Read the guide: Why does my washing machine shake?
How to test your washing machine
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Step 1: Load the washer the way you usually do. To test the machine on its own, run an empty drum on a spin-only or rinse and spin cycle instead.
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Step 2: Wait until the drum is at full speed: a steady, high whir. Many washers shake hardest for a moment while they speed up, so let that pass.
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Step 3: Place your phone flat, screen up, on top of the washer near the front. On a top-loader, use the flat corner beside the lid, not the lid. Keep it well back from the edge.
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Step 4: Tap Start (on iPhone, tap Allow). Keep your hands off the phone and the washer during the 2-second hold-still step and the measurement.
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Step 5: Let it run for the full 30 seconds, then take the phone off. A shaking washer can walk a phone off the edge.
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Step 6: Fix one thing at a time, like spreading the load or leveling the feet, and test again. Save an image each time so you can compare.
What your result means
Your result lands on one of four levels. This page uses the machines and appliances scale, which is based on RMS velocity in millimeters per second (mm/s).
| Level | Range (RMS velocity) | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth | Under 0.71 mm/s under 0.028 in/s | Your washer is running smoothly. The load is balanced and the machine sits firmly on the floor. Nothing to fix. |
| Normal | 0.71 to 1.8 mm/s 0.028 to 0.071 in/s | Normal for a washer at full spin. Save this result as your baseline so you can tell later if it gets worse. |
| Rough, check it | 1.8 to 4.5 mm/s 0.071 to 0.177 in/s | More shaking than it should have. Stop the cycle, spread the load out evenly, and check that all four feet sit firmly on the floor. Then test again. |
| Too much vibration | 4.5 mm/s or more 0.177 in/s or more | Too much vibration. Stop the cycle and rebalance the load. If an empty spin still reads this high, check the leveling feet, the shipping bolts on a new machine and the shock absorbers, or call a repair person. |
How to read a washing machine vibration test
A washing machine vibration test works best as a comparison. One reading tells you how hard the washer shakes right now. Two readings, one empty and one loaded, tell you where the shake comes from.
- Empty is smooth, loaded is rough: the load is out of balance. This is the most common cause by far.
- Rough even when empty: look at the machine. Check the feet and level first, then the shocks and springs.
- The reading jumps up and down during the test: the load is shifting inside the drum, or the washer is rocking on a loose foot.
- The frequency matches your spin speed: the shake comes from the spinning drum. Your washer’s spin setting is in RPM; the RPM to Hz converter turns it into Hz.
The main direction helps too. On a front-loader, a heavy spot in the drum pushes up-down and side-to-side. On a top-loader, it pushes side-to-side and front-back.
Common causes and fixes
Unbalanced load
One heavy item, like a bath mat, a comforter or a single pair of jeans, pulls the drum off center. Sheets can also ball up on one side. Stop the cycle, spread things out, and wash heavy items in pairs or with a few towels. Many washers sense an unbalanced load and slow the spin or pause to fix it.
Washer not level or a loose foot
Put a level on top, front to back and side to side. Push down on opposite corners. If the washer rocks, one foot isn’t touching the floor. Screw the feet up or down until it sits firm and level, then tighten each lock nut against the cabinet so the feet can’t drift. Some top-loaders have rear feet that level themselves; your manual explains how to reset them.
Shipping bolts still in
New front-loaders come with bolts in the back that lock the drum for delivery. If they’re still in, the washer will shake violently on its first spins. Your manual shows where they are. Remove them and keep them for any future move.
Worn shocks, dampers or springs
The drum hangs on springs and is slowed by shock absorbers or dampers. As they wear, the drum swings further and may knock against the cabinet. A washer that shakes hard even when empty and level often has worn suspension parts. These are replaceable, but it’s a job for a confident DIYer or a repair person.
A floor that flexes
A washer on a wood-framed upper floor can shake more than the same washer on concrete. Use the washer floor vibration test to see how much reaches the floor.
When to call a repair person
Call for help if the drum bangs against the cabinet, you hear grinding or a rumble that grows with speed, water leaks, or you smell burning. Also call if the washer still reads Rough or higher with an empty drum after you’ve leveled it.
What this tool can’t measure
- Drum bearings. A worn bearing makes a rumble or roar that’s much faster than your phone can measure. Listen for it instead: it gets louder as the drum speeds up.
- Which part is worn. The reading shows how much the washer shakes, not which shock or spring is to blame.
- Every spot at once. The reading is for the spot where your phone sits. Keep it in the same place each time you compare.
- An official limit. The labels use a general scale for small machines (ISO 10816-1), not a limit from your washer’s maker. Treat the result as a good guide, not a certified measurement.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for a washing machine to shake during the spin cycle?
Some shaking is normal. A drum full of wet clothes spinning at 1,000 RPM or more will always move a little. It's not normal if the washer bangs, rocks, walks across the floor, or reads Rough or higher with an evenly spread load.
Why does my washing machine walk across the floor?
Usually one foot isn't pressing firmly on the floor, or the feet have worked loose, so the machine rocks and hops with each turn. An unbalanced load makes it much worse. Level the washer, tighten the lock nuts on the feet, and try rubber anti-slip pads on a smooth floor.
How do I test my washer for an unbalanced load?
Run this test twice: once with an empty drum on a spin-only cycle and once with your usual load. If the empty drum reads Smooth or Normal but the loaded one reads much higher, the load is the problem. If both read high, look at the machine itself.
What frequency should my washing machine show?
At full spin, the main vibration usually matches the drum's speed. Front-loaders often spin at 1,000 to 1,400 RPM (about 17 to 23 Hz), and top-loaders often at 600 to 900 RPM (about 10 to 15 Hz). If your reading matches your spin setting, the shake is coming from the drum.
Do anti-vibration pads help?
They can reduce walking and the shake that reaches the floor, especially on wood floors. They don't fix an unbalanced load or a worn shock absorber. Test before and after so you know whether they helped.
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