four of the six ratings categories. For Value for Money and Ease of Use, Bosch earns excellent 4-Star ratings.

Editor’s Notes

Bosch is a brand that is synonymous with quality and design. It has three washing machine series covering eight front-loaders. Bosch’s cheapest washing machine is its 8kg Series 4 front-loader, which retails for around $1150. Its Series 6 and Series 8 machines range from a 9kg machine, from around $1800, up to a top-of-the-range 10kg washing machine with smart connectivity and advanced 4D Wash System, which retails for approx $3000.


panasonic_logo

Panasonic

Ratings Results

The winner of our 2023 Refrigerator Award, Panasonic also has a great range of washing machines that are a hit with Kiwi consumers. Along with our winner, Bosch, it’s the only other washing machine brand in our ratings to achieve top 5-Star ratings in any categories.

Across our six categories, Panasonic earns top ratings for Ease of Use, Design and, notably, Value for Money, making it the best performer in that category. In all other categories measured, including Overall Satisfaction, Panasonic scores great 4-Star ratings.

Editor’s Notes

Panasonic’s range of washing machines comprises six CARE+ Edition front-loading washer-dryers and seven top-loaders.

The CARE+ front-loaders covers two washer-dryers and four models with dry-assist, which can dry small loads or assist in drying bigger laundry washes. These machines come in sizes ranging from 8.5kg to 10kg, and cost between approx $1400 and $2700.

Panasonic’s cheapest top-loader is its 7kg unit, which sells for around $850, and its most expensive 10kg machine is priced at approx $1600.


Fisher & Paykel

Ratings Results

A joint winner of last year’s award, with Bosch, this year homegrown brand Fisher & Paykel earns close to a clean sweep of great 4-Star ratings across all categories.

Placed in third in our ratings, just behind Panasonic, it, too, earns a 4-Star rating for Overall Satisfaction. It earns just one 3-Star rating, for Quietness.

Editor’s Notes

Fisher & Paykel retails a wide range of washing machines and washer-dryers. Its 12 top-loaders range from a small 5.5kg washing machine, for $1150 (approx), to 10kg models featuring specialised wash cycles for around $2600.

Fisher & Paykel’s range of front loaders comprises 13 models. While there are two basic Series 3 front-loaders, which cost $1600 and $1850, the rest of the models, Series 5 to Series 11, are more advanced machines, all of which feature Steam Care, which can quickly refresh and sanitise all kinds of fabrics. The cheapest of these washing machines, an 8kg model, costs approx $1750, while top-of-the-range 11kg wi-fi enabled models cost up to $4100.


LG

Ratings Results

This year, LG achieves a consistent rating of 3-Stars across all categories. To put this into perspective, any brand that receives six out of ten or higher in any category receives at least three stars. So on the strength of its consumer ratings, it’s clear that LG’s customers are still happy with the performance of their washing machines.

Editor’s Notes

LG produces seven top-loader models, ranging from a 6.5kg washer, which retails for around $1000, up to a large 14kg machine, featuring TurboClean, for powerful and fast washing, an allergy-care cycle and wi-fi connectivity, for approx $2160.

LG’s front-loader range is more expansive, covering 16 washing machines. These start with a Series 5 7.5kg model with steam cycle, for approx $1349, and top out with LG’s 12kg Series 10 front-loader with ezDispense, TurboClean and wi-fi connectivity for $2500.


Samsung

Ratings Results

Samsung, the winner of Canstar Blue’s latest Ovens Award, places fifth in our washing machine award ratings. It’s worth noting that Samsung scores one of its highest ratings, 4-Stars, for Value for Money, alongside Ease of Use and Design. It scores 3-Stars for Performance & Reliability, Quietness, Ease of Use and Overall Satisfaction.

Editor’s Notes

Samsung sells seven top-loader washing machines in New Zealand. Its range starts with a small 5.5kg model, which retails for around just $550, and moves up through sizes and features to a 1kg top-loader with steam clean for approx $1700.

Samsung’s nine top-loader machines, start around $1000, for 7.5kg/8kg models, which boast features such as steam clean and BubbleWash settings. Samsung’s most expensive machine is its 12kg Bespoke model, which features intelligent clean settings and wi-fi connectivity, for approx $2300.


haier logo

Haier

Ratings Results

Haier rounds out our Washing Machine ratings, earning a mix of 3- and 4-Star ratings. It achieves its best scores from its consumers for the design of its washing machines and their value for money. This is understandable since Haier shares the same quality approach to design as its more expensive sister brand, Fisher & Paykel, although its products come with smaller price tags.

Editor’s Notes

Haier sells an extensive range of 20 washing machines: nine front-loaders, 10 front-loaders and one washer-dryer. Its cheapest top-loader is a 6kg model that retails for $800, and its most expensive model is a 10kg unit that features 12 wash cycles, which sells for $1699.

Haier’s 8kg/4kg washer dryer has a RRP of $2099. The rest of its front-loader range spans machines with capacities of between 7.5kg-10kg, featuring price tags between $1099 to $1999.

Other washing machine brands

Not all brands in the market qualify for our ratings (based on minimum survey sample size), but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth considering. Here are more brands to check out before making a purchase decision.

  • Beko
  • Electrolux
  • Miele
  • Westinghouse


Beko

Editor’s Notes

Beko is a Turkish company that is one of Europe’s biggest appliance manufacturers. It has eight washing machines in its range, from 7.5kg to 10kg models. All have a 4.5-star water rating and a 4-star energy rating. Prices range from around $849 to $1500 for top-of-the range 9kg and 10kg models with steam clean and wi-fi.

Electrolux

Editor’s Notes

Electrolux is a Swedish appliance company known for its high-end home appliances. It retails six front-loader washing machines in New Zealand: 7.5kg and 8kg models, two 9kg machines and two 10kg units. All feature steam-cleaning, while top-end models boast multiple wash settings, vapour refresh options and wi-fi connectivity. Electrolux’s smallest model retails for around $920, while its premium machines cost up to $3000.

Miele

Editor’s Notes

Miele is a German premium brand that sells a wide range of home appliances, including 13 washing machines, in sizes ranging between 7kg-9kg. Prices start at $1899, for Miele’s cheapest unit, featuring 4-Star ratings for power and water. More expensive models feature steam cleaning and wi-fi connectivity. Miele’s most expensive washing machine is its 9kg Steam Front Loading Washing Machine. It has numerous washing settings, 5-Star water and energy ratings and retails for $5699.

Westinghouse

Editor’s Notes

Westinghouse is part of the Electrolux group, but as a brand has been producing quality appliances in Australia since the 1930s. Its range of 19 washing machines includes top-loaders and five front-door models, ranging from small 6kg units, 10kg front-loaders with steam-clean technology, to large 11kg top-loaders. Prices across the range start from around $850, climbing to approx $1700 for premium front-loaders and $2200 for Westinghouse’s largest washing machines.

Choosing the Right Washing Machine for You

Much like a fridge has one job, to keep food cold. Ultimately, a washing machine has one job, too: washing clothes. So it’s no surprise that the biggest factor driving satisfaction for consumers in our latest awards research is Performance and Reliability. Close to half of respondents (41%) cite it as the most important factor when rating their satisfaction with their choice of washing machine. Just under a quarter (23%) cite value for money.

That just 14% rate Ease of Use / Quietness as their No.1 drivers of satisfaction is probably a testament to the fact most modern washing machines already feature user-friendly controls and silent operation.

Here’s the full rundown of what the washing machine buyers in our survey say are the main things they consider when rating their purchases.

  • Performance and Reliability: 41%
  • Value for Money: 23%
  • Ease of Use: 14%
  • Quietness: 14%
  • Design: 8%

Different types of washing machines

Top loaders and front loaders are the two main types of washing machines. Your other option is a combination dryer and washing machine, but these are less common.

Top loader washing machines

Top loaders wash clothes in two ways:

An agitator: clothes are moved around by a central pole (agitator) in the middle of the drum.

An impeller: this whips up the water to move clothes using a propeller-like device at the bottom of the machine.

Top loader pros

      • Lower buying price
      • Faster wash cycles
      • Larger capacity
      • Can generally open the washer mid-cycle to add clothes

Top loader cons

      • Agitators can be tougher on your clothes
      • Use more water
      • Usually consume more energy on a warm/hot wash

Front loader washing machines

A front load washing machine works by tumbling your clothes: it picks clothes up and drops them into water in a circular motion. It doesn’t use an agitator or impeller, like a top load washing machine. Instead, it relies on gravity for its tumble action in the drum. This helps to reduce the amount of water used per load, as you don’t need clothes to be completely submerged in water.

Front loader pros

      • More energy efficient
      • Larger range of cycle options, like spin speeds and temp settings
      • Quieter noise levels
      • Minimal lint washing clothes
      • Can put a dryer above and save space

Front loader cons

      • You typically can’t stop a front loader when mid-cycle to add clothes
      • Generally longer wash times and smaller capacity levels than top loaders
      • Expect to pay higher prices compared to top loaders

What size/capacity should I get?

There are plenty of options when it comes to picking a washing machine. A key starting point is to match the size of a machine to the size of your family. Typically, a larger capacity machine costs more upfront. But it is more suited towards larger families, so will save time, energy and money in the long run.

The capacity of washing machines is measured in kilograms (i.e. the kg weight of your clothes). Front load washing machines come in a wide range of sizes, so it’s easy to find the perfect fit for your laundry. Front loaders can be quite small, around 5-6kg in capacity. But you’ll also find plenty of larger washers, around 10-11kg in capacity. For average families, 7kg machines are regarded as an accommodating size.

As a general rule:

      • 1-2 people = <6kgs
      • 3-4 people = 6-8kgs
      • 5+ people = >8.5kgs

What additional features can I look for?

  • Wool or delicate cycles, which mean your machine will automatically adjust temperature and spin cycles to perfectly wash your clothes
  • Spin speeds between 400 to 1800. These give you more customised options for different materials. A quicker spin speed means more water is drained, so drying times are faster
  • Steam functions use hot water vapour to refresh, revive and dewrinkle garments
  • Smart sensors that adjust detergent and water levels to match the cleanliness of each load
  • Sanitise cycles use extra-hot water to kill bacteria during the wash cycle
  • Delay functions allow you to wash clothes in time for you to get home
  • Auto-balancing, which automatically adjusts the load to consistently wash and spin
  • Self-cleaning cycles that wash the drum at an extremely high temperature to kill bugs and mould
  • Wi-fi or apps. This gives you the freedom to start and stop your washing when it suits you
  • Cold-only washing machines. These are more energy efficient as they heat the cold water as it comes into the washing machine, meaning you don’t have to use your own hot water supply. This saves power in the long run!

Water and energy ratings

In addition to various fancy features and size, the price of a washing machine is largely dictated by its water and energy efficient ratings. The higher the rating, the more efficient the washer will be, and the more you’ll stand to save in ongoing energy costs. However, the most energy-efficient washing machines come with higher price tags, so you’ll need to consider whether or not the extra upfront cost is worth it.

About the editor of this page

This report was written by Canstar’s Editor, Bruce Pitchers. Bruce has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in the UK and Australasia, including ACP, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. Prior to Canstar, he worked as a freelancer, including for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority, and for real estate companies on both sides of the Tasman.

More Information

Key statistics

Separate colours and whites: 46%

Use wash settings to save water: 41%

Only ever use one or two washing cycles: 40%

Avoid hand-washing items by using delicate cycle: 31%

Always use the same washing settings, regardless of garments: 31%

Run washing machine off-peak to save money: 22%

Environmental issues guided choice of washing machine: 18%

Type of washing machine bought

Top-loader washer: 45%

Front-loader washer: 43%

Washer & dryer combo: 13%

Canstar Blue surveyed 2529 New Zealand consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from respondents who had bought a new washing machine in the past three years. In this case, 730 New Zealanders.

Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criterion.

The past winners from Canstar Blue’s Washing Machine ratings:

    • 2022: Joint winners: Fisher & Paykel & Bosch
    • 2021: Samsung
    • 2020: Fisher & Paykel
    • 2019: Bosch
    • 2018: Samsung
    • 2017: Bosch
    • 2016: Samsung

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