A washer-dryer can be a good solution when you only have space for one appliance and your loads fit within its drying capacity, which is often lower than its washing capacity. If you regularly wash large loads, two stacked appliances may be a better fit, provided they can be installed safely; otherwise, you’ll need to split the drying load or make temporary space for a clothes airer. Compare the length and resource use of the complete cycle too, not just the washing figures.
If you don’t have room for a second appliance or a permanent clothes airer, a washer-dryer combines washing and drying in one place. Be sure to check its depth and how much laundry it can dry, though. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the space-saving benefit, as well as the difference between washing and drying capacities.
Running a wash and dry cycle back to back means you don’t have to transfer the laundry, as long as you stay within the capacity for the complete cycle. If you regularly fill the drum to its washing capacity, you’ll need to take some items out before drying or reduce the load from the start.
For bedding, towels or several consecutive loads, consider how much laundry needs drying and how long the appliance will be in use. Bosch, Electrolux and Samsung product specifications include 9/6 kg and 10/6 kg models, for example: the washing capacity is not the same as the capacity for a complete wash-and-dry cycle.
Worth considering: when you only have space for one appliance and your usual load can be dried without removing any laundry part-way through.
The trade-off: drying capacity is lower than washing capacity, and the appliance is in use for the entire cycle.
Worth considering: if you can temporarily clear a suitable space to hang your laundry.
The trade-off: you’ll need to move the laundry, and the airer will take up space while it dries; this option won’t work if you have no room at all to hang your clothes.
Worth considering: if you often need to dry more laundry than a washer-dryer can handle and you have enough height for the installation.
The trade-off: you’ll need two appliances, accessible connections and a compatible stacking kit; UFC-Que Choisir recommends placing the tumble dryer above the washing machine.
If you’re choosing a washer-dryer for a home without a permanent drying area, compare your usual loads against these four criteria.
| Criterion | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Space required | Measure the height and depth of the space, as well as the route to it and the clearance needed for the door. | I only have room for one appliance to wash and dry, without leaving a clothes airer up all the time; around 36% of shoppers prioritise saving space. |
| Drying capacity | Compare the washing and drying capacities in kg with the load you want to dry without having to intervene. | If I often want to dry a full wash in one go, removing laundry between stages makes it harder to manage my routine; around 29% of shoppers prioritise a continuous cycle. |
| Cycle time | Check the duration of the complete cycle for the stated programme and load. Don’t confuse it with the time for a short programme intended for small loads. | When I have several loads to do, I need the appliance to be available again soon enough; around 21% of shoppers prioritise cycle times. |
| Water and energy | Check the water used per cycle and the energy used per 100 cycles for wash-and-dry programmes. These figures differ from those for washing alone. | If I regularly dry clothes in the machine, I want to understand the resources needed to get them dry; around 14% of shoppers prioritise this. |
On a 9/6 kg model, the stated maximum drying load is 6 kg. So you can’t assume that a full washing load can be dried in one go.
Choose based on the largest load you want to dry without removing any laundry, then check the capacity for the programme you plan to use.
The energy label distinguishes between washing alone and the complete cycle. A class rating or consumption figure for washing doesn’t, by itself, show how many resources are used when drying is switched on.
Compare the energy, water and time figures specifically for wash-and-dry cycles, taking into account how often you’ll use this function.
Bosch lists a 60-minute wash-and-dry programme for small loads on the WNG24402FR. This isn’t the duration of a complete cycle at the rated capacity; Electrolux, for example, lists 9 h 40 for the full-load Eco 40-60 cycle on the EW9W1165RC.
To plan your usual laundry routine, compare the stated times for the load and programme you actually intend to use.
UFC-Que Choisir advises placing the tumble dryer above the washing machine, using a kit designed for the appliances in question. Two machines that fit within the available height aren’t necessarily compatible with each other.
Check the kit’s model compatibility, the appliances’ dimensions, the stability of the floor and access to the connections before choosing this option.
These range examples can help you identify which features to compare on a specific model. They don’t necessarily apply to every appliance from a particular brand.
The range includes the front-loading WNG24402FR, which Bosch lists at 9 kg for washing alone and 6 kg for a wash-and-dry cycle.
The range includes 9/6 kg and 10/6 kg washer-dryers, including the heat pump model EW9W1165RC.
The range includes the F964X76WSTA, a washer-dryer listed with a 9/6 kg capacity.
The range includes the WD90DG5B15BEEF, which Samsung lists with a 9 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity.
No, if the 9 kg refers to the laundry you need to dry: the stated drying capacity is 6 kg. To run the cycle through without intervention, keep the initial load within the capacity for the complete cycle. Otherwise, remove some laundry before drying or split it into two loads.
Look for a programme or drying level described as ‘ready to put away’ for the fabric in question, and stay within its load limit. UFC-Que Choisir assesses final moisture levels according to the programme and fabric type in its testing protocol. You can’t use the results for a short programme intended for a few items to predict how a full load will turn out.
Because the two cycles may have different capacities and use different amounts of water and energy, and take different lengths of time. The energy label and product information available in EPREL show them separately. If you plan to dry clothes in the machine regularly, check the ‘complete cycle’ section.
Yes, if the room has enough height and both models can be installed using a compatible stacking kit. Place the tumble dryer above the washing machine, and check the dimensions, floor stability and access to the connections too. Don’t assume a kit designed for a different pair of appliances will be compatible.