For frequent family washing, choose a capacity that suits the loads you actually build up. Que Choisir generally recommends 8 to 10 kg for a family with children, or more if you often wash bulky items. A front-loader can handle large laundry loads if it fits the available space; a top-loader takes up less width, but usually has a more limited capacity. In either case, check the load limit for the programme you plan to use before relying on it to wash a duvet.
If bedding, towels and clothes regularly pile up, the priority is to choose a capacity that suits your usual loads without having to run multiple cycles. Que Choisir recommends 8 to 10 kg for a family with children, or more if you often wash bulky items.
If there isn’t room for a front-loader around 60 cm wide, a top-loader is worth considering. Its narrower design comes with a capacity you’ll need to weigh up against your household’s larger loads: Que Choisir says top-loaders generally have a capacity of no more than 8 kg.
For bulky items, the stated capacity alone isn’t enough to make your decision. Check the manual for the load limit of the duvet or down programme on the model you’re considering, as well as the care instructions for the fabric.
Start with the size of your usual loads, then check that the machine fits the available space and that its programmes are suitable for the items you plan to wash.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity for large loads | Compare the capacity in kg with the loads you actually build up and how often you do the washing. Que Choisir recommends 8 to 10 kg, or more for a family that often washes bulky items. | When bedding and towels quickly fill the basket, I want to avoid splitting a typical load across several cycles; around 42% of consumers put this need first. |
| Size | Measure the width, depth and height, and allow enough clearance to open the door or lid. A top-loader may need less width, but its capacity still needs to suit your household’s loads. | If space is tight, I first look for a machine that fits without making family laundry impractical; this is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Programme load limits | Check the maximum loads in the manual, especially for duvet, down, delicate and quick cycles, then check the care label on the item. | If I regularly wash a duvet or bulky laundry, I want to know whether the intended cycle can handle that particular item; around 33% of consumers prioritise this compatibility. |
A large capacity is most useful when it suits your usual loads. Que Choisir points out that choosing the wrong capacity can also mean running more cycles or buying a machine that’s too large for your everyday washing.
Before choosing the capacity in kg, consider what your usual laundry baskets contain and how often you wash your bedding.
Different programmes don’t necessarily allow the same load. For example, a nominal capacity of 7 kg doesn’t mean you can use the 20-minute quick programme on the AEG LTA6K7230B with a full load: AEG limits this cycle to 3 kg.
Check the manual for the limits of the programmes you’ll actually use, particularly for bulky items.
A top-loader solves a width constraint, but Que Choisir says these machines generally have a capacity of no more than 8 kg. Very large loads may therefore need to be split across more cycles.
Compare your usual loads with the capacity of the top-loader you’re considering, and measure its depth and the space needed to open the lid.
Capacity and design alone don’t tell you how durable a machine is. In France, the Ministry for Ecological Transition says that the durability index has applied to washing machines since 8 April 2025.
Check the index shown for each model you compare rather than assuming that every model from a brand has the same rating.
The WGH254A0FR front-loader is worth considering if you’re weighing up a larger capacity against the space available.
Consider the LTA6K7230B top-loader if installation width is a key factor.
The freestanding EW2F6812AW front-loader offers an 8 kg option to compare for a family household.
The WWD380 WCS PWash&Steam&9kg front-loader is another capacity worth comparing for family laundry.
These 10 or 11 kg front-loaders let you compare capacities designed for larger family laundry loads. If you plan to wash a duvet, check the programme on your chosen model and its permitted load separately.
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Worth considering if your larger family loads include bedding.
Stated capacity of 11 kg; A energy rating. This model is listed with a ‘Duvet’ programme. Check the manual for its load limit and measure the machine before buying.
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A capacity worth comparing if your household regularly builds up large loads of clothes and towels.
Stated capacity of 10 kg, spin speed of 1 400 tr/min and A energy rating. If you plan to wash a duvet, check the manual for the available programmes and their maximum loads.
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Worth comparing for larger family loads if you have room for a front-loader.
Stated capacity of 11 kg and A energy rating. Check the manual for the load limits of cycles designed for bedding or bulky items, and see whether a suitable duvet programme is available.
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Another 10 kg option to compare with the size of your usual family loads.
Before planning to wash a duvet, check the manual for the permitted loads of the programmes you’ll use and whether there’s a cycle suitable for bulky items.
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Worth considering for larger family loads if a stated capacity of 10 kg suits your usual washing.
Listed with a spin speed of 1 400 tr/min and 16 programmes. Before washing a duvet in it, check the manual to find the right cycle and its maximum load. Remember to measure the available space, too.
No. The permitted load depends on the programme you choose. When comparing washing machines for bedding and towels, check the load table in each manual rather than assuming the stated capacity applies to delicate, quick or bulky-item cycles.
No. The programme name doesn’t guarantee that a particular duvet meets the load limit or care instructions. AEG lists a down programme on the LTA6K7230B, while LG lists a Duvet programme on the F14R50WHS. In both cases, check the model’s manual and the care label on your duvet.
Measure the available width, height and depth, as well as the space needed to open a front-loader’s door or a top-loader’s lid. Also check that the machine will fit through the route to its final position: measuring the space where it will go isn’t enough to confirm it can be installed.
Yes, it can help you compare specific models. According to the Ministry for Ecological Transition, the durability index has applied to washing machines in France since 8 April 2025. However, it doesn’t replace checking the dimensions or programme load limits.
When buying an equivalent appliance in France, ask the retailer how collection of your old one works. Service Public Entreprendre explains that collection must be free of charge, up to the type and quantity of products sold or replaced.