Laundry refers to the cleaning, washing, and drying of clothes and other fabrics. It may also refer to a place dedicated to washing and drying clothes. The laundry rooms and laundry closets are popular units dedicated to doing laundry. However, they are also popular for creating confusion.
Key Takeaways
- A laundry room is a dedicated space separate from the other rooms in a house. In contrast, a laundry closet is a smaller area within a hallway or larger room.
- Laundry rooms have more storage options and larger appliances and can accommodate various washing and drying needs. In contrast, laundry closets are designed for smaller loads and compact appliances.
- Laundry rooms offer more space for folding clothes, ironing, and storing laundry products, while laundry closets can be ideal for smaller homes or apartments with limited space.
Laundry Room vs Laundry Closet
The difference between a laundry room and a laundry closet is that a laundry room is a separate room that is used for washing and drying clothes. Whereas the laundry closet is just a small area where the clothes are washed and dried. There are also a few other differences between the two.

A laundry room refers to a separate room that is dedicated to the purpose of washing and drying clothes. These rooms are located in the basement of the houses. These rooms are equipped with washing machines, dryers, shelves, cabinets, iron boards, and sewing kits.
These are suitable only for big houses.
A laundry closet refers to a closet or an enclosed area that is dedicated to the purpose of washing and drying clothes. These rooms are located in the kitchens or utility rooms. These rooms are equipped with washing machines, dryers, and shelves for detergent.
These take up less space and are suitable for apartments.
Comparison Table
Parameters of Comparison | Laundry Room | Laundry Closet |
---|---|---|
Meaning | A room where clothes are washed and dried. | An enclosed area where clothes are washed and dried. |
Space | It requires a larger space. | It requires smaller space. |
Located | It is located in the basement. | In kitchens, utility rooms, or bathrooms. |
Doors | It has a normal door made out of wood or glass. | Doors are not mandatory. If one uses them they are heavier to hide the noise of the machines. |
Inclusion | They contain larger sinks, washing machines, dryers, soap, sewing machines. | They contain a washing machine and dryer, with soap containers. Large or deluxe ones may also contain a sink and shelves. |
What is Laundry Room?
A laundry room is also known as a utility room. It is a room that is dedicated to laundry purposes. These primarily include washing and drying clothes. The room mainly has a washing machine, dryer, large basin, shelves, soap containers, also iron boards, and sewing machines or kits.
The washing machine and dryer serve the purpose of washing clothes and drying clothes. The large basin is used for washing clothes separately by hand. The shelves are used for storing clean or uncle clothes. The soap containers have different kinds of soap.
The iron boards help in ironing the clothes. And the sewing machines or kits are used for the purpose of stitching or fixing clothes.
A laundry room is located in the basement of houses. In the cases of some modern homes, they might be located near kitchens or bathrooms. Another location is adjacent to the garage. The doors of a laundry room are quite similar to the doors of other rooms.
However, these laundry rooms take up space. This is what makes laundry rooms ideal for big houses only. People living in apartments or small houses do not have the space and resources to have a separate laundry room. Due to this, many people prefer having laundry closets.

What is Laundry Closet?
Laundry closets are enclosed areas where clothes are washed and dried. These have a washing machine, dryer and a few small shelves. These shelves are used for storing soap and fabric softeners. The machines are placed side by side or on one another. This is purely done to save space.
Some washers and dryers are even compacted into a single machine. Laundry closets do not take up much space and which is why they are found in apartments and small houses. They are also quite affordable. The laundry closets are found in kitchens, utility rooms, or bathrooms.
The closet may be side folded or sliding. Laundry closets do not require doors. But some people may prefer having doors for muffling the sound of the machine and dryer. Some people prefer fancy doors made out of wood or glass for decoration purposes.
Laundry closets may have hook-up fittings or cabinets, or shelves. In the case of large or deluxe laundry closets, they are equipped with additional shelves or cabinets and a sink. They have separate shelves for folding clothes, keeping sewing kits, and so on.
These shelves are placed by the sides, above or below the washer and dryer.

Main Differences Between Laundry Room and Laundry Closet
- The laundry room is a room where clothes are washed and dried. The laundry closet is an enclosed area where clothes are washed and dried.
- The laundry room requires a larger space as it is a separate room. The laundry closet requires a smaller space.
- The laundry room is located in the basement. The laundry closet is located in the kitchens, utility rooms, or bathrooms.
- The laundry room has a normal door made out of wood or glass, just like any other room. In terms of the Laundry closet, doors are not mandatory. If one uses them, they are heavier to hide the noise of the machines.
- The laundry room contains larger sinks, washing machines, dryers, soap, and sewing machines. The laundry closet contains a washing machine and dryer with soap containers. Large or deluxe ones may also contain a sink and shelves.
