If you can hang your laundry to dry in a well-ventilated space, start by choosing a washing machine that suits your loads and comparing its spin-drying efficiency class: a drying function isn’t always necessary. If drying on a clothes airer is impractical, a washer-dryer combines two functions in one space, but its drying capacity is generally lower than its washing capacity. A separate tumble dryer requires space and a level of use that justifies having a second appliance.
You have space to dry laundry indoors and want to reduce the time it stays damp without automatically buying a tumble dryer. ADEME recommends taking the spin-drying efficiency class into account; good ventilation matters too.
You’d like to dry some loads mechanically, but can only fit one appliance. With a washer-dryer, the drying capacity is often lower than the washing capacity, so it helps you work out how much laundry you can dry in one go.
You have room for a second appliance and need to compare its capacity with your usual loads, while also considering where it will go and what maintenance the model requires.
Choose this if: you can dry your loads in a well-ventilated space and would rather avoid buying a drying appliance. ADEME recommends comparing spin-drying efficiency classes, not just maximum spin speed.
Bear in mind: spinning doesn’t replace drying, and air-drying laundry indoors adds moisture to your home, so make sure you can ventilate the space.
Choose this if: you only have room for one appliance and want to wash and dry your laundry in one go, without transferring it.
Bear in mind: drying capacity is generally lower than washing capacity. UFC-Que Choisir also notes that drying programmes can take longer and that water consumption is a factor to consider.
Choose this if: you regularly machine-dry your laundry and have a suitable space for a second appliance.
Bear in mind: check the installation requirements and how water is handled in the manual. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a condenser tumble dryer, including a heat pump model, doesn’t need an air vent to the outside.
| What matters | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Spin efficiency and moisture | Compare the spin-drying efficiency class and the stated noise level. Choose a space where the air can be refreshed. ADEME recommends class A to help laundry dry faster. | When I dry my laundry indoors, I want it to dry faster without neglecting ventilation. Around 33% of consumers put spin efficiency and moisture at the top of their list. |
| Useful capacity | Compare the washing and drying capacities with your usual loads. ADEME says 7 kg is enough for most people, but that doesn’t make it a rule for every household. | I want to wash my usual amount without running extra cycles, and know whether the whole load can then be dried. Around 25% of consumers prioritise capacity. |
| Available space | Measure the space and access routes. For a separate tumble dryer, check the technology, installation requirements and water handling details in the manual. | If I only have room for one appliance, I want to dry laundry mechanically without having to install a second one. Around 25% of consumers make available space their priority. |
| Energy use, cycle time and noise | Compare energy consumption for the same type of cycle. For a washer-dryer, compare wash-only and wash-and-dry cycles separately. Also check programme durations and spin noise. | I want to choose a cycle with energy use, duration and noise levels that suit my regular needs. Around 17% of consumers prioritise this balance. |
A washer-dryer may be able to wash a larger load than it can dry in one go.
For a continuous cycle, size your load according to the stated drying capacity, not the washing capacity.
You may need to remove and air-dry some of your laundry separately, or wait for another cycle.
Spinning helps prepare laundry for drying, but air-drying it indoors still adds moisture to your home.
Compare the spin-drying efficiency class and consider how you’ll refresh the air in the space where your laundry dries.
Energy use for washing alone doesn’t tell you how much the combined cycle uses. For the Samsung WD11DG6B85BEU3, the product information states 48 kWh per 100 wash cycles and 308 kWh per 100 wash-and-dry cycles.
Compare the mode you’ll actually use to assess the energy consumption of combined cycles.
Since 1 July 2025, the new tumble dryer label has used the A to G scale, while ecodesign requirements distinguish between machines newly placed on the market and appliances already on the market and still in stock.
Compare appliances using a consistent labelling basis and, if necessary, check the status of the model you’re considering. The European Commission explains the scope and application date of these rules.
The WAN2827FFR is an example of a washing machine to consider if you’ll continue to air-dry your laundry indoors.
The WD11DG6B85BEU3 is an example of a washer-dryer for a single appliance space.
The D3H18C01W is an example of a separate heat pump tumble dryer to consider if you have space for a second appliance.
The F964X71WSTA is another example of a washer-dryer, with different stated capacities for each mode.
This selection includes washing machines for indoor air-drying, washer-dryers that combine both functions, and separate heat pump tumble dryers.
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Consider this if you have space for a separate tumble dryer and want to dry loads that suit its stated 10 kg capacity.
Heat pump technology; black finish; class C.
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Worth considering if you can install a separate appliance and want to compare its stated 8 kg capacity with your usual loads.
Heat pump technology; white finish; class C.
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Compare this if you wash your laundry before air-drying it indoors and want to check whether the stated 8 kg capacity suits your usual loads.
Stated maximum spin speed: 1 400 tr/min. Also compare the spin-drying efficiency class and make sure you can ventilate the drying space.
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Consider this if you only have room for one appliance to do both jobs. For a continuous cycle, the load must stay within the stated drying capacity.
Capacity: 11 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. The product information lists class A for washing and class D for wash-and-dry.
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Compare this if you want to combine washing and drying in one space and check how much laundry can be dried without transferring it.
Capacity: 10 kg for washing and 7 kg for drying; stated width: 60 cm.
No. ADEME recommends checking the spin-drying efficiency class to help make drying easier, but air-dried laundry still adds moisture to your home. Make sure you can ventilate the space too, and don’t judge spin efficiency by maximum spin speed alone.
Only if the load is within the drying programme’s capacity, which is generally lower than the washing capacity. For example, the Samsung WD11DG6B85BEU3 has a stated washing capacity of 11 kg and a drying capacity of 6 kg.
A condenser tumble dryer, including a heat pump model, doesn’t need an air vent to the outside, unlike a vented model. Still, check the manual, the space available and how collected water is handled.
Compare energy use for the same type of cycle, and distinguish between washing alone and wash-and-dry. For a separate tumble dryer, also check the maintenance tasks specified in its manual. Your household’s actual energy use will depend on how you use it.
No. Since 1 July 2025, the new tumble dryer label has used the A to G scale, replacing the old A+++ to D scale. The European Commission also distinguishes between machines newly placed on the market and appliances already on the market and still in stock.