Choose a design based on the dimension you’re short on and the space needed to open the machine. A top-loading model addresses a lack of width, while a slimline front-loader is better suited to limited depth, as long as there’s room in front for the door to open. An under-counter front-loader may be worth considering if the space and the model’s instructions allow for this type of installation. Check the connections and electrical supply before making your choice, too.
If width is limited, consider a top-loading model. If it’s mainly the depth that makes it difficult to move around, look at slimline front-loaders. In both cases, remember to measure the space needed to open the machine.
An existing space can accommodate a front-loader only if its usable dimensions, connections and the model’s installation instructions allow for it. Don’t assume it will fit based on the stated height alone.
In a compact home, the capacity should suit your usual loads, including bed sheets and bulky items. A drum that’s too small could mean running more cycles.
First, work out what’s really limiting your installation: width, depth, door clearance or space beneath a worktop. Then compare the capacity and connections of the models that will fit in the room.
Consider it: when width is limited and the lid can open freely.
Bear in mind: the top of the machine must remain accessible; a narrow machine isn’t necessarily a shallow one.
Consider it: when you need the machine to take up less space in the room while keeping the door accessible.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need enough width and clearance in front of the door, even with a reduced depth.
Consider it: if a space beneath the worktop lets you make use of the area underneath.
Bear in mind: the available height and installation conditions must match the instructions for the specific model.
| What to consider | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Size and opening clearance | Measure the width, depth and height, then check the clearance needed for the lid or door. Que Choisir gives a width of 40 to 46 cm for top-loaders and a depth of 33 to 45 cm for slimline front-loaders. Always check the measurements for your chosen model and allow for the hoses, too. | I need to be able to walk in front of the machine and reach the drum once it’s installed. |
| Capacity | Compare the stated capacity with the loads you actually wash, particularly bed sheets and bulky fabrics. Check the load limits for the programmes you plan to use. | In a small household, I want to do my regular washing without choosing a drum that means I have to run more cycles. |
| Under-counter installation | Measure the clear height of the space, its depth including the connections, and the room needed for the door. Check the instructions to see whether under-counter installation or removing the top panel is allowed for this model. | I need to keep my worktop in place without it getting in the way of installing, opening or maintaining the washing machine. |
| Connections | Check that the water supply, drainage and socket are all available where you plan to put the machine. Promotelec recommends a dedicated electrical circuit rather than an extension lead; in a bathroom, have the location and electrical protection checked. | I want to make sure the machine can be connected where I have space for it, without having to move the installation after buying it. |
| Everyday use | Check the stated spin-cycle noise level, the length of the programmes you’ll use and access to the filter in each model’s documentation. | If the machine is near your living space, noise and ease of maintenance matter just as much as the floor space it takes up. |
A top-loader needs room above the lid; a front-loader needs enough space for its door to open. The hoses can also increase the depth needed once the machine is connected.
Measure the space in all three dimensions and compare it with the model’s installation diagram, with the door or lid open.
A drum that’s too small for your usual washing could mean running more cycles, particularly for bulky items.
Make a list of the loads you wash regularly, then check the model’s capacity and the limits stated for its programmes.
External dimensions alone don’t tell you whether a machine can be installed in a recess. Installation requirements and whether the top panel can be removed depend on the model.
Measure the clear height beneath the worktop and check the instructions before choosing a front-loader for this space.
A space that seems suitable based on its dimensions may still need the socket and circuit to be checked. Promotelec advises against plugging a washing machine into an extension lead and sets out electrical protection requirements for bathroom installations.
If you’re unsure, ask a qualified electrician to check the location and power supply before you buy or start any work.
These range examples can help you compare different formats. The dimensions mentioned apply to the models or families specified, not every appliance from each brand.
The range shown by Electrolux France includes slimline front-loaders and top-loading models.
AEG offers top-loading washing machines for spaces where width is limited.
One top-loading model in the French range shows why it’s important to look beyond width when checking how much space a machine takes up.
This top-loading washing machine is worth considering when width is your main constraint and the lid can open freely. Check its full dimensions and connections against your available space.
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Its top-loading design means you don’t need to leave space for a front door to swing open, but you do need clear space above the machine. This model has a stated capacity of 6 kg and a spin speed of 1 400 tr/min; the product title also lists 17 programmes and Wi-Fi. Before choosing, check the dimensions including the connections, and make sure the socket is compatible with your electrical installation.
No. It’s mainly suited to spaces where width or clearance in front of the machine is limited. Que Choisir gives a width of 40 to 46 cm for top-loaders, but they need space above for the lid to open. Check the depth of your chosen model, too.
Choose a capacity based on your usual loads rather than the size of your home. Bear in mind bed sheets and other bulky fabrics, then check how much room they’ll take up in the drum and the load limits for the programmes you use.
No. Measure the actual available height and depth, including the connections, then check the model’s instructions to see whether it’s designed for this type of installation and whether its top panel can be removed.
Check the location and electrical supply before choosing a machine. Promotelec specifies, among other things, that it must be outside zones 0, 1 and 2 and the concealed zone, connected to earth and supplied by a circuit protected by a 30 mA residual current device. If you’re unsure, have a qualified professional check the plan.
For the electrical supply, Promotelec recommends connecting the washing machine directly to a dedicated circuit, without an extension lead. For the water supply, follow the instructions for your chosen model: Electrolux states that its front-loading and top-loading washing machines are designed for a cold water supply.