Apartments with In-Unit Laundry: How to Find Them [2023]

Quick and convenient access to laundry units is one of the most sought-after amenities in apartments. However, though apartments with in-unit laundry are in high demand, you should consider the pros and cons of this option before you decide.

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about in-unit laundry apartments and help you determine whether renting an in-unit laundry apartment is right for you.

What are Apartments with In-Unit Laundry?

In-unit laundry apartments are units that are already furnished with laundry equipment. A washer and dryer set is usually found in the kitchen, bathroom, or near those areas within these types of apartments.

In-unit differs from on-site. Many apartment buildings feature laundry facilities on-site, which may include multiple washers and dryer sets for communal resident use. It’s much rarer to encounter apartment complexes with separate in-unit laundry for each apartment.

That’s what makes in-unit washers and dryers such an in-demand apartment amenity.

How to Find Apartments with In-Unit Laundry

If convenience is key to your laundry game, then in-unit laundry apartments are the way to go. Luckily, finding an apartment with in-unit washers and dryers is as simple as 1,2,3 when you follow the tips below.

Search for Listings Online

Searching for apartments is only fun if you use the right platform. There are tons of rental listing platforms on the market, so it can be overwhelming to choose the right one.

Luckily, you’re already in the right place. Apartment List helps thousands of renters find their dream apartments, with or without in-unit laundry.

Take our quiz and select in-unit laundry in preferred amenities when prompted. Our rental concierge will then match you with a selection of units with in-unit laundry and any of your other preferences. It’s really as easy as that!

Start your Search Early

As one of the more rare amenities on the rental market, finding an apartment with in-unit washers and dryers requires patience.

Start your search early to give yourself the best chance of landing your dream apartment with an enviable in-unit laundry setup.

That said, you’ll likely encounter lots of competition and substantially higher rent rates in your search for an apartment with in-unit laundry.

To navigate these obstacles with ease, you’re going to need a solid search strategy that leverages our knowledge of the best time of year to rent.

Though there are many nuances to the seasonality of the rental industry, a brief breakdown of what you need to know includes:

• Renting in the winter months and starting your search in late fall will enable you to find significantly lower rent rates. Interest in apartments has waned, and landlords are eager to fill vacancies, so they offer better rates and move-in specials.
• Renting in the summer months guarantees you the largest selection of units, as it's the peak moving season. More units are available as more movers equal more vacancies.

Depending on your goals for finding an apartment with in-unit laundry, renting in the winter or summer months will yield the best results. Choose your strategy wisely.

Know What You Are Looking For

You already know that you want to rent an apartment with in-unit laundry, so you’re off to a great start.

However, when it comes to knowing what you’re looking for in an apartment, you’ll have to dive a bit deeper and consider your lifestyle and preferences.

Starting with your lifestyle, you’ll need to factor in things like commute time, nearest grocery stores, gyms, and other location-based necessities that will allow you to live your best life.

Your preferences may be a little harder to figure out.

Start with your thoughts on your dream apartment. If your space contains tons of plants in a lush apartment garden, you’ll want an apartment with large south-facing windows.

If your dream unit boasts high ceilings and large industrial windows, you might prefer a hard loft apartment.

Regardless of what your dream apartment looks like, you’ll need to create a list of must-haves when it comes to features like amenities, layout, square footage, and location to help narrow down your search.

Set Up Apartment Tours

Apartment tours are where the rubber meets the road. You get the opportunity to view the apartments on your Short List in-person or virtually.

During your tour, you’ll need to verify that the apartment is in solid condition and that it works for your needs (think: fits the furniture you currently have).

Don’t get too absorbed in measuring door frames and testing electrical outlets, as you might forget to use your prepared list of questions.

It’s important to ask your landlord questions to help you better understand what you can expect when renting an apartment.

Start with the basics like the price of rent, pet policies, and parking — the 3 Ps, if you will.

If you like what you hear regarding the 3 Ps, you can move onto more in-depth questions like whether rent insurance is required or the guest policy.

If you’re stuck and need a bit of inspiration to help build your list of questions, check out our Questions to Ask Your Landlord During Your Apartment Tour guide.

Apply and Sign Your Lease

Once you’ve found an apartment that could be the one, you can get started on the rental application process. Just remember to be quick when it comes to applying.

Apartments with in-unit washers and dryers are in high demand, so quickly submitting a completed rental application can help give you an edge over the competition.

If your application is approved, your references reviewed, and it’s been determined that you have the right credit score to rent the apartment, you’ll be asked to sign a lease agreement.

Always follow the Golden Rule of renting and read your lease agreement before signing it.

If your lease contains terms that you haven’t read, you risk penalty fees, complaints, and even eviction, none of which is worth skipping the fifteen minutes or so that it will take you to read through your lease agreement.

Pros and Cons of In-Unit Laundry

Beyond having clean clothes whenever you want and being able to warm your blankets before bed in the winter months, there are tons of benefits to renting an apartment with in-unit laundry.

However, there are also some significant drawbacks to in-unit laundry apartments that you’ll need to consider before making a final decision on the matter.

To help you make an informed decision, we’ve broken down the pros and cons of in-unit laundry apartments.

What Are the Advantages of Apartments with In-Unit Laundry?

• Great for Active or Family Life: Working out daily? Dinner with your toddler becoming more of a food fight than anything else? When your lifestyle causes laundry to pile up, having an in-unit washer and dryer can be a life-saver.
• No Sharing/Aways Available: In-unit laundry has the edge over on-site laundry because you don’t have to share it. You never have to wait for anyone to remove their clothes from the wash, nor do you risk having your wet clothes placed on top of a machine because of another resident’s impatience.
• Can Do Laundry Whenever: This is a no-brainer. In-unit laundry allows you to do laundry whenever you want, especially if you have a quiet model that doesn’t disturb your neighbors.
• Say Goodbye to Rolls of Quarters: Slogging to the bank to take out $10 in quarters is never the move. When you have a washer and dryer in-unit, there’s no need to take that trip, and you can leave rolls of quarters in the past where they belong.

What Are the Disadvantages of Apartments with In-Unit Laundry?

• Hard to Find: In demand and a rarity on the rental market are two perfect descriptors of apartments with in-unit laundry. You may have a hard time finding an apartment with in-unit laundry, so give yourself lots of time to search.
• Takes Up Space: In-unit laundry equals lost square footage. There’s no way around it. For some, that lost square footage can make a big difference.
• Higher Rent Prices: In-unit washers and dryers are classified as luxury apartment amenities. As such, you can expect to pay luxury prices for one, meaning higher rent for the duration of your lease.
• Pay More for Utilities: You’ll use more water, electricity, and potentially gas (depending on your dryer type) when you have the privilege of doing laundry without leaving your apartment. This increased usage translates to higher utility rates.
• Maintenance Issues: Though your washer and dryer set may not experience issues, if it does happen, you may face maintenance headaches, including slow-moving maintenance requests. Issues with laundry equipment are generally not considered emergencies.

Find Apartments with In-Unit Laundry on Apartment List

Whether in-unit laundry apartments are a good idea for you will depend on your lifestyle and preferences.

If you are active, have small children, or simply prefer your laundry chore to be as convenient and efficient as possible, then an in-unit laundry apartment makes sense.

However, if you’re comfortable making your way to the nearest laundromat and don’t have a pressing need to do laundry more often than once a week, then you can get away with paying less for a traditional apartment lacking the luxury of in-unit laundry.

Either way, your apartment search comes down to your needs. For a you-focused start to your apartment hunt, take our quiz to get matched with apartments that meet your needs.

Apartments with In-Unit Laundry FAQs

Is an Apartment with In-Unit Washer and Dryer Worth It?

Apartments with in-unit washer and dryers are more expensive generally, so whether they are worth it depends on how much you value convenience over savings. If you do not want to use shared laundry spaces, and you don't mind paying an addition $50-$100 a month depending on where you live, it might well be worth it for you.

Can You Put a Washer-Dryer Combo in an Apartment?

If you have an apartment with washer and dryer hookups, you should be able to install a washer-dryer combo because it will come with special tubing in order to allow you to use standard hookups. If there is already a washer or dryer in-unit, however, do not uninstall those and replace them without your landlord's permission.

Why is In-Unit Laundry So Expensive?

In-Unit laundry not only raises the price of water, which is often paid for directly by the property manager, but they also require additional upkeep and maintenance. In-unit laundry is also a highly desired commodity, meaning that landlords can charge a premium for apartments that feature them.

What Are Washer and Dryer Hookups?

Apartments that offer washer and dryer hookups will allow you to connect your own washer and dryer to the water in your apartment (and to a drainage system when the water needs to be emptied). When apartments advertise these, it generally means you have to purchase your own washer and dryer or rent one from your property manager.