Page Header Page Content Page Footer
For a better experience on Tide.com, please enable JavaScript in your browser.
  • Part of the P&G Family
  • P&G Leaf
  • Downy
  • Ivory Snow
  • Bounce
  • PnG Everyday
AdChoices
Canada English
Close
Please select a location
  • United States - English United States United - English English
  • United States - Spanish United States - Spanish
  • Canada - English Canada - English
  • Canada - French Canada - French
Log in   Register
LOG OUT
Are you sure? Yes, log out
Contact Us
Tide
Search
  • Shop Products
    • By Type
      • Pacs
      • Liquid
      • HE Liquid
      • Powder
      • Stain Remover
      • Laundry Booster
      • Machine Care
    • By Need
      • Deep Clean
      • Stain Removal
      • Odour Removal
      • Freshness/Scent
      • Whiteness
      • Bright Colours
      • Sensitive
      • Additives
      • Delicates
    • Top products
      • Tide PODS® Spring Meadow Scent
      • Tide PODS® Free and Gentle
      • Tide PODS® Plus Downy
      • Tide Original Scent HE Liquid
      • Tide Coldwater Clean HE Liquid
      • Tide Free and Gentle HE Liquid
      • Tide Purclean™ Liquid
    • View All Products
  • About Tide
      • About Us
      • Loads of Hope
      • Tide is Canada's #1 Detergent
      • Innovation
      • Sustainability
      • Free & Gentle Collection
      • Understanding High Efficiency
      • Original Collection
      • Our Detergents
      • Tide + Downy Collection
      • Tide Purclean™ Liquid
      • Tide Ultra OXI Collection
      • Studio By Tide Collection
    • View All Stories
  • How to Wash Clothes
      • How to Remove Stains
      • How to Do Laundry
      • Washing Different Fabrics
      • After the Laundry Is Done
      • Laundry Tips and Tricks
    • View All Stories
  • Washing Machine 101
      • How to Use a Washing Machine
      • How to Use an HE Washer
      • Common Washer Problems
    • View All Stories
  • Latest News & Coupons
    • View All Offers
  • Home
  • How to Wash Clothes
  • How to Do Laundry
  • How Do I Know My Load Size for My Washing Machine?
Print This

How Do I Know My Load Size for My Washing Machine?

Recommended 18 Time(s) Recommend This
Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest

You're Now Leaving Tide.Com

We recommend you review the third-party site’s privacy policy, as their privacy practices may differ from P&G. Any personal information you provide on the third-party’s website will be managed in accordance with their privacy policy. Thank you for visiting Tide.com

Please click the link below

Share on

E-mail This

Share This by E-Mail

How Do I Know My Load Size for My Washing Machine?

There are # errors in this page
Email Service Unavailable
   
   
   
   
Send
Cancel

E-Mail Sent Successfully

Your e-mail has been successfully sent to the recipient.

Continue

Washing machines come in different sizes and capacities, so it's nice to have some general guidelines to help you fill your machine effectively. At Tide, we've developed some tips for filling your machine based on an average drum size. No matter the size of your machine, though, you'll want to know how to load it for maximum effectiveness. Apply our load-size tips on your next laundry day, and you'll be sure to get the most out of your wash while saving money and energy.

Once you’ve determined what your load size is, it’s easier to dose correctly. To get the best results, simply follow the load-size recommendations noted for each cycle:

Follow the load-size recommendations noted for your washing machine size

  • Medium/Regular load: When the drum is around ½ full, you have a medium or regular load wash.
  • Large load: If you want to do a large load, then the washer should be ¾ full.
  • Extra-large load: If you have a lot of laundry to do, then you can fill the machine for an extra-large load. Use the 1-palm trick, and see if you can still fit your hand inside the drum. This helps make sure that the machine is not overloaded. Your clothes need to tumble freely, so if you want the best results, avoid packing them too tightly in the washer. 

How Much Laundry Can I Fit in Various Load Sizes?

Based on our testing, these are the recommended weights for each load in an average machine:

How much laundry can I fit in various load sizes?

  • Medium/Regular load: This works out to a load of approximately 6lbs.
  • Large load: A large load in an HE machine is approximately 11lbs.
  • Extra-large load: If you have an HE machine, then an extra-large load at full capacity is around 21lbs.

However, it’s not easy to eyeball how much your laundry weighs. So, to make things a little easier, here’s a visual guide to help you see what various loads look like.

What various laundry loads look like

  • Medium load/Regular Load: If you can scoop up your laundry in an armload or less, then you have a medium load.
  • Large load: When you pick up your laundry, and it’s a full armload, then you have a large load.
  • Extra-large load: You know you’re dealing with an extra-large load when you need to make two trips to the washer, because one armload is simply not enough. Just make sure you leave enough of a gap in the drum so your hand can fit inside, allowing the clothes to tumble freely.

To give you a more itemized idea about how much laundry can fit in various load sizes, you can see a more specific guide in our diagram below. Based on our testing, here’s what you can fit in the various load sizes based on an average machine:

Here’s what you can fit in the various load sizes into the washing machine

  • Medium/Regular load: If you’re washing on a medium load, then your load could be made up of approximately: 6 men’s t-shirts, a pair of socks, 2 skirts, 1 women’s sweater, 1 men’s sweater, 3 pairs of pants, 3 pairs of underwear.
  • Large load: A large load in an HE Machine could approximately take: 12 men’s t-shirts, 6 pairs of socks, 3 skirts, 1 women’s sweater, 1 men’s sweater, 5 pairs of pants, 4 pairs of underwear.
  • Extra-large load: If you have an HE machine, then an extra-large load might look like approximately: 12 men’s t-shirts, 12 pairs of socks, 6 skirts, 8 women’s sweaters, 7 men’s sweaters, 6 pairs of pants and 6 pairs of underwear.

Because different load sizes require different quantities of detergent, it’s important to get the dosage right. Find out how to dose correctly with our guide, whether you’re using powder, liquid or laundry pacs to get the optimal dosage requirements for your load size and soiling needs.

Related Products

  • Tide PODS® Laundry Detergent Original Scent
    Quick View

    Tide PODS® Laundry Detergent Original Scent

    Rating
    Rating Stars
    ( 7119 )
  • Tide Original Scent Liquid Laundry Detergent
    Quick View

    Tide Original Scent Liquid Laundry Detergent

    Rating
    Rating Stars
    ( 1567 )
  • Tide Plus a Touch of Downy Liquid Laundry Detergent
    Quick View

    Tide Plus A Touch of Downy Liquid Laundry Detergent

    Rating
    Rating Stars
    ( 281 )

Related Articles

How Much Laundry Detergent to Use

How to Read Laundry Symbols

Sign Up
Want deals? Great offers! Sign up for our newsletter!
  • Fun ways to connect with us
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Twitter
  • GooglePlus
  • Pinterest

Shop Products

  • By Type
  • Pacs
  • Liquid
  • HE Liquid
  • Powder
  • Stain Remover
  • Laundry Booster
  • Machine Care
  • By Needs
  • Stain Removal
  • Deep Clean
  • Odour Removal
  • Freshness/Scent
  • Whiteness
  • Bright Colours
  • Sensitive
  • Additives

Contact Us

  • Talk to Us
  • FAQ

Washing Machine 101

  • How to Use a Washing Machine
  • How to Use an HE Washer
  • Common Washer Problems
  • Smart Label For ingredients and more,
    select a product.
  • Related
  • P&G Brands
  • |
  • Ivory Snow
  • |
  • Downy
  • |
  • Bounce
  • |
  • P&G Everyday
    • Good Housekeeping Better Business Bureau
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • © 2021 Procter & Gamble
Keep Laundry Pacs Out of Reach of Children.
Close

Close