Washing Machine Shaking on Spin? How to Level and Balance It

A washing machine shaking hard on spin is alarming, but the cause is usually simple. Samsung names the main ones: feet not all touching the floor, a bulky item or too much laundry, and transit bolts left in a new machine (Samsung). This guide works through six checks, easiest first. Only the bolts and levelling need tools: a spanner (wrench) and a spirit level.

A little vibration is normal, especially as the drum speeds up or slows down (LG). Hard banging, or a machine that walks across the floor, is not. Each check covers front-loaders and top-loaders. For other problems, see all our washing machine fixes.

Before you start: If the machine is walking across the floor, stop the cycle and let the drum stop. Don’t try to hold it still. Unplug the washer before you move it or adjust the feet. If you pull it out from the wall, turn off the water taps (faucets) and go slowly. Don’t stretch the hoses or power cable. Washers are heavy: get a second person to help lift a corner, and never tip the machine over or lay it on its side.

The 6 checks at a glance

1. New or just moved? Remove the transit bolts
2. Rebalance the load
3. Level the machine and lock the feet
4. Check the floor and surroundings
5. Don’t overload, and pick the right programme
6. Worn suspension or drum bearings

After each check, run a spin-only cycle with a few items in the drum. If the spin is smooth, you’re done.

Check 1: New or just moved? Remove the transit bolts

Front-loaders arrive with transit bolts (shipping bolts) through the back panel to hold the drum still. Left in, they lock the suspension, so the machine shakes violently on spin (iFixit). Whirlpool says they are “not a permanent part of your washer and must be removed after the washer is installed” (Whirlpool).

How to tell: open the door and push the drum. Samsung says it should feel springy, with a little give. If it feels rigid, the bolts are still in (Samsung). Samsung says most of its models have 3 to 5 bolts (Samsung UK).

1. Unplug the machine and pull it out far enough to reach the back.
2. Loosen each bolt with the supplied spanner, then pull it out with its spacer.
3. Push the plastic caps from the accessory bag into the holes (LG).
4. Keep the bolts in case you move the machine again (Beko).

If a bolt won’t come out, don’t force it: LG says that needs a service visit. If the bolts were refitted for a move, take them out again and re-level the machine (Check 3).

Packing underneath: Samsung warns that polystyrene stuck under the drum causes considerable vibration (Samsung UK). On Beko machines, pulling a strip of tape under the front frees the foam (Beko). If a packing block is still stuck under the machine, removing it means tilting the washer, so ask the installer or a technician to do it.

Top-loader? Samsung says its top-loaders don’t have these bolts (Samsung). Check your manual, then go to Check 2.

Check 2: Rebalance the load

Whirlpool calls an unbalanced load one of the most common reasons for a vibrating washer (Whirlpool). Pause the cycle, wait for the door to unlock, and spread the washing evenly around the drum (LG).

• One heavy item: Samsung says washing a single bath mat or pair of jeans alone causes excessive noise and vibration (Samsung UK). Add a few other items.
• Bedding: wet sheets and blankets tangle into a heavy lump, so untangle them. Beko suggests washing a blanket with another heavy item, such as a big towel (Beko).
• Very small loads: a few items bunch on one side. Add items or lower the spin speed (LG).

Error codes: on Samsung washers, Ub, U6, UE, 1Ub and 1U6 mean the load is unbalanced. Ur only means the machine is adding water to rebalance, which lengthens the cycle; it isn’t a fault (Samsung). On LG top-loaders, lowercase uE means it’s rebalancing; after 3 attempts it shows UE and needs you to redistribute the load (LG). Other brands use their own codes, so check your manual.

Check 3: Level the machine and lock the feet

Bosch says a machine that isn’t level can thump or knock, especially at high speeds (Bosch). Start with the rock test: grip the top and rock it front to back, then side to side. Whirlpool says all four feet must be in firm contact with the floor (Whirlpool). If it rocks, one foot isn’t touching.

1. Unplug the machine. Loosen the lock nut (jam nut) above each foot you’ll adjust.
2. Turn the feet to raise or lower each corner. Keep them short: Samsung recommends under 20 mm (0.8 in), because shorter legs mean less vibration (Samsung).
3. On a solid, level floor, Samsung advises screwing the back legs in fully and levelling with the front ones (Samsung UK).
4. Put a spirit level on top, front to back, then side to side, until the bubble is centred both ways.
5. Rock the machine again. All four feet should stay firmly down.
6. Tighten each lock nut. Whirlpool says they “must be tight against the bottom of the cabinet”.
7. Run a spin-only cycle with a few items to check (Samsung).

If you must lift a corner to turn a foot, lift it only slightly, with a helper. Slide the machine back gently: Samsung says excessive force can damage the feet (Samsung).

Top-loaders: open the lid and check the tub hangs centred. If it leans to one side, LG says to adjust the feet again (LG).

Samsung calibration: on models that have it, calibration helps the machine sense the weight. With the drum empty, hold Temp. and Delay End for 3 seconds until Cb appears, then press Start/Pause. It takes 1 to 3 minutes (Samsung). If your manual doesn’t mention calibration, your model doesn’t have it.

Check 4: Check the floor and surroundings

• Wooden or springy floors: Bosch calls wooden floors “particularly unsuitable” and suggests a hard surface in a room corner. If needed, it suggests screwing a water-resistant board at least 30 mm (1.2 in) thick to the floor (Bosch). Whirlpool says to check for a floor that flexes or sags (Whirlpool).
• Carpet, soft tiles and slippery floors: Samsung says these let the machine move or vibrate (Samsung UK). On a tiled bathroom or balcony floor, common in India, keep the floor under the feet dry.
• Walls and cupboards: Samsung recommends a 2.5 cm (1 in) gap between the washer, dryer and any wall (Samsung). Electrolux says to leave space from surrounding cupboards too (Electrolux).
• Pedestals: level the pedestal first; Samsung says some vibration is expected on one (Samsung). Whirlpool says the mounting screws must be tight and the pedestal’s feet firm on the floor (Whirlpool).

Anti-vibration pads: Electrolux says anti-vibration covers under the feet can limit vibration and noise (Electrolux). LG suggests non-skid pads for slippery floors (LG). Pads don’t replace levelling, so do Checks 1 to 3 first.

Check 5: Don’t overload, and pick the right programme

• Don’t press it down: Samsung says that if you have to push clothes down to fit more in, the machine is overloaded (Samsung UK). Whirlpool says clothing should move freely (Whirlpool).
• Use the right programme (program): CHOICE says the wrong cycle can make a machine shake (CHOICE). For rugs, comforters and blankets, LG suggests a bulky cycle (LG).
• Lower the spin for bedding and other large items (Samsung).

Samsung warns that heavy overloading can damage the drum and affect the tub bearing, which needs professional repair (Samsung UK).

Check 6: Worn suspension or drum bearings

If the bolts are out, the load is balanced and the machine is level, the problem may be inside. On front-loaders, first rule out a hard object in the pump filter, which Beko says can cause vibration (Beko). Our drain guide shows how to clean it.

Front-loaders hang the drum on springs, steadied by shock absorbers, usually four. Top-loaders hang the tub on suspension rods. As these wear, vibration grows. A quick sign: with the machine unplugged and empty, push the drum down and let go. If it bounces more than once, they’re worn (iFixit).

A deep rumble points to worn drum bearings: “a constant rumble or roar that is present throughout any spin – it does not come and go”, says Whitegoods Help. A loud bang on each turn can mean a broken drum spider, the bracket holding the drum to its shaft (Whitegoods Help).

These repairs mean opening the cabinet, so they’re for a technician. On many machines the bearings are moulded into the tub, and Whitegoods Help says the repair can cost more than the machine is worth. Get a quote first.

When to call a technician

Stop and call a technician if: it still bangs after you’ve removed the bolts, balanced the load and levelled it; you hear grinding or a deep rumble; the drum sits lower or off-centre with the machine level; the drum bounces more than once when pushed down; you smell burning; it moves or shows an unbalance code even when empty; or a foot or suspension part is broken. If you hear squealing, Samsung says to stop the cycle and turn the machine off straight away (Samsung).

LG says that if an unbalance code returns on an empty Rinse and Spin cycle, the machine needs a repair (LG). When you book, have the brand, model number and any error code ready, and say which checks you’ve done. Mention whether the transit bolts are out: Samsung says installation problems aren’t covered by its warranty (Samsung).

Common questions

Is it dangerous if my washing machine shakes?

Hard shaking shouldn’t be ignored. Beko says vibration or movement “can even damage your appliance” (Beko). If it’s walking across the floor, stop the cycle so it can’t strain the hoses, then work through the checks.

Why does my washer shake only on the spin cycle?

Spin is the fastest part of the cycle, so any imbalance shows most. On Samsung machines with VRT, some vibration between 150 and 350 RPM is normal while it balances the load (Samsung).

Do anti-vibration pads work?

They can help, but they don’t fix the cause. CHOICE suggests a pad or mat if the machine still shakes, and notes they stop it marking wooden floorboards (CHOICE). Remove the bolts, balance the load and level the feet first.

Sources

• Samsung washing machine is shaking too much (Samsung US)
• What to do if your washing machine is noisy or vibrating (Samsung UK)
• How to level the unit if washing machine is unbalanced (Samsung Singapore)
• Samsung washing machine information and error codes (Samsung)
• Washing machine shakes & vibrates or is noisy (Samsung Hong Kong)
• Troubleshooting vibration issues on an LG washing machine (LG US)
• What is a top load washing machine UE/Ub error code? (LG US)
• Washer is vibrating, walking or moving (Whirlpool)
• Vibration, walking or off balance: front load washer (Whirlpool)
• Washing machine vibrates and moves (Bosch UK)
• How to fix a washing machine that’s shaking or vibrating (Beko Australia)
• My new Beko washing machine is shaking violently (Beko UK)
• How to stop your washing machine vibrating and reduce noise (Electrolux UK)
• How to stop a washing machine from moving (CHOICE)
• Washing machine shaking (iFixit)
• Washing machine is noisy (Whitegoods Help)