If you mainly dry your laundry on an indoor airer, start by choosing a washing machine with the right spin efficiency. ADEME recommends, in particular, spin efficiency class A to speed up indoor drying. A separate tumble dryer is a good option if you regularly need dry laundry without leaving it on an airer for long, provided you have a suitable space for it. If you can only fit one appliance, a washer-dryer means you won’t have to move laundry between machines. However, its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
If you plan to keep using an indoor airer and don’t want to add another appliance, start by looking at the washing machine’s spin efficiency and capacity. ADEME links an effective spin cycle with faster indoor drying. Good ventilation in your home is also important when drying laundry indoors.
If laundry tends to take up space for a long time and you regularly want to dry full loads, consider a separate tumble dryer. Before deciding where to put it, check its dimensions, the ventilation requirements in the instruction manual and the maintenance it needs.
A washer-dryer combines both functions without the need to move a suitable load between appliances. However, check both capacities: UFC-Que Choisir highlights that the drying capacity is lower than the washing capacity.
Your choice depends first on how much space you have and how you want to dry your laundry after each wash.
Consider this if: you plan to keep using an airer and don’t want to add a tumble dryer.
The trade-off: even after an effective spin cycle, your laundry will still need to dry indoors.
Consider this if: you often dry large loads and have space for a second appliance.
The trade-off: you’ll need to make room for it and follow the installation and maintenance instructions for your chosen model.
Consider this if: you only have space for one appliance and want to run a wash and dry cycle in one go.
The trade-off: the load that can be dried in one go is smaller than the maximum washing load, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
| Criteria | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Spin cycle | Check the spin efficiency class on the washing machine’s label, rather than relying on the displayed spin speed alone. ADEME recommends class A in particular when you want laundry to dry quickly indoors. | I dry laundry indoors and want to reduce how long it stays damp. |
| Washing capacity | Compare the capacity in kg with your usual loads and check which programme it applies to. A drum that’s too small may mean you have to do more loads. | We need a capacity that suits our household’s laundry routine, rather than choosing based only on the appliance’s overall size. |
| Energy use | For a tumble dryer, compare the label information, capacity and programme being assessed. For a washer-dryer, check the figures for the wash-and-dry cycle, which are different from those for washing alone. | I want to compare like-for-like usage rather than estimate drying energy use from the washing-only figures. |
| Installation | Measure the space and check the manual for clearance and ventilation requirements. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a vented tumble dryer needs an outlet to the outside or a vent hose, unlike a condenser model. | I need to be able to install the appliance in the available space without putting a tumble dryer in an unventilated area. |
| Combined cycle | Compare the washing and drying capacities separately. Check the duration and energy use of the combined programme that suits your needs. | If I run a wash followed by a drying cycle without intervening, the whole load must fit within the drying capacity. |
A load that fits for washing may exceed the drying capacity. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between the two capacities. For the AEG LWR98B166X, the brand lists a 10 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity.
If you want to run both stages without removing any laundry, size your load according to the drying capacity.
Not needing an external vent doesn’t mean there are no installation requirements. Electrolux advises against placing the tumble dryers in question in a closed, unventilated cupboard.
Measure the space and follow the clearance, temperature and ventilation requirements in the manual for your chosen model.
The European Commission says that an A to G scale has applied to the labels of the tumble dryers concerned since 1 July 2025. An old A+++ rating and a new A rating are therefore not directly equivalent.
Compare the energy use and programme details of appliances with similar capacities, taking into account the label that applies to each one.
UFC-Que Choisir explains that this type of appliance needs an opening to the outside or access to a ventilation duct.
Before choosing this type of tumble dryer, check whether you can install the necessary connection and meet the requirements in the manual. If your home isn’t suitable for this installation, compare condenser models instead.
These examples show some configurations to consider. The specifications mentioned apply to the models listed, not to every product from each brand.
Bosch’s French catalogue includes the 8 kg Series 6 WQG24502FR heat pump tumble dryer.
Electrolux lists an 8 kg capacity, energy efficiency class A and condensation efficiency class A for its EW9HI783FC heat pump tumble dryer.
The AEG LWR98B166X heat pump washer-dryer is an example of a model with a listed washing capacity of 10 kg and a drying capacity of 6 kg.
These models cover two ways to dry laundry at home: adding a heat pump tumble dryer or combining washing and drying in one appliance. If you plan to keep using an airer, the spin efficiency criteria above are still worth checking when choosing a washing machine.
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A separate appliance for drying loads of up to its stated 8 kg capacity. Its stated energy efficiency class is C. Compare the energy use and duration of the programme you’re interested in, then check the dimensions and ventilation requirements in the manual.
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Its stated 10 kg capacity is worth considering if you have large loads to dry. The model name indicates energy efficiency class D. Before choosing, compare the energy use and programme duration with your needs, and check the space and ventilation requirements in the manual.
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This combination appliance is designed for washing and then drying in one machine. For a complete cycle without removing any laundry, keep the load within the stated 6 kg drying capacity, not the 10 kg washing capacity. Also check the cycle duration, energy use and the space the model will take up.
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This model combines washing and drying, with stated capacities of 10 kg and 6 kg respectively. Its stated energy efficiency class is D. If you want to run both stages in one go, make sure your load fits within the 6 kg drying capacity. Check the duration and energy use of the complete programme, as well as the connections required.
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This separate tumble dryer has a stated capacity of 8 kg and energy efficiency class D. To compare it with another model of the same capacity, check the energy use and duration of the relevant programmes. Also check its dimensions and ventilation requirements before deciding where to put it.
Check the spin efficiency class on the label, then choose a capacity that suits your usual loads. ADEME recommends class A spin efficiency in particular if you want laundry to dry more quickly indoors.
No. According to UFC-Que Choisir, this type of appliance needs an opening to the outside or access to a ventilation duct. A condenser model doesn’t need this outlet, but you still need to install it according to the instructions in its manual.
Yes. Check the ventilation and clearance requirements for your chosen model. In its advice on the tumble dryers concerned, Electrolux advises against placing one in a closed, unventilated cupboard. Always follow the instructions in the manual for your specific model.
Not if that load exceeds its drying capacity. UFC-Que Choisir points out that the drying capacity is lower than the washing capacity. If you want to run both stages without removing any laundry, load the machine according to its stated drying capacity. For example, AEG lists a 10 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity for its LWR98B166X model.
For the tumble dryers concerned, use the A to G scale that has applied since 1 July 2025, as indicated by the European Commission. Then compare energy use, capacity and the programme in question. Don’t treat an old A+++ rating as directly equivalent to a rating on the new scale.