If you can set aside space for laundry to dry, a washing machine suited to your loads and a clothes airer can do the job without adding another appliance. A washer-dryer is mainly useful when space is tight, as long as you stick to its drying capacity. If you regularly have loads to dry, consider a separate tumble dryer if its installation and maintenance requirements suit your home.
If you only have room for one appliance, a washer-dryer combines both functions. Check its drying capacity against the size of your usual loads, though: UFC-Que Choisir notes that drying capacity is generally lower than washing capacity.
A separate tumble dryer is worth considering if you regularly need to dry a lot of laundry. First, check that you have space for it, that the electrical supply is suitable and how the model collects or drains condensed water.
If you have an indoor area where you can temporarily dry laundry, your washing machine’s spin performance and how you organise your washing become essential. ADEME recommends checking spin efficiency when drying laundry indoors.
If you live in a flat without outdoor space, start with the room you have and how much laundry you need to dry after each wash. Then compare energy and water use, along with installation requirements.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space and cycle sequence | Dimensions, including required clearances; separate washing and drying capacities for a washer-dryer. | If you only have room for one appliance, being able to go from washing to drying without moving the laundry is especially useful. Around 31% of consumers would put this need for space and continuity first. |
| Amount of laundry to dry | Declared drying capacity in kg; whether two appliances can be stacked, using a compatible stacking kit only. | With sheets, towels or large loads, having to split the laundry frequently can make things harder to manage. Around 25% of consumers would put drying capacity above all else. |
| Water and electricity | Energy label and declared consumption figures on a like-for-like basis; spin efficiency if you use a clothes airer. | If I dry laundry often, I want to compare how much each programme uses before choosing an automatic option. Around 25% of consumers would make consumption their main concern. |
| Installation and maintenance | Connection requirements in the manual; declared noise level, access to filters and how condensed water is handled, depending on the model. | In a lived-in home, I need to be able to install and maintain the appliance without blocking the space. Around 19% of consumers would put this practical need first. |
A washer-dryer may be able to wash more laundry than it can dry in one go. UFC-Que Choisir highlights this difference, which may mean taking some of the washing out before starting the drying cycle.
Compare both capacities. If you want to run the wash and dry functions back to back without intervening, keep the load within the stated drying capacity.
The appliance needs to fit in your home, sit securely in its chosen spot and remain accessible for maintenance. How condensed water is collected also depends on the model.
Measure the space and access routes, then check the manual for the model you have chosen to confirm its connections, clearances and maintenance requirements.
Depending on the installation, you may need a compatible stacking kit or a water drainage accessory.
Saving space doesn’t necessarily mean your washing will be ready as quickly as you’d like. UFC-Que Choisir notes that many models have long cycles, and that water and energy use during drying are worth checking.
Compare the duration and consumption figures for the programme you expect to use. If you regularly have a lot to dry, weigh these up against the requirements of a separate appliance too.
Drilling a hole or making a lasting alteration is not as straightforward as finding a spot for an appliance.
Before planning any work in a rented home or a leasehold flat, discuss the proposal with your landlord and check the building’s rules. An option that doesn’t require permanent alterations may help you avoid this step.
Its manuals can help you work out whether a tumble dryer or washer-dryer will suit a particular space.
Worth considering if you’re looking at a heat-pump tumble dryer and need to plan where it will go in your home.
An option to compare when checking the dimensions and declared noise level of a heat-pump tumble dryer.
Worth considering if the room temperature and how condensed water is handled affect your installation plans.
A model to consider if your main priority is combining washing and drying in one appliance.
This selection includes washer-dryers and separate tumble dryers to compare, depending on the space you have and how much laundry you need to dry. If you’d rather use a clothes airer, compare your washing machine’s spin performance and allow enough room to hang out your laundry.
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Worth considering if you have space for a separate tumble dryer and regularly dry large loads.
The model name indicates a heat pump, an 8 kg capacity and energy rating C. Check the manual for dimensions, installation requirements and how condensed water is handled in your chosen location.
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Combines washing and drying in one appliance if you don’t have room for a separate tumble dryer.
It has a stated capacity of 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying, so a load larger than 6 kg will need to be reduced if you want to run both functions back to back. Check the dimensions, declared noise level and consumption figures for the programme you plan to use.
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A two-in-one option to consider if you can keep your loads within the 5 kg drying capacity.
The model name indicates an 8 kg washing capacity, a 5 kg drying capacity and a stated spin speed of 1,400 rpm. The dimensions listed for this model conflict, so confirm the measurements in the product information and manual before setting aside space for it.
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Worth considering for drying laundry in a separate appliance, provided you have a suitable space for it.
The model name indicates a heat pump, an 8 kg capacity and energy rating D. Before buying, check the dimensions, declared noise level and how condensed water is collected or drained.
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Worth considering if you can install a separate tumble dryer and want to compare how it handles condensed water with other models.
The model name describes an 8 kg condenser tumble dryer. Don’t assume it uses heat-pump technology: check the documentation for this model to confirm the technology, installation requirements and how water is collected.
Yes, as long as the load doesn’t exceed its drying capacity. This may be lower than its washing capacity: for example, Samsung lists an 8 kg washing capacity and a 5 kg drying capacity for the WD80T4046EW/EF. For loads over 5 kg, you’ll need to remove some laundry or split the drying cycle.
Not necessarily. A condenser or heat-pump tumble dryer collects condensed water as specified for the model. Check the manual, where the appliance can be installed and how to empty the tank or connect a compatible drain.
Measure the appliance, access routes and required clearances, then check the electrical connection and how condensed water is handled in the manual. If you plan to stack it, confirm that both appliances and the stacking kit are compatible.
Choose a washing machine with a capacity that suits your loads and check its spin efficiency: ADEME recommends spin class A when drying laundry indoors. Make sure you also have enough room to set up the airer without getting in the way, and maintain the ventilation provided for the space.