LG Washer and Dryer Model Numbers Decoded: What WM, WT and DLE Actually Mean

An LG model number tells you the machine's type first, then its place in the lineup and its color. WM means front-load washer, WT means top-load, DLE means electric dryer, and DLG means gas. So the LG WM6998HBA is a front-load all-in-one washer dryer in black steel. It doesn't tell you the build year, though. That's in the serial number.

I help people buy and sell used appliances for a living, and LG listings are full of model numbers that sellers copy from the sticker without explaining them. That's fine, once you can read them. LG doesn't publish a public key for these codes that I could find, so what follows comes from reading the actual model names on LG machines and listings. Here's how to decode them, date a machine, hear a bad bearing, and tell what a used LG pair should cost.

LG Model Number Prefixes: What WM, WT, DLE and DLG Mean

The first letters tell you what the machine is. Learn these six and you can sort any LG listing in seconds.

Prefix	What it is	Example
WM	Front-load washer, including all-in-one combos	WM4000HWA, WM6998HBA
WT	Top-load washer	WT7600HKA
DLE	Electric dryer	DLE3400W
DLG	Gas dryer	DLG6101M
DLEX or DLGX	Electric or gas dryer, usually with steam	DLEX4000B
WKE, WKEX or WKG	WashTower, a single stacked unit	WKEX200HBA, WKG101HWA

A DLE dryer needs a 240V dryer outlet, and a DLG needs a gas line. Check which one your laundry room has before you fall for a listing. I'd rather you learn that now than on delivery day.

One warning. A prefix can catch a mislabeled listing. A model starting with GTW is a GE top-loader, not an LG, even if the listing title says LG. I've seen it happen.

What the Numbers and Letters After the LG Prefix Tell You

The digits show the machine's place in the lineup, and they generally climb with features. A WT7600 sits above a WT7300, and a WM4000 sits above a WM3400. They don't show the model year, so a bigger number doesn't mean a newer machine.

The letters at the end mostly tell you the color. Look at the second-to-last letter:

• W is white, as in WM4000HWA.
• B is black or black steel, as in WM6998HBA and WKEX200HBA.
• V is graphite steel, as in WKE100HVA.
• K is black stainless, as in WT7600HKA.

That matters more than it sounds, because a matched pair usually shares its digits and finish. The WM4000HWA pairs with the DLEX4000W, and the WT7600HKA pairs with the DLEX7600KE. If the digits don't line up, it may be two machines that were never sold together. That's not a dealbreaker. It's just worth a lower price. My guide to matched sets goes deeper on when separates make more sense.

How to Find the Year From an LG Serial Number

The model number won't date an LG, so ask for the serial number. On front-loaders, the label is usually on the door frame. On top-loaders, look at the back or side, or under the lid.

Serial decoder guides generally read it like this: the first digit is the last digit of the year, and the next two digits are the month. A serial starting 005 would mean May 2020. Because that first digit repeats every ten years, use the machine's style to pick the right decade. These guides are third-party, not an LG document, so call LG with the full serial if the year decides the deal.

Is the LG WM6998HBA Worth Buying Used?

The LG WM6998HBA is worth buying used if you can't vent a dryer and the price is well under new. It's a 5 cubic foot all-in-one, 27 inches wide, 39 tall, and about 33 deep. It uses a heat pump, so it needs no outside vent. That's the whole appeal for apartments and closets.

The catch is time. Reviewed's testing clocked an average load at 142 minutes to wash and dry, and it called the drying slow by American standards. If you do several loads on a Saturday, you'll feel that. A separate pair will get through a pile much faster.

Now the price. New, US retailers have listed the WM6998HBA from about $2,000 to about $2,500. Used, the ones on Commonplace ask $1,650 to about $2,030. So the used discount is thin, and I'd push on any ask near the top of that range. A combo also has to be judged on one thing above all: does it dry a full load? Ask the seller. It runs on a standard 120V plug at about 12 amps, per LG's spec sheet, so you don't need a dryer outlet, and a separate circuit is a good idea. For the broader question, read whether all-in-one combos are worth it.

LG Washers With Drum Problems, and How to Hear a Bad Bearing

The clearest documented LG drum issue is a 2012 recall. The CPSC recalled about 457,000 top-load washers, including LG models WT5001CW, WT5101HV and WT5101HW, because the drum could come loose. They were made between February 2010 and November 2011, and the fix was a free in-home repair. If you see one of those numbers, ask whether the repair was done. If nobody knows, contact LG or skip it.

Bearings are a different story. I couldn't find a reliable source naming specific LG models as bearing failures, so I won't give you a list. A bad bearing can happen on any washer, and it's easy to catch.

Run a spin cycle and listen. A healthy machine hums and whirs. A bad bearing roars, and the roar builds as the drum speeds up. With the machine off, grab the drum and lift it. A little movement can be normal, but a clunk isn't. Then spin it by hand and feel for roughness.

On front-loaders, also pull back the door gasket and check for mold, tears, and trapped coins. A musty smell usually cleans up. A torn gasket means a repair. For how LG stacks up against other brands, see my used washer and dryer brand comparison.

Front Load vs Top Load LG: Which Holds Value Better?

Front-load LG machines ask a bit more used, but the gap is small. Current LG front-load listings on Commonplace have a median ask around $1,425, and top-load listings sit around $1,275. Those groups mix pairs and some single machines, so read them as a rough guide.

I'd choose based on your space, not resale. Front-loaders stack, and they usually spin clothes drier. Top-loaders don't make you bend, and they don't have a gasket to keep clean. If you're short on floor space, a WashTower or a stacked pair may beat both. My stackable buying guide covers those setups.

One thing buyers forget: front-loaders need their shipping bolts or proper bracing for a long move, because the drum can swing and do damage in transit. Ask the seller if they still have the bolts.

What a Used LG Matched Pair Should Cost

LG washer and dryer listings on Commonplace usually ask between about $1,000 and $1,650, with a median near $1,350. That group mixes pairs, single machines, older sets, and open-box units, so the model and condition matter more than the average.

LG listing	Type	Condition	Current ask
2016 LG pair	Pair	Like new	$685
WT7600HKA and DLEX7600KE	Top-load pair	Like new	$1,275
WM4000HWA set	Front-load stackable pair	Like new	$1,425
WKG101HWA WashTower	Stacked gas unit	Good	$1,425
2024 WM6998HBA	All-in-one	Like new	$1,650

Don't pay extra for ThinQ. A smart LG still washes clothes with no app at all, so treat Wi-Fi as a small bonus. If you want to use it, have the seller remove the machine from their account first. And don't assume a factory warranty follows a used machine. Ask LG before you count on it.

Here's how I'd make the call:

1. Read the prefix, and confirm it fits your hookups.
2. Match the digits and finish on both machines.
3. Get the serial and work out the year.
4. Check the model against the 2012 recall list.
5. Run or watch a spin cycle.
6. Inspect the gasket and the dryer's vent path.
7. Compare the ask to a new price, not just to other used ones.

Most of that is hard to do from a parking lot. On Commonplace, we pick the machines up, inspect them, and deliver them to you, and you pay only after they pass inspection. You can see how it works here.

LG Model Number FAQ

What does WM mean on an LG washer?

Front-load. Every LG front-load washer I've come across, including the WashCombo all-in-ones, starts with WM.

Is the LG WM6998HBA ventless?

Yes, it uses a heat pump, so it needs no outside vent. The tradeoff is a longer cycle.

How do I know how old my LG washer is?

Check the serial number, not the model number. In most guides, the first digit gives the year and the next two give the month.

Does the X in DLEX mean anything?

Usually it marks a steam dryer. Confirm with the spec sheet for that exact model, since features change between years.

Are old LG washers worth buying?

Often, if the spin test is quiet and the recall list is clear. Price matters more than age here.

If you have an LG set you're ready to part with, list your washer and dryer on Commonplace. We pick it up, inspect it, and find the buyer.

If you're shopping, browse our inspected used washers and dryers, delivered to your door.