When buying a new washing machine, it’s important to consider is you want one with an agitator, or without an agitator. We are going to tell you the benefits of each, and hopefully this will help you decide which kind of washer would be best for you and your lifestyle.
Quick answer: If most of your loads are heavily soiled work clothes, towels, or denim, a top load washer with an agitator will usually get them cleaner in a shorter cycle. If you wash a lot of bedding, jackets, or bulkier items and want more room per load, a no-agitator (impeller) washer is typically the better fit. The sections below break down capacity, wash performance, water use, and fabric care so you can decide which one matches your laundry habits.
An agitator is a tall mechanism that goes from the top of the washing machine to the bottom. These typically have spiral pieces around them for moving clothes from the top of the machine to the bottom when it spins.
The machine without the agitator will have a very small post on the inside. In the bottom of these machines are small raises in the metal that span the whole bottom of the machine. This will make sure your clothes don't get pulled through the holes on the perimeter of the washing bin.
Since the machines without agitators don’t have a big post up the middle, they will have a bigger capacity. You’ll be able to fit more clothes in these machines versus the ones that have agitators. The machines with the agitators will struggle to properly wash bulkier items like sheets or comforters.
Although, the agitator helps in general with getting better wash action. Your clothes will be more clean from this versus a washer without an agitator. Delicate items are better washed in a non agitator machine since this will give you less wear and tear on clothes.
Mainly you’ll be looking at those few things: capacity, what cleans better, and what is more gentle on clothes. Hopefully this helped determine the difference in washers with agitators and without agitators, and which will work best for you and your clothes.
Capacity: How Much Extra Room Do You Really Get?
Losing the center post doesn't just free up a little space — it changes what you can wash in a single load. Here's how a washer with an agitator compares to a no-agitator, impeller washer on the factors that matter most.
| Factor | Agitator Washer | No-Agitator (Impeller) Washer |
|---|---|---|
| Usable tub space | Less — the center post takes up room | More — nothing in the middle of the drum |
| Best for | Heavily soiled work clothes, towels, denim | Bedding, comforters, jackets, and bulkier loads |
| Wash action | More aggressive, faster stain removal | Gentler tumbling motion |
| Typical water use per load | Higher | Lower |
| Fabric wear over time | More wear on delicates | Gentler on fabrics |
According to ENERGY STAR, a full-sized washer that has earned the label uses about 14 gallons of water per load, compared to roughly 20 gallons for a standard machine, and losing the bulky agitator is a big part of why non-agitator models can fit more laundry per load. If you're still working out how much washer capacity your household actually needs before you compare agitator styles, our washer capacity guide walks through sizing by household size and laundry habits.
Which Washer Fits Your Laundry Habits?
There's no universally "better" option here — it comes down to what fills your hamper most often.
If your loads regularly include work clothes, kids' sports uniforms, or other heavily soiled items, the stronger scrubbing action of an agitator will usually get them clean in fewer minutes. If your laundry leans toward everyday attire, bedding, or bulkier items like comforters and winter coats, a no-agitator washer gives you the room to wash them without overstuffing the drum, and it's gentler on the fabric in the process.
Households that do a mix of both often end up choosing based on which type of load happens more often, since neither style is "bad" at the other job — an agitator will still wash a comforter, and an impeller will still get denim clean, just with different tradeoffs in time and fabric wear. For a deeper side-by-side comparison of agitator and impeller top loaders, including specific model picks, see our agitator vs. impeller washer guide.
Noise, Water Use, and Long-Term Wear
Beyond capacity and cleaning power, a few everyday factors are worth weighing. Agitator washers tend to run a bit louder during the wash cycle because of the friction created by the spinning post, while impeller washers generally run quieter since clothes move more freely through the water. Agitator models also use more water per cycle to work the extra friction needed for their scrubbing action, which is part of why non-agitator and high-efficiency (HE) washers have become more common over the past decade.
Over years of use, that difference in wash action shows up in your clothes. The more aggressive movement of an agitator can be tougher on stretchy fabrics, buttons, and delicate items, while the gentler tumbling of a no-agitator washer tends to be easier on clothing longevity — one reason it's often recommended for households doing a lot of delicate or specialty loads. If you're also weighing a front-load model in the mix, our guide on whether a top-load or front-load washing machine is better compares both top-load styles against front-load washers directly.
A Quick Glossary: Agitator, Impeller, and HE Detergent
Agitator: The tall spindle in the center of a top load washer's drum. It twists back and forth, rubbing clothes against itself and each other to loosen dirt and stains.
Impeller: A low-profile disc or cone at the bottom of a no-agitator top load washer. Instead of a center post, it spins to create a rolling water current that moves clothes around the drum.
HE detergent: Detergent formulated for high-efficiency washers, which use less water than older machines. It's lower-sudsing so it rinses out fully even with reduced water levels, and it's the right choice for most modern no-agitator and front-load washers.
Frequently Asked Questions about Agitator and Impeller Washers
For heavily soiled loads like work clothes or towels, yes — the extra friction from an agitator typically removes tough stains faster. For everyday laundry, the difference is much smaller, and many no-agitator washers clean just as well with the right detergent and cycle.
It depends on your priorities. If you value more usable capacity, gentler fabric care, and lower water use, most owners find it worth it. If your main concern is getting the toughest stains out as quickly as possible, an agitator model may make more financial sense.
Generally, yes. Without a bulky center post displacing water, impeller washers can clean effectively with less water per load than traditional agitator washers.
In most cases, yes. The tumbling motion of an impeller washer creates less friction than an agitator's scrubbing action, which typically means less wear on delicates, buttons, and stretchy fabrics over time.
It depends on the model, but the center post does reduce usable space, so bulky items like comforters or heavy blankets fit more easily in a no-agitator washer with the same overall drum size.
Both styles can last well over a decade with regular maintenance, and longevity has more to do with build quality and usage than the presence of an agitator. Simpler mechanical designs with fewer parts, common in either style, tend to hold up longest.
Both skip the agitator, but a front-load washer tumbles clothes through a much smaller amount of water using gravity, which typically makes it the most water- and energy-efficient option of the three. A no-agitator top load washer is a middle ground, offering some of that efficiency and gentleness while keeping the top-loading convenience many buyers prefer.
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Founded in 1971, Don’s Appliances is a family-owned, independent appliance retailer based out of Pittsburgh, PA. Don’s has since expanded to 10 locations selling, delivering, installing, and servicing all major appliance brands. Large enough to offer competitive pricing yet small enough to continue offering the “white glove” service we pride ourselves on, our focus is always on the customer experience — from the first step into a showroom to the purchase transaction to well after your new appliance has been installed. When our customers are remodeling or building a new house, Don’s has all the expertise, product knowledge, inventory, brands, displays, and services to meet and exceed your needs. And in the event an appliance breaks, we are there, right on time and with the right product, delivery, installation, and service.
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