Best Budget Washer and Dryer Sets Under $700

Let’s be straight about what $700 buys, because a lot of pages on this topic are quietly lying to you.

A new washer and dryer pair, even entry-level, generally starts around $1,100–$1,400. So "a new set under $700" is not a thing that exists outside of a doorbuster on a holiday weekend, and if you find one, it’s usually a bottom-tier machine engineered down to hit a price, which is its own problem, see the real cost of “cheap” appliances.

What does exist under $700, and works genuinely well, is a used, scratch-and-dent, or mixed pair. Here’s what each gets you.

What $700 actually buys in Houston

Prices move with inventory and are estimates, not quotes, call us for what’s actually on the floor this week.

The mixed pair: the smartest $700 in the store

This is the recommendation, and it comes from how these two machines actually fail.

Buy the washer scratch-and-dent. Buy the dryer used.

Why:

• The washer is the machine that fails expensively. Drum bearings, the classic front-load killer, cost more to fix than the machine is worth. It’s also the one that can leak water onto your floor. Buying the washer brand new (which is what scratch-and-dent is) removes almost all of that risk, for a fraction of retail.
• The dryer is the machine that fails cheaply. A dryer is a drum, a motor, a belt, and a heat source. Its common failures, heating element, igniter, thermal fuse, belt, rollers, are all inexpensive, well-understood repairs. A tested used dryer is one of the lowest-risk purchases in appliance retail.

So you spend your money where risk lives and save it where risk doesn’t. That’s the entire strategy, and it routinely lands a good pair in the $600–$900 range with a brand-new washer in it.

What to buy at this budget

• Top-load washer with an agitator. Cheapest to buy, cheapest to repair, fastest cycles, and no mold gasket to manage. At a budget price point, simplicity is a feature. See top load vs. front load.
• Electric dryer, unless you already have a gas line, in which case use it. Gas vs. electric.
• 3.5–4.5 cu. ft. washer, matched to a ~7.0–7.4 cu. ft. dryer. Don’t let a mismatched used pair leave you drying every wash in two batches, see the capacity guide.
• Skip everything electronic. No touchscreens, no steam cycles, no Wi-Fi. Every one of those is a failure point on a budget machine, and none of them wash clothes better.

What to avoid at this budget

• Untested marketplace sets. A $300 pair off an app is the most expensive laundry you can buy, because you become the warranty. No test, no return, and a leaking washer over a floor is not a $300 problem. This is the false economy the whole category is built on.
• A used front-loader with an unknown history. If the drum bearings are going, and you’ll hear it as a deep roar on the spin, you’re buying a machine that’s already dead. Insist on a full spin cycle before you pay. Here’s exactly what to check.
• A laundry center (one welded unit) unless the space forces it, because if one half fails you often replace the whole thing.
• Bottom-tier new, if the alternative is scratch-and-dent at a similar price. A brand-new mid-tier machine with a dent beats a brand-new bottom-tier machine without one, every time.

Making $700 go further

• Buy the pair together. One delivery fee, and usually a better number on the set.
• Be flexible on brand and finish. Rigidity is expensive. White enamel costs less than stainless and is more durable anyway, and nobody is looking at your laundry closet.
• Take the blemish nobody can see. On laundry appliances this is close to free money, since a stacked or closet-installed pair hides its own sides and top by construction.
• Handle your own pickup if you have a truck and a friend. In-store pickup vs. delivery.
• Ask about financing if the pair you want is $900 and your budget is $700. Stretching slightly for a brand-new washer is usually a better decision than saving $200 on an older one.

What to check before you hand over the money

• Run a full wash cycle. Fill, agitate, drain, spin. Not a ten-second power-on.
• Listen to the spin. A deep grinding roar means drum bearings. Walk away.
• Feel the dryer heat after a few minutes on high.
• Check for leaks and rust under and behind the washer.
• Get the age off the serial plate, and the coverage terms in writing.

Every unit we sell has already been through this, our 12-point inspection, but you should still ask us to run it for you. Any store that won’t show you a machine running is telling you something.

The bottom line

Under $700, a tested used pair from a real store with a return policy and a service department is a genuinely good buy, and it beats a bottom-tier new set on both price and, often, durability. But if you can find $200 more, the mixed pair, a brand-new scratch-and-dent washer with a tested used dryer, is the best value in laundry, full stop. You’re putting your money exactly where the risk is.

Frequently asked questions

Can you get a washer and dryer set for under $700?

Yes, as a quality-tested used pair, typically $400–$750 in Houston. A brand-new pair generally starts around $1,100–$1,400, so under $700 means used, scratch-and-dent, or a mix.

What’s the best budget washer and dryer combination?

A scratch-and-dent (brand-new) washer paired with a quality-tested used dryer, usually $600–$900. The washer is the machine that fails expensively, so buy that one new; the dryer’s common failures are cheap to fix, so buy that one used.

Are used washer and dryer sets reliable?

If they were properly tested, yes, expect 5–8 years. Untested sets from private sellers are a gamble, since the seller usually can’t tell you what’s wrong with the machine.

Should I buy a cheap new set or a used set?

A tested used or scratch-and-dent set usually beats a bottom-tier new one. A cheap new machine is engineered down to a price and may not outlast a well-maintained mid-tier used machine.

What type of washer is cheapest to own?

A top-load washer with an agitator. Cheapest to buy, cheapest to repair, fastest cycles, and no door gasket to develop a mold problem.

Do budget washer and dryer sets come with a warranty?

It depends on the retailer and the specific unit, so get the terms in writing. We back our units with a 30-day return policy and an in-house Houston service team, which is exactly what a marketplace seller can’t offer.

Come see the difference for yourself

Home Star Appliances has served Houston since 2018 with new, scratch-and-dent, and quality-tested used refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves, dishwashers, and microwaves, plus delivery, installation, parts, and financing. Come look at the units in person and ask us anything.

Visit us: 10216 Almeda Genoa Rd, Houston, TX 77075
Call: (713) 568-6088
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Sunday by appointment)
Browse our current inventory or contact our team.

Related reading

• Are Used Washers and Dryers Reliable? What to Look For
• Top Load vs. Front Load Washers: Pros, Cons & Cost
• Washer & Dryer Capacity Guide: What Size Do You Need?
• The Real Cost of “Cheap” Appliances vs. Certified Used
• How Much Can You Save Buying Used Appliances in Houston?
• Building the Perfect Laundry Room on a Budget