For frequent laundry, choose a capacity that suits the loads you regularly wash, then compare energy and water consumption, the Eco 40-60 cycle duration and spin noise. A front-loader is suited to regularly washing large loads, a top-loader to limited space, and a washer-dryer to homes with little room for drying clothes. Just remember to distinguish its washing capacity from its wash-and-dry capacity. If you’re considering a front-loader or top-loader in France, also check the model’s durability index.
If you often have full laundry baskets and bedding to wash, prioritise a capacity you’ll use regularly. UFC-Que Choisir recommends basing your choice on your usual loads rather than automatically going for the largest drum.
If you often wash small or medium-sized loads of different fabrics, consider which programmes you’ll use, how long they take and how much they consume. Eco 40-60 figures alone don’t tell you how quick or synthetic cycles perform.
If the available width, access to the drum or drying space limits your choice, compare the dimensions of a top-loader and a front-loader. For a washer-dryer, also check the load allowed for a complete wash-and-dry cycle, which differs from its washing capacity.
Consider it: if you regularly wash large loads or bedding.
Bear in mind: a large drum that’s rarely full won’t necessarily be a better fit for everyday loads.
Consider it: if you need a narrow appliance to fit the available space or prefer loading from the top.
Bear in mind: UFC-Que Choisir reports that top-loader capacities generally don’t exceed 8 kg.
Consider it: if you don’t have much room to dry clothes.
Bear in mind: the load allowed for a wash-and-dry cycle may be smaller than the washing capacity.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Suitable capacity | Compare the permitted load in kg of dry laundry with your usual loads. Aim to fill the drum without cramming in the laundry, as recommended by ADEME. | When I often have full laundry baskets, I want to avoid splitting a regular load across several cycles without buying a drum that’s rarely full. Around 31% of consumers rank getting the capacity right as their top priority. |
| Cycles and consumption | Compare the kWh per 100 cycles, litres per cycle and Eco 40-60 duration on the labels of appliances in the same category. Also check the programmes you usually use. | If I regularly run cycles for different fabrics, their duration and consumption matter just as much as the energy rating. Around 25% of consumers say getting to grips with the cycles is their main priority. |
| Space and drying | Measure the space available and check access for loading. For a washer-dryer, note the washing and wash-and-dry capacities separately. | If my utility room is narrow or I have nowhere to hang laundry, I need an appliance that fits the space and can handle my loads. This is the top priority for around 19% of consumers. |
| Durability and maintenance | For applicable front-loaders and top-loaders in France, check the durability index and its breakdown. Review the warranty terms and look up the part reference you need. | With frequent washing, I want to check repairability and ongoing support for the model before buying. Around 25% of consumers make this their main priority. |
For applicable front-loading and top-loading washing machines in France, the DGCCRF states that the durability index replaced the repairability index on 8 April 2025. Eco 40-60 label figures are for comparing this reference cycle; they don’t necessarily reflect the programmes you’ll use most.
Too little capacity can mean running more cycles, but a capacity you rarely use won’t suit everyday loads either. ADEME recommends filling the drum sufficiently without cramming in the laundry.
Start with the size of your usual loads, then think about how often you really wash duvets, throws or other large loads.
The rating alone won’t tell you the cycle duration, water consumption or spin noise. The European Commission uses the Eco 40-60 programme as a reference for several requirements applying to washing machines.
Compare the label figures for appliances in the same category, and look separately at the programmes you expect to use.
Bosch lists a 9 kg washing capacity for the Bosch WNA144V0FR, but a 5 kg capacity for a wash-and-dry cycle. So, a full-capacity wash load can’t be dried in its entirety in one complete cycle.
Check both capacities for your chosen model. If you want to dry laundry in the machine, plan your loads around the capacity of a complete cycle.
A warranty covering one component doesn’t necessarily cover the whole machine. For applicable front-loaders and top-loaders in France, the durability index offers another model-specific point of reference to consider.
Check the index breakdown, the exact warranty terms and how to look up parts for the model you’re considering.
These examples highlight features of specific models and don’t necessarily apply to other appliances from the same brand.
A range worth considering if you’re comparing washer-dryer capacities in particular.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for a front-loader and want to compare the programmes on a specific model.
A brand to consider if you want to compare detailed cycle data and features such as automatic detergent dosing.
A brand to consider for a top-loader when space is limited.
Yes, for applicable front-loading and top-loading washing machines. According to the DGCCRF, the durability index, scored out of 10, has replaced the repairability index for these appliances since 8 April 2025. Also check the breakdown of the model’s score.
Compare the capacity, kWh per 100 cycles, litres per cycle, Eco 40-60 duration and spin noise for appliances in the same category. The DGCCRF includes domestic washing machines and domestic washer-dryers among the categories subject to energy labelling. Also consider the programmes you’ll actually use.
No. The European Commission describes this programme as intended for normally soiled cotton declared washable at 40 °C or 60 °C. It doesn’t tell you the duration or consumption of a quick, delicate or synthetic cycle.
Not necessarily: washing and wash-and-dry capacities should be checked separately. For example, Bosch lists a 9 kg washing capacity and a 5 kg wash-and-dry capacity for the WNA144V0FR. A full-capacity wash load would therefore need to be reduced before running a complete wash-and-dry cycle.
Note the appliance’s exact model number, then check the durability information and the brand’s parts service. Whirlpool, for example, lets you search by appliance model number, but this doesn’t guarantee that a particular part will be available for every model or at any given time.