If you have room for two appliances and regularly dry large loads, a separate heat-pump tumble dryer is generally the best option: it does not require an external air vent and uses less electricity than older technologies. A washer-dryer is best suited to homes with just one available space, provided you compare its drying capacity as well as its water and electricity consumption and the duration of the wash-and-dry cycle.
A washer-dryer lets you wash and dry clothes without installing a second appliance. Your choice should be guided by its drying capacity, not just its washing capacity. According to UFC-Que Choisir, these two capacities are different.
If you can install a separate appliance, a heat-pump tumble dryer is worth considering for regular loads. Drying capacity, programme duration and the energy label should still be compared for each individual model.
A vented tumble dryer is not suitable without an opening or duct leading outside. UFC-Que Choisir states that a condenser appliance does not require this type of connection.
Choose this if: you have room for a second appliance and dry clothes frequently.
Bear in mind: cycles may be longer; check the capacity, eco programme duration and the maintenance requirements of the model.
Choose this if: there is only one appliance space available and transferring laundry between two appliances is not possible.
Bear in mind: the drying load is smaller than the washing load, and the complete cycle should be compared separately.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Available space | Measure the width, depth, height and required clearances. For a washer-dryer, check the water inlet and drainage connections. | I only have room for one appliance: a 2-in-1 model could avoid the need to add a second appliance. |
| Drying capacity | Compare the washing and drying capacities in kg. Size a continuous cycle according to the drying capacity. | I want to dry my usual amount of laundry without removing part of the load after washing. |
| Wash-and-dry cycle | For a washer-dryer, note the energy used per 100 cycles, water consumption per cycle and the duration of the wash-and-dry cycle. Compare appliances with similar capacities. | I want to know how long it takes and how much it consumes to wash and then dry the laundry I actually wash, rather than the figures for washing alone. |
| Installation and humidity | A vented model requires an opening or external duct. For a condenser appliance, check whether drainage is possible and ensure the room has adequate general ventilation. | My home has no external air duct; the installation must remain compatible with the available room. |
A large washing load may significantly exceed the amount the appliance can dry. A full wash load may therefore need to be reduced or split before drying.
Always compare the washing/drying capacity pair and load a continuous cycle according to the drying figure.
Consumption and duration vary depending on the cycle used. Figures for washing alone do not necessarily describe a wash-then-dry cycle.
Check the energy used per 100 cycles, water consumption per cycle and the duration of the wash-and-dry cycle on the label or in EPREL.
A continuous drying cycle can make the programme longer and add to water and electricity consumption.
A vented tumble dryer requires an opening or duct leading outside. The European Commission states that, since 1 July 2025, only tumble dryers using the most efficient heat-pump technologies may be placed on the European Union market.
For a new purchase, focus your search on heat-pump models. For an older, second-hand or ex-stock appliance, check the duct, the product’s condition and its market status separately.
Fast, energy-saving or fabric-care features may depend on the programme and load. They do not replace the energy label or capacity data.
Use the manufacturer’s product sheet to identify the exact reference, then compare capacity, duration, consumption and maintenance on a like-for-like basis.
In France, Bosch offers heat-pump tumble dryers, particularly models with 8 and 9 kg capacities, making it possible to compare several sizes of separate appliance.
Miele sells 7, 8 and 9 kg heat-pump tumble dryers, which are useful when the capacity needs to remain consistent with that of the washing machine.
LG offers both heat-pump tumble dryers and washer-dryers, helping you compare a separate appliance with a 2-in-1 model.
These Joybuy options cover two configurations suited to drying clothes without outdoor line-drying: a washer-dryer for a single appliance space and a separate heat-pump tumble dryer for households able to install two appliances.
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An all-in-one option for a home with just one appliance space.
Advertised capacity: 11 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. The wash-and-dry cycle is listed as 308 kWh/100 cycles, 90 L per cycle and 7 h 32.
A full washing load may need to be reduced before drying; also check the available space, water inlet, drainage and room ventilation.
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An option for households able to install a separate tumble dryer and dry regular loads.
Advertised drying capacity: 8 kg. The model features heat-pump technology, an accessible 2-in-1 filter and the option of a direct connection to the drain.
Allow space for a second appliance and check the energy label, eco programme duration and whether a drain connection is practical.
Not necessarily. UFC-Que Choisir states that drying capacity is lower than washing capacity, with models ranging from 5 to 12 kg for washing compared with 2.5 to 8 kg for drying. For a continuous cycle, load the appliance according to its drying capacity or plan to remove some of the laundry.
Compare the data for the cycle that matches your usage: efficiency class, energy used per 100 cycles, water consumption per cycle and duration. If you want to wash and then dry, use the figures for the wash-and-dry cycle rather than those for washing alone. The European Commission lists detailed model data in EPREL, which can be accessed via the label’s QR code.
No. A condenser appliance collects the water extracted from the laundry in a tank or sends it to a drain, without requiring an external air duct. By contrast, a vented tumble dryer expels moist air outside and requires a suitable opening or duct.
For tumble dryers placed on the European Union market since 1 July 2025, the European Commission states that only appliances incorporating the most efficient heat-pump technologies may be placed on the market. This rule concerns placing products on the market, not using an existing appliance; therefore, check the status of any older, second-hand or ex-stock model carefully.
Yes. The absence of an external duct does not remove the need to check the home’s general ventilation, particularly in a room that is already humid. Légifrance states that the opening and ventilation systems in a decent home must provide suitable air renewal and moisture removal for normal occupancy and the operation of household equipment.