Speed Queen vs Maytag Washing Machines

If you’re stuck choosing between Speed Queen and Maytag washing machines, congratulations, you’re alright on the right track. These are two brands rooted in reliability and long-term performance. Both make some of our favorite top-load washers. Neither is a tech-first brand filled with cutting-edge features. Maytag strives for the balance between simplicity and a handful of features that truly make a difference on laundry day. By contrast, Speed Queen is almost the anti-technology brand, and as a result makes washers that are dead simple and practically bulletproof.

To help you choose, we’ll break down the key differences between Speed Queen and Maytag washing machines, including warranties, reliability, performance, features, and more. We also have recommendations on some of our favorite washers that we’ve tested from both brands.

Overall Brand Differences

The difference in brand perception between Speed Queen and Maytag is not as wide as with some other comparisons. Both are classic American brands, and people looking to buy American will naturally be familiar with both companies' names. But there’s still a difference, simply because Speed Queen’s brand is so unique.

You’re likely familiar with the character Maytag Repairman, bored to tears because there’s nothing to repair—those Maytags just don’t break!

Contrast that with Speed Queen, where the very idea of a repairman is unthinkable. If, heaven forbid, it did break, a real Speed Queen owner would roll up their sleeves and fix it themselves, ideally with an American flag waving in the background and a bald eagle soaring overhead.

Neither of those reputations is entirely accurate, of course. All appliances break down at some point. But both have well-earned credit for durability and are backed by a strong warranty.

The main differences between the two brands are easy to explain. Speed Queens are old-school machines, built like a tank and devoid of fancy features. They focus on durability, stain removal performance, and easy repairability. It’s no surprise that Speed Queen has a major standing in commercial laundromats. A lot of the components in their consumer machines come from the commercial side of the business, and they have a distinctly “coin-op” feel to them.

Maytag, part of Whirlpool Corporation, aims for a balance between reliable performance and the convenience of modern features. Unlike Speed Queen, Maytags are likely to have sleek designs, speciality wash cycles (steam, sanitize, etc.), and even some Wi-Fi-connected smart features. They still emphasize their “commercial quality”, but they’re much closer to Whirlpool-brand appliances than to Speed Queen levels of austerity.

Where Are Speed Queen and Maytag Made?

Speed Queen appliances are manufactured in Ripon, Wisconsin. Ownership of the company has changed several times since its founding in 1908. Currently, the brand operates under Alliance Laundry Systems, which primarily makes commercial laundry equipment.

Maytag—originally the "Maytag Washing Machine Company" back at its founding in 1893—was acquired by Whirlpool Corp in 2006. There, it joined the family of brands that includes Whirlpool, Amana, KitchenAid, and JennAir. (Yes, they're all the same company!) Today, Maytag consumer washing machines are made in Clyde, Ohio.

Overall Reliability

In terms of reliability, no brand can beat Speed Queen. While there are all sorts of other trade-offs to owning a Speed Queen, there’s no question that those machines are built like tanks, are easy to repair, and come backed by the strongest warranty in the business. We don’t have hard numbers, but popular estimates put their longevity at 20+ years in some cases. That reliability stems from two main factors. First, the brand makes a lot of commercial appliances. Many of those internal components are carried over into the consumer products. Second, the appliances don’t have a lot of fancy features, which tend to rely upon sensors and computer parts. Fewer features mean fewer things to go wrong.

Maytag is also known for reliability, just not at the level of Speed Queen. Estimates put their lifespan at 10-12 years, which is common for most major appliances. They have a well-earned reputation for toughness, and though they’re more feature-rich than Speed Queen, repair shops cite them for easy repairability and the readiness of spare parts, especially compared to tech-centric brands like LG or Samsung.

Speed Queen and Maytag: Styles of Washing Machines

Both brands manufacture a range of washing machine types (i.e., styles or formats). Below is an overview of the different washing machine styles each brand produces, and approximately how many models are available in each category.

Washing Machine Style	Speed Queen	Maytag
Top Load: Agitator	Yes – Around 6 models	Yes – Around 7 models
Top Load: Impeller	No	Yes – Around 4 models
Front Load	Yes – Around 4 models	Yes – Around 4 models
Stacked Washer-Dryer	Yes – Around 4 models	No
Laundry Center	No	No
Washer-Dryer Combo	No	No

Neither brand has a tremendous number of models, but Speed Queen’s is definitely more limited. They focus on top-load washers with traditional agitator poles. There are no modes with impeller plates. Speed Queen also offers a few front-loading washers, as well as a stacked washer/dryer combo unit for those who need an upright, front-facing, and space-saving solution.

Agitator poles have a reputation for being “tougher” on stains, but that is a half-truth. Moving your clothes around in the tub—what engineers call mechanical action—is only part of what removes stains. There’s also chemical action (aka detergent) and thermal action (aka water temperature). A good washer balances all of those for optimal performance. It’s also worth noting that agitator poles are the most aggressive at mechanical action, which means they’re often not great in the long run for delicates or cheaply made “fast fashion” clothes.

Maytag sells both agitator and impeller top-loaders, offering the choice between old-school and high efficiency. Maytag also offers front-load washers.

Speed Queen Feature Highlights, Explained

Speed Queen Perfect Wash: This is a gentler, more energy efficient wash cycle, as compared to the ultra-aggressive, energy-be-damned “Speed Queen Classic Clean” cycle.

Deep Fill & Full Tub Rinse: Several Speed Queen washers let you fill the tub to the maximum water level. For users, this means you can get a traditional deep soak and a full tub rinse. (We’ll comment here that adding water generally just dilutes the detergent and causes your clothes to float to the top, away from the paddles on the agitator—both of which typically reduce cleaning performance.)

Maytag Feature Highlights, Explained

Extra Power Boost: The Extra Power button lets you add a burst of stain-fighting performance to any cycle. For example, on Heavy Duty, it kicks in dual-temperature wash phases to tackle stains that need both hot and cold water. In testing, Maytag’s Heavy cycle with Extra Power was indeed effective.

Pet Pro Filter: Available on select agitator models (like the Maytag Pet Pro washer), this feature is a game-changer for pet owners. It incorporates a special built-in filter in the agitator that traps and removes pet hair from your clothes as the machine runs.

Deep Fill Option: Despite being high-efficiency, Maytag’s top-loaders often include a Deep Fill button that lets you add extra water to the wash. As we pointed out earlier, adding water typically decreases washing performance, but some people just need to taste that freedom.

Fresh Hold (Front-Load models): This is a built-in fan and intermittent tumbling that can run for up to 24 hours after a cycle ends. It prevents mildew smells from forming.

Warranty Coverage

One area where these brands truly differ is warranty coverage. Speed Queen offers a remarkable warranty, easily the best in the home appliance market. Speed Queen washers come with 5 years of coverage for all parts and in-home labor right out of the box. This means for five years, if anything fails, Speed Queen will take care of it (versus an industry-standard 1-year warranty). On top of that, Speed Queen typically includes lifetime limited warranties on the washer’s outer drain tub and the stainless steel wash basket. This generous coverage reflects Speed Queen’s confidence in their build quality and sets them apart from their feature- and tech-oriented competitors.

Maytag’s warranty is more conventional, but still with a slight twist. All Maytag washing machines come with a 1-year full warranty covering parts and labor for any manufacturing defects—standard in home appliances. However, Maytag often includes extended parts-only warranties on specific high-cost components. For instance, many Maytag models carry a 10-year limited parts warranty on the drive motor and the wash basket. That’s above and beyond what most appliance brands offer, including the Whirlpool brand. Also, know that Maytags are generally praised by service technicians for their easy repairability and access to replacement parts.

Conclusion

For most people, we recommend Maytag simply because it’s a better balance of features, performance, reliability, and price.

It ultimately comes down to your priorities. Speed Queen is the choice for those who value old-school toughness above all else. If you want a washer that feels like it belongs in the 1980s, with aggressive wash cycles and few, if any, fancy features, the Speed Queen is incredibly appealing. It’s the brand for people with heavy-duty laundry needs (work uniforms, tons of jeans and towels, etc.) or anyone who finds satisfaction in a machine they might actually be able to service themselves. You’ll pay more upfront, and you won’t get smart features or trendy styling, but you will get peace of mind.

Maytag, by contrast, is the pragmatic choice for most families and shoppers who want a reliable washer with some modern conveniences. Maytag’s machines are solid performers (some of the best cleaning capabilities in their class and generally easier on your budget than higher-end models from Electrolux, LG, and others. It’s a big brand, so there are a lot of options for sizes and types. And while they don’t have Speed Queen’s unmatched warranty, it’s arguably that second-best warranty in home appliances, and that’s pretty good!

Read More About Washing Machines and Laundry

The Best Top-Load Washing Machines: This is our complete roundup of all the top-performing top-load washing machines, including GE, Whirlpool, Maytag, LG, Speed Queen, and more.

The Best Top-Loading Agitator Washing Machines We've Tested: If you specifically want a top-load washer with an agitator pole, this list covers those exclusively.

Front-load vs. top-load washer: What's best for you?: This feature takes into consideration all sorts of laundry needs, from space considerations to cleaning performance, in pitting these two washer categories against each other.

The Best Front-Load Washers We’ve Tested: Whether you’re shopping for a standalone front-loader, a stackable pair, or a full laundry center, this roundup identifies the top-performing front-load washing machines for every setup.

The Best Laundry Centers We've Tested: Step beyond a standard stacked washer and dryer with these integrated laundry towers—coordinated systems that combine both appliances into one streamlined unit with shared controls for seamless performance.