Washing Machine Repair Cost: What Common Repairs Run

Most washing machine repairs cost between $150 and $400, according to Fixr, and HomeAdvisor puts the typical range at $125 to $450. Where your bill lands depends mostly on which part failed. A lid switch or drain hose sits near the bottom of that range, while a drain pump, motor or control board pushes toward the top.

On top of parts and labor, expect a service call fee. Many companies credit it toward the repair if you go ahead with the work.

What goes into a washer repair bill

Every repair has three pieces: the trip and diagnosis, the technician's time, and the part itself. Fixr lists a typical service call or diagnostic fee of $50 to $100 per visit and appliance technician labor of $50 to $150 per hour. If you need someone outside normal business hours, Fixr notes an after-hours surcharge of $100 to $200 per visit.

The type of washer matters too. Fixr puts typical top-load washer repairs at $150 to $275 and front-load repairs at $200 to $350. Front-loaders tend to cost more because the door lock, door seal, drain pump and drum bearings sit behind panels that take longer to remove. If you want to know which problems hit each design, our guide to front-load vs top-load washer problems breaks it down.

Common washing machine repair costs

The table below uses Fixr's published ranges for common washer repairs, with parts and labor included. Your quote can land outside these ranges depending on the model, how hard the part is to reach, and local labor rates.

Which symptoms point to which repairs

Matching the symptom to the likely part gives you a rough idea of the bill before anyone shows up.

• Won't drain: often a clogged front-load pump filter or a kinked drain hose, which cost nothing to fix. A failed drain pump is the expensive end. See washer not draining.
• Won't spin: an unbalanced load or too many suds come first, then a lid switch, door lock, drive belt or motor. See washer not spinning.
• Won't fill: closed supply valves, clogged inlet screens or a bad water inlet valve. See washer not filling with water.
• Leaking: a loose or worn fill hose, a cracked drain hose, or a torn door seal on a front-loader. See washer leaking from the bottom.
• Banging or walking across the floor: an unlevel washer, worn shock absorbers or suspension, or failing drum bearings.

Check these before you pay for a service call

Some problems cost nothing to fix. Before you reach into the pump filter, pull the washer away from the wall or open any panel, unplug the washer and turn off both the hot and cold supply valves. GE Appliances notes that pressing the power button does not disconnect the washer from the electrical supply, so unplugging is the step that counts.

• Power: confirm the breaker hasn't tripped. Whirlpool's installation instructions call for a grounded three-prong outlet on a 15- or 20-amp, 120-volt circuit, with no adapter or extension cord.
• Drain hose: straighten any kink, especially if the washer was recently moved, and make sure the hose isn't sealed airtight into the standpipe.
• Pump filter on a front-loader: Whirlpool's front-load instructions have you open the drawer or access cover at the base, drain the small hose into a flat pan, lay a cloth down, then turn the filter counterclockwise and clear out lint and debris. Many top-loaders have no filter you can reach.
• Load and detergent: spread out a bunched load, run fewer items, and use HE detergent in an HE washer so excess suds don't stop the spin.
• Fill hoses: Whirlpool recommends replacing washer fill hoses every five years and replacing any hose that shows bulges, cuts, wear or leaks.

Turn both valves back on and plug the washer in once you're done.

What a technician does for the fee

A good technician starts by reproducing the problem and reading any error code. Many washers have a diagnostic or test mode that runs the drain pump, fill valves and motor one at a time, which narrows things down quickly.

From there, the tech checks parts with a meter: continuity through the lid switch or door lock, resistance across the inlet valve and drain pump, and whether the control board is sending power to the motor. Mechanical checks include turning the drum by hand to feel for rough bearings, inspecting the drive belt on belt-driven models, and looking for socks, coins or other debris jammed in the pump.

Ask for the diagnosis and a full quote covering parts and labor before any work starts. If the service fee is credited toward the repair, get that in writing.

When a repair isn't worth it

Fixr's rule of thumb is simple: if a repair would cost more than half the price of a comparable new washer, replacing it is usually the better buy. Fixr puts a new washer, including installation labor, at roughly $650 to $2,100.

Age matters too. Fixr cites an average lifespan of about 11 years for front-load washers and about 14 years for top-loaders, and HomeAdvisor gives a range of 11 to 14 years. For a drum repair, HomeAdvisor suggests considering a new washer instead if yours is more than five years old or has had frequent problems. Our repair or replace guide walks through the decision step by step.

How brand and location affect the price

Part prices vary by brand and model, and some front-load parts have to be ordered, which can add a second visit. It helps to hire someone who works on your brand often. You can find technicians by brand through the brand directory, including LG washer repair and Whirlpool washer repair.

Labor rates follow local costs, so the same repair can price differently from one metro area to the next. Browse repair companies by state, or start with washing machine repair near you and compare a couple of quotes before you commit.