Small Laundry Room Dimensions: Practical Sizes and Layouts

Dryer dimensions with door open vary much more than closed cabinet depth alone suggests. In the manufacturer examples reviewed for this guide, total depth with the door open 90 degrees ranges from about 41 11/16 inches to 59 inches. This is an example range, not a universal dryer standard.

The exact measurement depends on the model, cabinet depth, door size and door design. For a tight laundry space, the most useful number is usually the manufacturer’s “Depth With Door Open 90 Degree” specification.

This measurement shows how far the dryer reaches from its back to the outermost point of the open door. Rear venting and installation space can increase the real wall-to-front footprint. Always check the door-open depth together with the installation instructions.

Quick Dryer Door-Open Depth Examples

The added-projection column subtracts each manufacturer’s closed depth from its listed door-open depth. The results show why one generic number does not work for every dryer.

Dryer Dimensions With Door Open: How Deep Is the Dryer?

There is no single standard depth for a dryer with its door open. The official examples above range from 41 11/16 inches for the Whirlpool WED5010LW to 59 inches for the larger LG DLEX8900B.

That range is too wide to treat 50 inches as a guaranteed fit. A dryer can look fairly shallow when closed and still extend much farther into the room once its door opens.

Samsung provides a useful compact example. The DV22K6800EW is 25 13/16 inches deep when closed. It reaches 44 1/4 inches with the door open 90 degrees.

The LG DLEX8900B is larger. It is 32 1/8 inches deep when closed and reaches 59 inches with its door open.

If you are comparing overall appliance sizes, see our washer and dryer dimensions guide. That article covers broader width, height and depth measurements. This page stays focused on dryer door-open depth.

Dryer Dimensions With Door Open vs. Closed Depth

Closed depth and door-open depth answer different questions.

Closed dryer depth

Closed depth describes how deep the appliance is with the door shut. Use this number to compare the dryer cabinet with a closet, countertop or appliance opening.

It does not include the floor space needed while loading or unloading the dryer.

Depth with the door open 90 degrees

Door-open depth usually measures from the rear of the dryer to the farthest point of the door at 90 degrees. Check the manufacturer’s dimension drawing to confirm how the measurement is defined.

This number is especially useful when the dryer faces:

• an opposite wall;
• a sink or base cabinet;
• a laundry-room door;
• another appliance;
• a storage unit;
• or a narrow passage.

A dryer can fit when closed but still be awkward to use. The door needs enough room to open for comfortable loading and unloading.

Why Dryer Door Design Changes the Open Depth

Door design can change front projection by many inches. This can happen even when two dryers have similar closed cabinet depths.

Whirlpool provides a useful comparison. The WED5010LW is 28 3/8 inches deep and uses a hamper-style drop-down door. Its listed door-open depth is 41 11/16 inches.

The WED5605MW is 31 inches deep when closed. Whirlpool lists 54 5/16 inches with its side-swing door open.

The closed-depth difference is only 2 5/8 inches. During use, however, the two dryers have a much larger difference in front projection.

This is why a rule such as “add 20 inches for the door” is unreliable. In our examples, added projection ranges from about 13 5/16 inches to 26 7/8 inches.

Side-swing doors

A side-swing door rotates outward from a vertical hinge. Its projection depends on the door diameter, hinge location and cabinet geometry.

Some doors are reversible. That can improve access from one side of the room. It does not remove the need to check the documented open-depth measurement.

Hamper or drop-down doors

A hamper-style door pivots downward instead of swinging sideways. Its projection pattern can differ greatly from a circular side-swing door.

This does not mean every hamper-door dryer is shallower when open. Door construction still needs to be checked model by model.

Door-Open Depth vs. Installed Depth

Closed depth, installed depth and door-open depth are different measurements.

• Closed depth is the manufacturer’s cabinet depth with the door shut.
• Installed depth includes applicable rear space for venting, power, gas and other connections.
• Door-open depth is the front-to-back appliance dimension at the stated door angle.

Rear installation space can make the real wall-to-front footprint larger than the listed door-open depth. This happens when the manufacturer’s open-depth measurement begins at the back of the dryer cabinet.

For example, imagine a dryer with a listed door-open depth of 53 inches. The finished installation also leaves 5 inches behind the dryer.

53 inches + 5 inches = about 58 inches wall-to-front

That is only a planning example. Do not add 5 inches to every dryer. Use the rear installation requirement for your exact model.

Our washer dryer clearance from wall guide covers rear hoses, connections and dryer vent space in more detail.

How to Measure Dryer Dimensions With Door Open in Your Space

Start with the exact manufacturer’s specification. Then reproduce that footprint in the room before buying or installing the dryer.

1. Find the exact dryer model. Do not use measurements from a similar-looking model.
2. Record the closed depth. This tells you how far the cabinet extends.
3. Find “Depth With Door Open 90 Degree.” This is the main open-footprint measurement.
4. Check the installation drawing. Look for required rear room for venting, power or gas.
5. Measure from the finished wall. Include baseboards and other projections.
6. Mark the open-door position. Painter’s tape can make the footprint easy to see.
7. Check the full door path. Make sure the door does not strike another object.
8. Leave loading space. You still need room for a person and laundry basket.

Do not measure only from the front of the closed dryer. Model the full operating position before finalizing the layout.

Check Walls, Cabinets and Other Doors

Door-open depth is mainly a front-to-back measurement. Nearby objects can still create other conflicts.

Opposite wall

Compare the open operating footprint with the distance to the opposite wall. A few inches can determine whether loading feels comfortable or cramped.

Cabinets and sinks

A base cabinet, utility sink or storage unit can reduce the usable space. Measure to the nearest projecting surface.

Laundry-room door

The dryer door and room door may use the same floor area. Check both swing paths before installation.

Adjacent side wall

A side-swing dryer may also need room beside its hinge or handle side. The 90-degree depth measurement does not describe every possible side conflict.

This article does not set a universal laundry aisle width. That is a separate planning question. For overall room sizing, see our laundry room dimensions guide.

How to Verify Dryer Dimensions With Door Open

Use the specification sheet, dimension guide or installation instructions for your exact model.

Look for wording such as:

• “Depth With Door Open 90 Degree”;
• “Product Depth with door open 90 degrees”;
• “Door-open depth”;
• or a side-view dimension drawing with the door open.

Whirlpool often lists ordinary depth and door-open depth in product specifications. LG commonly lists “Product Depth with door open 90 degrees.”

Samsung specification sheets often show the open-door measurement in a dimension drawing. If retailer and manufacturer figures disagree, use the current manufacturer documentation for the exact model.

Two dryers with similar width or capacity can still have different open depths. Door size and hinge design can change the operating footprint substantially.

Dryer Dimensions With Door Open: Final Fit Check

• Confirm the exact dryer model number.
• Record the closed product depth.
• Record the manufacturer-listed door-open depth.
• Check rear installation and vent requirements separately.
• Measure from the finished wall.
• Mark the open-door edge on the floor when space is tight.
• Check nearby walls, cabinets, sinks and room doors.
• Confirm enough space remains for loading and unloading.
• Do not use another dryer’s dimensions for your model.

The practical answer to dryer dimensions with door open is model-specific. The examples researched for this guide range from about 41 11/16 inches to 59 inches. Their added front projection also varies substantially.

Use the manufacturer’s exact door-open dimension first. Then account for rear installation space and the surrounding room layout before deciding that the dryer fits.