If you have space for two appliances and need to dry several loads, compare a separate tumble dryer. If space is limited, a washer-dryer combines both functions, but its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. If you mainly use an airer, ADEME recommends choosing a washing machine with spin-drying efficiency class A to speed up indoor drying. Also consider how much moisture the laundry releases into the room and how well it is ventilated.
A washer-dryer combines washing and drying in one space. However, check that your usual loads fit within its drying capacity, which is different from its washing capacity, and compare the duration of the programmes you’re interested in.
The washing machine’s spin performance and the room’s ventilation become important factors. ADEME recommends choosing spin-drying efficiency class A when laundry needs to dry quickly indoors. It also points out that air-drying releases moisture into your home.
A separate tumble dryer is worth comparing if you can make room for one. It has dedicated drying capacity; with a washer-dryer, a washed load that exceeds the drying limit will need to be split or dried another way.
Worth considering: if you can set aside space for an airer in a well-ventilated room.
Bear in mind: the laundry stays in your home while it dries and releases moisture into the room, as ADEME points out.
Worth considering: if you have space for a second appliance and want to dry loads in a dedicated machine.
Bear in mind: check where the condensed water will go and whether the appliance will fit in the space with its door open.
Worth considering: if you can only fit one appliance and your loads are within its drying capacity.
Bear in mind: UFC-Que Choisir points out that drying capacity is lower than washing capacity, so a full wash load may not be dry in one go.
| Priority | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Spin performance | Check the washing machine’s spin-drying efficiency class on the label rather than looking only at the spin speed in rpm. ADEME recommends class A if laundry needs to dry quickly indoors. | I mainly plan to use an airer and want to reduce how much moisture is left in the laundry after washing. |
| Capacity | For a washer-dryer, compare the maximum wash and dry loads separately, in kg. Also check the duration of the wash-and-dry cycle that suits your needs. | One machine would suit me, but I want to know if my usual load can be washed and then dried without taking any laundry out. |
| Space and ventilation | Measure the space, the depth and the clearance needed to open the door. If you use an airer, check that the room can be properly ventilated: ADEME highlights the moisture released by air-drying laundry. | I need an arrangement that makes room for both the appliance and the airer, without overlooking ventilation in my flat. |
| Installation | For a tumble dryer, distinguish between venting moist air and managing condensate. The European Commission says that a condenser dryer does not need an air outlet to the outside; check how water is collected and what connections are required for the model you choose. | I have room for a separate appliance, provided I can install it and manage the water it collects. |
| Everyday use | Compare the stated energy consumption, the duration of the programme you need and the noise levels across models, taking their capacity and your usual loads into account. | I need laundry to fit around life in my flat, without running lots of cycles or occupying the available space for too long. |
These limits are different on a washer-dryer. UFC-Que Choisir points out that a full wash load may exceed the amount the machine can dry in one go.
Compare both figures in kg with your usual loads before planning to run one cycle straight after another.
According to the European Commission, a condenser dryer does not need an air outlet to the outside, but you’ll still need to manage the collected water. An appliance that fits in an alcove must also have enough room for the door to open and for you to use it.
Measure the space and check the manual for details on the water tank, any drainage requirements and the clearance needed.
ADEME identifies air-drying laundry as a significant source of indoor moisture. Choosing the right spin setting doesn’t remove the need to consider the room where your laundry will dry.
Choose a well-ventilated spot and plan your washing so that several damp loads don’t build up there.
These examples highlight features to check on each model; they don’t represent every appliance from each brand.
Worth a look if you’re considering a separate heat pump tumble dryer and need to measure its space carefully.
Worth a look if you need a washer-dryer to combine both functions in one space.
The range includes both washer-dryers and separate tumble dryers, depending on the space you have available.
This selection includes washer-dryers that combine both functions, as well as separate heat pump tumble dryers if you have room for a second appliance. First compare their capacities with your loads, then check the installation requirements for each model.
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Combines washing and drying in one appliance, with a stated capacity of 11 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. Don’t assume a full wash load can be dried in one go.
Check the duration of the programme that suits your loads, as well as the clearance and installation requirements in the manual.
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This separate tumble dryer has a stated capacity of 8 kg and energy rating C. You’ll need space for it separately from your washing machine.
Before choosing, check its dimensions, the duration of the programme you’re interested in and how condensate is managed, as set out in the manual.
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This washer-dryer has a stated capacity of 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. To run both cycles without removing any laundry, your load needs to be within the drying limit.
Compare the wash-and-dry cycle duration with your laundry routine, and check the required connections and clearance.
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This all-in-one design suits a single appliance space, as long as you stick to the stated capacities: 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying.
The product name mentions 27 wash programmes and automatic dosing. Check the dimensions and the duration of the programmes you’ll use.
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This separate model has a stated capacity of 8 kg and energy rating D. It needs its own space in addition to the washing machine.
Check the manual for the dimensions and how condensate is collected or drained. Also compare the duration and energy consumption of the programme you’ll use.
It depends on how it works. The European Commission says that a vented tumble dryer needs an air outlet to the outside, unlike a condenser model. For the latter, check how the water is collected or drained and what the manual says for that model.
Consider how well the room is ventilated: ADEME points out that air-drying laundry releases moisture into your home. Before making an airer your main drying solution, check that its location can be properly ventilated and leaves enough room to move around.
Not necessarily. UFC-Que Choisir says its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity. Compare the two figures for the model and keep the drying load within its stated capacity if you want to run both cycles without removing any laundry.
Check the washing machine’s spin-drying efficiency class: ADEME recommends choosing class A when laundry needs to dry quickly indoors. Also think about where you’ll put the airer and how you’ll ventilate the room.
For domestic tumble dryers placed on the EU market since 1 July 2025, the European Commission says that only heat pump models are permitted. When choosing a model in France, compare its capacity, dimensions and performance information with your needs.