A 10 to 12 kg washing machine is worth considering if you regularly fill the drum with successive large loads, as Que Choisir suggests. If you do laundry frequently mainly because you need to sort fabrics into smaller loads, a standard-capacity machine may still suit you. In either case, check cycle times and what happens to your washing once it’s clean: a larger drum won’t, by itself, solve a drying bottleneck.
Towels, bedding or household linens often fill the machine. The aim is to reduce the number of cycles without choosing a drum that’s too large for your usual loads. Que Choisir distinguishes this from households that do frequent small loads.
Clean washing has to wait for space to become available to dry. Drying capacity, spin speed and the space available for appliances may then matter more to your choice than washing capacity alone.
Delicates, synthetics, wool or colours may mean several loads, even when the total amount of washing is high. Que Choisir points out that the permitted loads for these programmes may be lower than the machine’s stated capacity.
Start with the loads you actually wash regularly, then weigh up wash times against the space and time you have available for drying.
Worth considering: large loads regularly fill the machine; Que Choisir highlights capacities of 10 to 12 kg in particular for households doing successive loads.
Bear in mind: sorted small loads won’t necessarily make full use of the stated capacity.
A good fit if: your loads are small because fabrics need to be separated.
Plan for: multiple cycles, with time set aside for washing and drying.
Worth considering: washed laundry has to wait its turn to dry, and you have room for two appliances.
Check: the space they’ll take up and, if stacking them, that the appliances and stacking kit are compatible.
Worth considering: there’s no room for two appliances, and your household can manage with a smaller drying load than washing load.
Bear in mind: you may need to split a washed load before drying, as shown by the separate capacities of the Electrolux EW7IW2856BG.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Note the size of your regular large loads, then check the maximum loads for the programmes you use. | If bedding and towels often fill the machine, combining laundry can help avoid extra loads; around 31% of consumers rank this need as a priority. |
| Cycle times | Compare the Eco 40-60 programme duration and, if relevant, the noise level with the times you plan to run the machine. | If you need to fit several loads into a busy day, how long the machine is occupied matters just as much as its size; this is the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| What happens after washing | Check the washing and drying capacities separately on a washer-dryer, or find out how much space two appliances need. | If clean laundry piles up because there’s nowhere to dry it, increasing washing capacity may simply shift the wait to the next stage; around 25% of consumers prioritise the transition from washing to drying. |
| Energy use and lifespan | For comparable models, check the kWh per 100 cycles and litres per cycle; also look at the durability index shown. | If you use your machine often, energy-use figures and maintenance options are important considerations; around 19% of consumers see them as their top priority. |
Que Choisir says larger drums are most useful for substantial loads that come up regularly; a machine that’s often underfilled may use more energy and water.
Keep a note of your usual load sizes by fabric type for a week or two before choosing a capacity.
According to Que Choisir, the load limits for synthetics, wool or delicates programmes may be considerably lower than the stated capacity for cotton or Eco 40-60.
Check the manual for the permitted loads on the programmes you use most often.
A washer-dryer’s drying capacity may be lower than its washing capacity. For example, the Electrolux EW7IW2856BG is rated for 8 kg of washing and 5 kg of drying.
Decide whether each load needs to be dried straight away, then compare the drying capacity with the space available for a possible second appliance.
With a washer-dryer, a washed load may need to be dried in two batches.
The same energy rating doesn’t tell you how much water a machine uses, how long a cycle takes or how noisy it is. ADEME recommends checking the information on the label, including energy use in kWh per 100 cycles.
Compare these figures across models suited to your loads, and check their durability index too.
These examples show different configurations; their features don’t apply to every appliance from each brand.
Two models to compare, depending on whether you’re looking for a front-loading washing machine or an appliance that also dries.
The F14R31WHSA front-loader lets you consider a stated capacity of 11 kg with a depth of 565 mm.
Samsung describes the WW11DG5B25AHEF as an 11 kg, A-rated washing machine with connected features.
The EW7IW2856BG washer-dryer is an example of a single-appliance option when there isn’t room for a separate tumble dryer.
This selection includes 10 or 11 kg washing machines to consider for regular large loads, as well as a washer-dryer for households looking to combine both jobs in one appliance. Check each programme’s capacity and how you’ll manage drying against your usual routine.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you regularly fill the machine with large loads and need to plan how to dry them afterwards.
Stated capacity of 10 kg, spin speed of 1,400 rpm and an A rating. The model name also mentions AutoDose and Wi-Fi; check the manual for the permitted loads on each programme.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if large loads come up often enough for you to make use of the stated capacity.
An 11 kg, A-rated front-loading washing machine. If you’re choosing it for laundry that needs a lot of sorting, check the maximum loads and cycle times for the programmes you’ll use.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for frequent large loads, rather than a series of small loads.
An 11 kg, A-rated front-loading washing machine. Check the manual for the permitted load for each fabric type and the duration of the cycle you’ll use.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if your large loads regularly fill a 10 kg washing machine.
Stated spin speed of 1,400 rpm and 16 programmes. Check the label for the duration and energy and water use of the Eco 40-60 cycle, and the manual for the load limits for each programme.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to wash and dry with one appliance and can plan around a 6 kg drying load.
Stated capacity of 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying, so a maximum washing load can’t be dried in one go at full capacity. Check the dimensions and label information before installation too.
Not just because the machine runs frequently. According to Que Choisir, this capacity is useful when large loads come up regularly. If your loads stay small because you sort your laundry, first check their actual size and the programme limits.
No. The stated capacity generally applies to cotton or Eco 40-60, while other programmes take smaller loads, Que Choisir points out. Check the load chart in the manual for the fabrics you wash regularly.
For washing machines suited to the same loads, compare the energy rating, kWh per 100 cycles, litres per cycle, Eco cycle duration and noise level. ADEME presents these figures as useful points of comparison; check the washing and washing-and-drying information separately for a washer-dryer.
Only if the appliances and the stacking kit you choose are compatible. Check the model numbers, dimensions and manuals for both machines; Electrolux’s stated depth requirements for one of its kits don’t apply to every kit.
It gives you another way to compare washing machines, particularly for repairability, reliability and maintenance, as ADEME explains. Consider it alongside programme capacities and label information, rather than as a replacement for these factors.