If you can fit a second appliance and often dry full loads, compare standalone tumble dryers based on your available space and laundry needs. If you only have room for one appliance, a washer-dryer avoids the need for a second machine, but its drying capacity may be lower than its washing capacity, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. If you dry your washing without an appliance, ADEME recommends checking your washing machine’s spin efficiency, although this won’t replace somewhere to hang your clothes.
A washer-dryer lets you wash and dry your clothes in a single appliance. However, you’ll need to make sure your loads are within its drying capacity, which may be lower than its washing capacity, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
If you have room for two appliances, compare the capacity of a standalone tumble dryer with your usual loads, especially for bedding and towels. Also check programme times and installation requirements.
If you have somewhere to hang your washing but don’t want to add a tumble dryer, spin efficiency is worth considering. ADEME recommends choosing spin efficiency class A if you need your washing to dry quickly indoors.
Worth considering: if you have room for a second appliance and regularly dry large loads.
The trade-off: you’ll need to set aside space and check the model’s installation requirements.
Worth considering: if you only have room for one appliance and your loads fit within the wash-and-dry cycle capacity.
The trade-off: depending on the model’s capacity, you may need to split a full wash load before drying it.
Worth considering: if you already have somewhere to hang your washing and don’t want to install a drying appliance.
The trade-off: your washing will still need to dry after spinning. How long this takes depends on your drying method and the conditions in your home.
| What to consider | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Space | Measure the space available, including the depth and clearance needed to access the appliance. UFC-Que Choisir says a vented tumble dryer needs an outlet to the outside or a ventilation duct. Also check the instructions for the model you’re considering. | I only have room for one appliance, or I need to check whether a standalone tumble dryer can actually be installed. |
| Drying capacity | Compare washing and drying capacities separately. UFC-Que Choisir points out that a washer-dryer may dry less laundry than it can wash. For example, the Bosch WNG24402FR product information lists 9 kg for washing and 6 kg for a wash-and-dry cycle. | Do I need to be able to dry a full load without taking some of it out? |
| Water and electricity | For a washer-dryer, compare figures for the same type of cycle. The European Commission says the label includes information such as energy use per 100 cycles and water use per cycle. | I want to distinguish between a wash-only programme and a wash-and-dry cycle, rather than relying on an energy class alone. |
| Duration and noise | Check the programme duration for the load you plan to wash and the noise level listed for the model. The European Commission includes programme duration and noise emissions among the information shown on washer-dryer labels. | Long or noisy cycles would be difficult to fit into my daily routine. |
| Spinning | If you dry your washing without an appliance, check the spin efficiency class, not just the spin speed in revolutions per minute. ADEME recommends choosing class A to help clothes dry quickly indoors. | I already have somewhere to hang my washing and want to choose a washing machine with the residual moisture after spinning in mind. |
| Maintenance | Check the instructions to find out which filters, seals and compartments need cleaning, and how much room you’ll need to access them. | I need to be able to carry out routine maintenance, even if the appliance is installed in a tight space. |
A washer-dryer listed as 9 kg for washing may only take 6 kg for a wash-and-dry cycle, as is the case with the Bosch WNG24402FR according to its manufacturer’s product information. You may need to dry a full wash load in two batches.
Check the capacity listed for each use and choose a model based on how much laundry you want to dry in one go.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, a vented tumble dryer needs an outlet to the outside or a ventilation duct. This may rule out this type of model in some spaces.
Check what’s possible in your home, then read the installation instructions for your chosen model, including if you’re considering a condenser dryer.
For a washer-dryer, the label described by the European Commission also provides information on water use, programme duration and noise. The figures for washing alone don’t tell you everything about a wash-and-dry cycle.
Compare figures for the same cycle side by side, and check which load they apply to.
In a tight space, routine maintenance can be less convenient if you haven’t allowed room to access the filters or compartments.
Check the instructions to see where these parts are and make sure you’ll be able to reach them once the appliance is installed.
These examples show configurations to compare model by model; they don’t indicate whether the appliances featured below are available.
The WNG24402FR is an example of Bosch’s washer-dryer range.
LG France lists the LG F964R33WRS washer-dryer with a 9 kg / 6 kg configuration.
Samsung France features the WD90DG6B85BKU3 washer-dryer, with a 9 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity.
The EDHF5841EC featured by Electrolux France is a standalone 8 kg heat-pump tumble dryer.
These options include standalone tumble dryers for homes with room for a second appliance, as well as a washing machine to pair with a separate drying solution.
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Worth considering if you have room for a standalone tumble dryer for your usual loads. The product title lists an 8 kg capacity and a C energy class. Check the dimensions, installation requirements and programme information before choosing.
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This option requires space for a standalone appliance. The title lists an 8 kg capacity, a D energy class and an LED display. Check the dimensions and the duration of the programmes you plan to use.
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This washing machine is worth comparing if you plan to dry your washing without an appliance: it doesn’t have a drying function. The title lists an 8 kg capacity and a spin speed of 1 400 tr/min. Also check its spin efficiency class and how much space you have to hang your washing.
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Worth comparing if you have room for a second appliance and want to dry loads of up to the listed 8 kg capacity. Check the dimensions, installation instructions and programme duration for the types of washing you do.
The figures refer to different load capacities for washing and drying. The Bosch, LG and Samsung product information cited here lists models with a 9 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity. Check the capacity for the cycle you plan to use before putting on a full load.
For the type of installation described by UFC-Que Choisir, it needs an outlet to the outside or access to a ventilation duct. If your space doesn’t have either, consider condenser models instead and read the installation instructions for each one.
Compare figures for the same use: washing only or a wash-and-dry cycle. The European Commission says the label includes information such as energy use per 100 cycles, water use per cycle, programme duration and noise. A figure for washing alone doesn’t describe the full cycle.
Check the information shown on the product page or in store. ADEME says that washing machines sold in France have had to display a durability index since April 2025. For a washer-dryer, check the information for the exact model you’re considering.