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Washing Machine Shaking Violently? Level It, Then Add Pads

A washer shakes when it is off level, overloaded or sitting on a bouncy floor. Level the feet first, then add anti-vibration pads for what is left.

By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 8 min read

Time
20 min
Cost
Under $20
Difficulty
Easy
A front-load washing machine with one foot slightly off the tile floor and a small bubble level on its top
In this guide
  1. Quick answer
  2. Free vs. permanent fix
  3. What you'll need
  4. Why it happens
  5. Try this first (free)
  6. When free fixes aren't enough
  7. Buy the fix
  8. How to fix a washing machine that keeps going off balance (front load and top load)
  9. What the noises mean
  10. What to skip
  11. FAQ
  12. Related problems

Quick answer

To stop a washing machine from shaking, level all four feet, make sure the shipping bolts are out and spread the load evenly. If it still bounces on the spin cycle, set anti-vibration pads under the feet to absorb the rest. Most violent shaking comes from an off-level machine or a lopsided load, and the free steps fix it for many people. Pads are the easy fix for a bouncy floor, or a washer that drifts out of position again after a few weeks.

Free fix vs. permanent fix

Free fix · 20 minutes

Level the feet and rebalance the load

  • Unplug the washer and pull it out a few inches
  • Check the level front to back and side to side
  • Turn the feet until all four touch the floor, then tighten the lock nuts
  • Wash bulky items in a mixed load, not alone

How long it lasts: Often permanent on a solid floor. On a bouncy floor the shaking creeps back as the feet settle.

Most readers choose Permanent fix
Anti-vibration pads for a washing machine (illustration)
Illustration

Anti-vibration pads under all four feet

Leveling stops the wobble. Pads handle what leveling cannot: a floor that flexes, slick tile and the shudder of a fast spin. They also cut the noise that travels through the floor to the rooms below.

What to get: Anti-vibration pads for a washing machine

How long it lasts: Years. The rubber soaks up vibration and grips the floor, so the machine stays put.

Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What you'll need

  • Bubble level or phone level app

    Check the top of the washer both ways

    You have it

  • Adjustable wrench or pliers

    For the lock nuts on the feet

    You have it
  • Our pick
    Anti-vibration pads (illustration)
    Illustration

    Anti-vibration pads

    A set of four, one under each foot

    Check price
  • Rubber-base leveling feet (illustration)
    Illustration

    Rubber-base leveling feet

    Only if your original feet are worn or will not hold their height

    Check price

Why it happens

1

Feet that are not level

If one foot hangs in the air, the drum pounds the floor on the spin cycle. Floors slope, and feet loosen over time from the vibration.

2

Shipping bolts still in a new front-loader

Front-load washers ship with bolts that lock the drum for transport. Left in, they stop the drum from floating on its springs, and the whole machine slams around. The manual shows where they are.

3

A lopsided or overloaded drum

One heavy towel, a bath mat or a soaked comforter bunches up on one side. The drum goes out of balance, the washer bangs as it tries to correct, and it may stop with an error.

4

A weak or bouncy floor

Wood floors upstairs flex under a spinning drum. The machine may be fine and the floor is amplifying it.

5

Worn parts inside

Shock absorbers in a front-loader and suspension rods in a top-loader lose their damping with age. Loud grinding or rumbling during spin can also mean worn drum bearings.

Try this first (free)

Do these in order, starting with the simplest.

  1. Unplug it and pull it out

    Unplug the washer and pull it out a few inches so you can reach all four feet. Do not tilt a machine with water in it, and get a second person if you need to lift a corner.

  2. Check for shipping bolts

    If the washer is new, or was moved recently, look on the back for large bolts with plastic spacers that locked the drum. Remove all of them and plug the holes with the caps that came in the box. The manual shows the count.

  3. Check the level both ways

    Tool used: Bubble level or phone level app

    Set a bubble level on top of the washer and check side to side, then front to back. Then push down hard on each top corner. If it rocks, one foot is off the floor.

  4. Adjust the feet and lock them

    Tool used: Adjustable wrench or pliers

    Turn each foot by hand or with pliers until the washer is level and does not rock. Raise a low foot, lower a high one. Then tighten the lock nut up against the washer body so the foot cannot spin loose again.

  5. Fix the load

    Fill the drum no more than about three-quarters full. Mix large and small items, and do not wash one heavy item alone. In a top-loader, pause and spread a bunched-up load around the drum.

  6. Add pads if it still shakes

    Tool used: Anti-vibration pads

    Run a spin-only cycle with a normal load. If it still hops, lift each corner a few inches, slide a pad under each foot and check the level again.

    Anti-vibration pads (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Anti-vibration pads · A set of four, one under each foot

    Check price on Amazon

When free fixes aren't enough

If the feet are level, the drum is unlocked and the load is even, but the washer still hops or drifts, the floor is the likely cause. Wood floors upstairs flex, and tile or sealed concrete lets a machine slide. Pads add grip and soak up vibration. If it still shakes, or you hear loud grinding, rumbling or banging even with a small load, the shock absorbers, suspension or bearings may be worn. That is a repair, so call a technician rather than keep running it.

Buy the fix

Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.

Our picks compared
PickProductFixesWho it's forBuy
Best pick
Anti-vibration pads for a washing machine (illustration)
Illustration
Anti-vibration pads for a washing machine
vibration, walking and floor noise that leveling alone does not stop Anyone on a wood, tile or bouncy floor whose washer still shakes or drifts after leveling. Check price
Upgrade pick
Rubber-base leveling feet for a washing machine (illustration)
Illustration
Rubber-base leveling feet for a washing machine
worn or stripped stock feet that will not hold their height Washers whose original feet are cracked, stripped or keep turning loose. Check price
Best pick
Anti-vibration pads for a washing machine (illustration)
Illustration

Anti-vibration pads for a washing machine

Fixes: vibration, walking and floor noise that leveling alone does not stop

Look for: A set of four, sized to fit under your washer's feet; Thick rubber or rubber and cork, not thin foam; A grippy, non-slip top and bottom; A weight rating that covers the washer with a full load.

Who it's for
Anyone on a wood, tile or bouncy floor whose washer still shakes or drifts after leveling.
Honest downside
The washer is not level yet. Pads cannot fix a foot that hangs in the air, so level first.
Check price on Amazon
Upgrade pick
Rubber-base leveling feet for a washing machine (illustration)
Illustration

Rubber-base leveling feet for a washing machine

Fixes: worn or stripped stock feet that will not hold their height

Look for: A thread size and length that match your stock feet; A rubber base that grips the floor; A weight rating that covers the washer; A lock nut to hold the height.

Who it's for
Washers whose original feet are cracked, stripped or keep turning loose.
Honest downside
Your original feet adjust and hold fine. Pads are enough. Check the thread size in your manual first, since it varies by brand.
Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We don't show prices because they change, so use the button to see today's price.

How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on washer manuals and installation guides, appliance repair advice, and the problems and fixes owners report in reviews of vibration pads. We do not test products by hand.

How to fix a washing machine that keeps going off balance (front load and top load)

  • Front-load: stop the cycle, open the door when it unlocks, and spread the clothes evenly around the drum. Add one or two towels if you are washing a single heavy item. Then restart on spin.
  • Top-load: lift the lid, pull the load away from one side and spread it evenly around the agitator or drum.
  • Both: wash comforters and bath mats with a few other items, and do not push the drum past the maximum load in your manual.

If the error keeps coming back with an even load, go back to the level check and the pads. If that fails, the suspension may be worn.

What the noises mean

  • Thump or bang at the start of spin: off-balance load or an unlevel machine.
  • Rattle or click: a coin, button or bra underwire in the drum or drain pump.
  • Rumble or grinding that gets louder as the spin speeds up: worn drum bearings. Call a technician.
  • Squeal: a worn belt or pulley in some models.

What to skip

Cardboard, folded towels and wood shims under the feet

Cardboard and towels compress, soak up water and let the foot slip, so the shaking comes back within weeks. Loose wood shims can crush or slide out. If you need to fill a gap, use a rubber pad made for appliances. And never run a washer with the shipping bolts still in.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my washing machine shake violently on the spin cycle?
Most often the machine is off level, the load is lopsided or the shipping bolts are still in. At spin speed a small imbalance becomes a big bang. Level the feet, mix the load and check the manual for transit bolts.
Why is my washing machine so loud when it spins?
A normal spin is a hum or whoosh. Thumping or banging usually means an off-balance load or off-level feet. A loud rumble that rises with spin speed can mean worn bearings, and rattling can mean a coin or underwire in the drum or pump.
How do I stop a front-load washer from walking or moving?
Level all four feet, lock the nuts, and keep loads below the maximum in the manual. Then add anti-vibration pads. On a very bouncy wood floor, a carpenter can stiffen the floor under the machine.
Why does my washing machine keep saying unbalanced?
The washer senses a lopsided load and stops to protect itself. Redistribute the clothes, and add a few other items if you are washing one heavy piece. If it keeps happening with an even load, check the level and the suspension.
Is it safe to keep using a washer that shakes?
A mild thump is unlikely to be dangerous, but violent shaking can damage hoses, drain connections, the floor and the machine itself. Stop and unplug it if it walks across the floor, pulls at its hoses, hits the wall or makes grinding sounds.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure

Anti-vibration pads for a washing machine (illustration)
Illustration

Our pick: Anti-vibration pads for a washing machine

Check price