If you only have room for one appliance and need to tumble-dry your laundry regularly, compare washer-dryers by their drying capacity and actual depth. A compact washing machine is a good option if you can dry your laundry on an airer in a suitable room. A separate tumble dryer takes up more space, but lets you handle drying independently.
You need to wash and dry your laundry without having to keep an airer or a second large appliance set up permanently. The available depth and the amount of laundry that can be dried in one go are key considerations.
You want to avoid splitting each load across several drying cycles. Two appliances may be an option if there’s enough space, access is suitable and they can safely be stacked, if required.
You’re looking for a narrow washing machine and still have a way to dry your laundry indoors. ADEME recommends using a large, well-ventilated room or one fitted with a mechanical ventilation extract vent.
Choose this if: width is your main constraint and you can dry your laundry indoors in suitable conditions.
Bear in mind: the machine won’t dry your laundry. Also check there’s enough room to open the door, connect the appliance and ventilate the room where you’ll dry clothes.
Choose this if: one space needs to accommodate both washing and drying, and your loads fit within the model’s stated drying capacity.
Bear in mind: drying capacity may be lower than washing capacity. Compare both figures and check the appliance’s depth.
Choose this if: you already have a washing machine and can fit a second appliance, or have confirmed that the two appliances can be stacked together.
Bear in mind: the appliance needs extra space, and you’ll need to manage the collected water and clean the filter. The European Commission says that a condenser tumble dryer does not need to vent moist air outside.
| Feature | What to check | Who should consider it? |
|---|---|---|
| Size and access | Compare the width, height and depth of the exact model. Also check how the door or lid opens and how much clearance is needed. | If I need to fit the appliance into a narrow alcove, its dimensions and access take priority over secondary features. Around 36% of consumers prioritise the appliance’s footprint. |
| Drying capacity | Compare the washing and drying capacities for the same model with the load you want to dry in one go. | If I want to move straight from washing to drying without taking any clothes out, the drying capacity needs to suit the load I actually wash. Around 29% of consumers prioritise being able to dry a full load without splitting it. |
| Cycle consumption | Compare consumption on a like-for-like basis and for the cycle you’ll use: washing only, a complete cycle or drying. | If I use the machine’s drying function regularly, I want to compare the resources used by the cycles I plan to run, rather than looking at washing alone. Around 21% of consumers prioritise consumption during regular use. |
| Moisture and maintenance | If you use an airer, assess the room’s ventilation. For a tumble dryer, check how water is collected and whether the parts that need cleaning are easy to access. | If I dry laundry inside my home, I need to consider ventilation. With a tumble dryer, I also want to know how to manage the collected water and carry out maintenance. Around 14% of consumers prioritise moisture and maintenance. |
Washing capacity doesn’t tell you how much laundry the appliance can dry in one go. For example, the Haier HWD80-BP14357NTU1 has a washing capacity of 8 kg and a drying capacity of 5 kg.
If you want to run a wash and dry cycle back to back without intervention, size your load according to the drying capacity and the programme you choose.
The appliance’s dimensions alone won’t tell you whether there’s enough room to open it and connect it, or whether it’s compatible with a stacking kit. Bosch says its 00717524 kit is for washing machines deeper than 55 cm and excludes some models.
Measure the alcove and access points, then check the manuals and compatibility of both appliances and the stacking kit you’re considering.
Drying laundry indoors adds moisture to the air. ADEME recommends using a large, well-ventilated room or one fitted with a mechanical ventilation extract vent.
Before choosing a washing machine without a drying function, assess the ventilation available. If there’s no outlet to the outside, also check that any tumble dryer you’re considering is a condenser model rather than a vented one.
For tumble dryers, the energy label scale changed from A+++–D to A–G on 1 July 2025. The European Commission sets out the labelling information that applies to tumble dryers.
Compare labels based on the same scale and check the stated consumption for comparable cycles.
Worth considering for a washer-dryer with a shorter stated depth or a separate heat pump tumble dryer.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a top-loading washing machine and have limited width available.
Worth considering for a washer-dryer or a stacking kit designed for compatible models.
Worth considering for a separate heat pump condenser tumble dryer.
Worth considering for a washer-dryer if drying capacity is an important factor in your choice.
This selection includes compact washing machines, a washer-dryer and separate drying options, including a condenser tumble dryer and a heat pump model.
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Worth considering if you want one appliance for washing and drying, and its drying capacity suits your needs.
Stated capacity: 8 kg for washing and 5 kg for drying. Width stated in the title: 465 mm.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a top-loading washing machine. You’ll need a separate way to dry your laundry.
Stated washing capacity: 6 kg. Spin speed given in the title: 1400 RPM.
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Worth considering if you already have a washing machine and enough space for a separate tumble dryer.
Stated drying capacity: 8 kg. The title mentions propane refrigerant and OptiSense.
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Worth considering for machine drying if you have a separate space for it away from your washing machine.
Stated capacity: 8 kg. The title mentions a heat pump and class C.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a front-loading washing machine for a small space. You’ll need a separate way to dry your laundry.
Stated washing capacity: 9 kg. Width given in the title: 465 mm.
No. Unlike a vented tumble dryer, it doesn’t need to expel moist air outside. It collects the water in a tank or drains it away; check the model’s manual for placement and usage requirements.
No, not at its rated drying capacity. On the Haier HWD80-BP14357NTU1, 8 kg is the washing capacity and 5 kg is the drying capacity. To run both stages without taking out any laundry, make sure the load is within the limit for the drying programme you choose.
No, compatibility depends on the appliances and the stacking kit. Bosch says its 00717524 kit is for washing machines deeper than 55 cm and excludes some models. Check the manuals and confirm that the specific appliances and kit are compatible.
Since 1 July 2025, tumble dryer labels have used classes A to G. An old A+++ to D rating can’t be directly compared with a class on the new scale. Also compare the stated consumption for similar cycles; this won’t guarantee identical consumption in every home.
ADEME recommends using a large, well-ventilated room or one fitted with a mechanical ventilation extract vent. Check the ventilation available before choosing a washing machine without a drying function and drying your laundry indoors.