If you have the height, floor space and compatible appliances, stacking a washing machine and tumble dryer keeps washing and drying separate without taking up the space needed for two side-by-side machines. It suits households that do laundry frequently. If you can only fit one appliance, a washer-dryer means you don’t need to add a separate tumble dryer, but its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. An airer is another option for modest drying needs, as long as you have a sufficiently large, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor fan, in line with ADEME’s advice on indoor humidity.
In a kitchen, bathroom or utility cupboard, a washer-dryer combines both functions in one appliance. Be sure to measure the space and take its drying capacity into account, as this is lower than its washing capacity, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
If you do several loads in a row, separate appliances let you wash one load while another dries. Stacking is only an option if the appliances, stacking kit and space are all suitable; UFC-Que Choisir emphasises the importance of installing them safely.
For occasional or moderate drying, an airer can save you from buying a tumble dryer. However, ADEME points out that drying laundry indoors adds moisture to the air. The room needs to be sufficiently large and well ventilated, or fitted with an extractor fan.
Start by working out whether your space can accommodate one appliance, a stacked pair or an airer in a suitable room. Then consider how often you do laundry and what the installation involves.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who is this best for? |
|---|---|---|
| Space for one appliance only | Measure the width, height and depth, making sure there’s room to open the door and access the connections. Compare the washing and drying capacities too. | If I can only fit one appliance and don’t have a convenient place for an airer, I’d choose a washer-dryer that genuinely fits the space. Around 40% of consumers prioritise having a single appliance. |
| How often you do laundry | Compare the washer-dryer’s drying capacity with your usual loads; if you’re buying two appliances, check the capacity of each one. | When I have several loads to do, I want to be able to wash one while another dries, rather than waiting for a combined cycle to finish. Drying capacity comes first for around 30% of consumers. |
| Installing a stacked pair | Check the compatibility of both appliance models and the stacking kit in their instruction manuals, along with the available height and floor stability. The tumble dryer goes on top. | Before choosing two stacked appliances, I need to know whether they’ll be stable and whether I can reach the controls and connections. The feasibility of stacking is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Air-drying and humidity | Choose a sufficiently large, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor fan. Adjust the spin cycle to suit the fabric and reduce the amount of water left in the laundry. | If I only have a moderate amount of laundry to dry, I’d rather not add a tumble dryer, provided I can manage the humidity in the room. Around 10% of consumers prioritise using an airer. |
UFC-Que Choisir points out that a washer-dryer may be able to dry less laundry than it can wash. You may therefore need to split a full wash load before drying it.
Compare the stated washing and drying capacities separately with the size of your usual loads.
Compatibility depends on the kit, appliance dimensions and model numbers. An unsuitable combination could make the stack unstable.
Check the instruction manuals for both appliances and make sure the kit is designed for their exact model numbers before installation.
A vented model needs to expel air outside, unlike a condenser model. This will affect your choice of separate tumble dryer.
Check the type of appliance and what your home can accommodate before putting together a stacked pair.
According to ADEME, laundry drying indoors adds a lot of moisture to the surrounding air. Choosing not to buy a tumble dryer doesn’t mean you can overlook the need for a suitable space.
Use an airer in a sufficiently large, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor fan. Use a higher spin setting where the fabric allows.
Worth considering if you’re putting together a Bosch stack and want to find a kit based on the exact appliance model numbers.
Worth considering for an Electrolux stack when the appliance dimensions and model numbers match the kit you’re looking at.
If you’re thinking of stacking two AEG appliances, start with their exact model numbers rather than the brand name alone.
These four models combine washing and drying in one appliance, making them best suited to spaces that can’t accommodate two machines. If you’re considering a stacked pair or an airer instead, check the requirements outlined above before choosing your appliances.
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Worth considering if you need to combine washing and drying in one appliance. The stated capacity is 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying, so you may need to reduce a full wash load before drying it.
If space is tight, check the dimensions and clearances required, then compare the energy label information for the full wash-and-dry cycle.
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This washer-dryer is designed for households that need to fit just one appliance. Its product title states a 10 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity, as well as automatic dosing and the LintClear care system.
Compare the 6 kg drying capacity with your usual loads. If space is limited, check the dimensions and consult the energy label information for the full cycle.
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Another single-appliance option if floor space is your main concern. The product title states a 10 kg washing capacity, a 6 kg drying capacity, 27 wash programmes, app control and automatic dosing.
You may not be able to dry a full wash load in one go. Check the dimensions to make sure it fits your space, and consult the energy label information for the wash-and-dry cycle.
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This freestanding washer-dryer combines both functions in one appliance. Its product title states an 11 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity, so a full wash load may not be suitable for drying in one go.
Before choosing this WD11DG6B85BEU3 model, confirm its dimensions and check the energy label information for the full cycle using the exact model number.
No. In a stacked pair, the tumble dryer goes on top of the washing machine. UFC-Que Choisir highlights this safety rule and also recommends checking that the floor is stable and that the appliances and stacking kit are compatible.
No. Compatibility depends on the kit and the model numbers of both appliances. Bosch Électroménager France, for example, specifies a washing machine depth of more than 55 cm for its 00717524 kit, while Electrolux France lists specific dimensions for the E4YHMKP2 kit. Check the instruction manuals before buying.
Because a washer-dryer may not be able to dry a load in one go even if it can wash it. UFC-Que Choisir notes that drying capacity is lower than washing capacity, so compare both figures with the size of your usual loads.
Compare the information for washing and for the complete wash-and-dry cycle separately. The European Commission’s public EPREL database lists the declared capacities, energy and water consumption, and programme duration for relevant washer-dryers. Be sure to check the details for the exact model you’re considering.
Not if the moisture from the laundry can’t be properly removed. ADEME warns that drying clothes indoors adds moisture to the air and recommends using a sufficiently large, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor fan.