Compact washers and dryers solve tight-fit needs, but there are performance trade-offs. Take these points into consideration before spending your money.

Convenience will cost you. You might imagine reduced size would translate into lower sticker prices. Not so here. Compacts run from $1,760 to $4,000 for a matching set, compared with about $1,100 to $3,600 for a full-sized front-loader and matching dryer. Blame basic economics. Compacts serve a relatively small market in the United States — 100,000-plus compact washers sold last year compared with 2.1 million full-sized front-loaders — and manufacturers are betting that consumers who don’t have room for full-sized will pay handsomely for the privilege of an at-home option that fits their space.

Size is crucial. The recently tested compacts are 24 inches wide. Height and depth vary: Height ranges between 33 and 34 inches, and depth from 24 to 29 inches, making it an important variable — you’ll need at least 6 inches ­behind the machines for water hookups and perhaps dryer venting. Usually, ­compacts within a brand are designed to fit together, so they can be stacked to save space or fit in a narrow closet, but you can’t do that with models from different brands. Find out whether the parts needed to stack the pair you choose are included; if not, they’ll cost from about $30 to $200. Measure the space you have to work with, and ask about installation and stacking when shopping.

Venting varies. Compact dryers are powered by electricity, not gas. Some are vented, like full-sized dryers, with a 4-inch duct that ushers moist air outdoors. But if your space doesn’t allow for running ductwork to the exterior, you’ll need a ventless (or condensing) model. That type has a condenser that removes humid air from the drum rather than shunting it outside, so it takes much longer to dry clothes. The condensation then flows through a hose that feeds into a sink or drain. Several also offer an optional reservoir that collects the water (and needs to be emptied by hand). Both types of dryers require a 240-volt connection. Some washers also need a 240-volt connection and can plug into the dryer, which is helpful if you have only one outlet. Other washers use a standard 120-volt outlet.

Long cycle times. With capacities of 2 to 2.7 cubic feet, compacts can hold about 10 full-sized bath towels — but forget about washing a king-sized comforter. In tests, ventless dryers and models lacking moisture sensors took the longest to dry laundry — almost 2 hours for a load of cotton towels, shirts, and jeans.

Strong vibrations. Here’s a big caveat for many apartment dwellers: Minis shake. Some compact washers vibrate more than others, mostly at the beginning and end of the spin cycle as their tubs spin up to their maximum rpm to extract water from the laundry, but they all do it. The vibration creates an annoying distraction.