If your home only has room for one appliance, a front-loading washer-dryer combines washing and drying without you having to transfer laundry to a second machine. First, check its full dimensions and the door clearance, then plan your laundry around its drying capacity, which is lower than its washing capacity. To compare energy and water use and cycle duration, look at the figures for the wash-and-dry cycle rather than the washing energy rating alone.
If your only available space is under a worktop or between two cabinets, measure its width, height and depth, and remember to allow room to open the door. UFC-Que Choisir points out that depth varies between models, so a suitable width alone doesn’t guarantee the appliance will fit.
If you want to run both cycles without moving the laundry, the drying capacity determines how much you can leave in the machine for the full cycle. UFC-Que Choisir notes that drying capacity is lower than washing capacity.
If you’ll use the built-in dryer regularly, compare the energy and water use and duration of the wash-and-dry cycle. The European Commission explains these figures on energy labels. The stated noise level is also worth checking if the appliance will be near a living area.
If two appliances really will fit in your home, you could also consider a separate washing machine and tumble dryer. If you only have room for one appliance, first check that it can be installed, then look at its drying capacity and the details of the full cycle.
Consider this option: when you can only install one appliance and want to run wash and dry cycles back to back without transferring your laundry.
Bear in mind: the load for a complete cycle must stay within the drying capacity, which is lower than the washing capacity alone.
Consider this option: if you have room to install both appliances and want to be able to dry one load while starting another wash.
Bear in mind: this option takes up two spaces and won’t suit you if you need a single appliance.
| What to check | What to look for | Who is this relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Overall dimensions | Measure the alcove and the delivery route. Compare the model’s full dimensions, then check the clearances and door opening space specified in its manual. | If the machine has to fit between two cabinets, I also want to be able to open the door once it’s installed. Around 29% of consumers would put size at the top of their list. |
| Drying capacity | Compare washing and drying capacities in kg. For an automatic wash-and-dry cycle, use the drying limit as your guide. | If I want to get all my laundry back dry without removing anything, the load for the full cycle matters more than the washing capacity alone. Around 29% of consumers would prioritise drying capacity. |
| Water, energy and durability | For the cycle you use, compare kWh/100 cycles and litres/cycle. Also check the durability index if one is shown for the model. | If I use the dryer often, I want to look at the resources used by the full cycle and the model’s durability. Around 24% of consumers would prioritise these figures. |
| Duration and noise | Check the duration of the wash-and-dry cycle at full load, the load limit for quick programmes and the stated spin noise level in dB(A). | If the machine is near a living area, I need to be able to fit its cycles into my daily routine without mistaking a quick programme for a full-load cycle. Around 18% of consumers would put these considerations first. |
A full washing load may exceed the drying capacity. You’ll then need to remove some laundry before drying or split it into several loads.
If you plan to use the automatic wash-and-dry cycle, size your loads according to the model’s stated drying capacity.
The depth, protruding parts and door clearance can make an appliance difficult to install or load, even if the width is right.
Also measure the route to the installation space, then check all dimensions and connections against the installation manual.
Figures for washing alone don’t necessarily reflect the consumption of a wash followed by a dry cycle. For example, LG France lists the LG F964V71WRHT as class A for washing and class E for washing and drying.
If you dry laundry regularly, compare the figures for the wash-and-dry cycle across models: energy, water and duration.
According to Whirlpool France, the BI WDWG 961485 FR’s 45-minute wash-and-dry programme is for 1 kg; it doesn’t represent a full cycle at its 6 kg drying capacity.
Check the stated duration alongside the quick programme’s load limit and the time taken for a full cycle at maximum capacity.
Bosch Home Appliances France lists the WDU8H500FF as a front-loading washer-dryer measuring 848 × 598 × 616 mm, with a 10 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg wash-and-dry capacity.
LG France gives the F964V71WRHT a 9/6 kg capacity and a cabinet depth of 565 mm, increasing to 620 mm when all protruding parts are included.
Whirlpool France describes the BI WDWG 961485 FR as a built-in model measuring 59,5 cm wide, 81,5 cm high and 54,5 cm deep, with a 9/6 kg capacity.
Samsung France lists the WD90DG5B15BEEF with a 9 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity, and dimensions of 600 × 850 × 600 mm.
This front-loading washer-dryer combines washing and drying in one appliance. Before checking whether it fits your available space, first compare its drying capacity with the size of your usual loads.
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Worth considering if you have room for one appliance and want to wash and dry in the same machine.
Stated capacity: 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. To dry a full load without removing any laundry, stay within the 6 kg limit.
Before buying, check the full dimensions, clearances and door opening against your available space. Also compare the water and energy use and duration of the exact model’s wash-and-dry cycle.
No. Width alone doesn’t tell you whether the machine can be installed. UFC-Que Choisir also recommends checking the depth. Measure the available height, make sure you can access the door and check the clearances required in the manual for your chosen model.
Not with a washer-dryer that has a drying capacity of 6 kg: you’ll need to reduce a 9 kg load before drying. UFC-Que Choisir points out that washing and drying capacities differ. Check both figures for the model and the load limit for the programme you’re using.
Compare the figures for the wash-and-dry cycle, not for washing alone. The European Commission says that the energy label includes figures such as energy use per 100 cycles, water use per cycle and duration. Compare equivalent cycles across the models you’re considering.
Yes. If an index is displayed for the model you’re considering, it gives you another factor to weigh alongside capacity and consumption. The French government departments responsible for ecology say that the durability index, scored out of 10, is gradually replacing the repairability index for relevant washing machines in France from 8 April 2025. Check whether it is displayed for the specific washer-dryer you’re comparing.