If there’s room for just one appliance on the floor, a washer-dryer lets you wash and dry at home, provided the load fits its drying capacity, which is often lower than its washing capacity. If you have enough height and the appliances are compatible, a stacked set lets you keep a separate tumble dryer. UFC-Que Choisir notes that a washer-dryer’s drying performance doesn’t match that of a dedicated tumble dryer. Air-drying indoors avoids the need for a second appliance, but you’ll need a room where moisture from the laundry can be removed.
If an alcove, bathroom or kitchen can only accommodate one appliance, a washer-dryer offers the convenience of washing and drying at home. Pay particular attention to the load it can dry and the duration of a complete cycle, rather than focusing only on its washing capacity.
A stacked set may be a good option when there isn’t room for two appliances side by side. You’ll need enough height, two models that are explicitly suitable for stacking, and the right stacking kit, in line with Bosch’s guidance.
An airer avoids the need to install a drying appliance, but you’ll need to think about where the moisture from your laundry will go. ADEME notes that air-drying laundry releases a lot of moisture into the air indoors. Consider the size of the room and whether it can be ventilated or has suitable extraction.
First, decide which set-up will actually fit in your home. Then compare the load you need to dry and the practical considerations of each option.
Worth considering: when there’s room for just one appliance and your usual loads are within its drying capacity.
Trade-off: UFC-Que Choisir highlights the space-saving benefit, but notes that a washer-dryer’s drying performance doesn’t match that of a separate tumble dryer.
Worth considering: when there’s enough height to keep a dedicated tumble dryer without taking up space for two appliances side by side.
Consideration: the two models and their stacking kit must be compatible. Bosch advises checking that they can be stacked before installation.
Worth considering: if you can use an airer in a sufficiently spacious, well-ventilated room, or one with suitable extraction.
Consideration: your laundry will take up space while it dries and add moisture to the air indoors, as ADEME points out.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Drying capacity | For a washer-dryer, check the washing and drying capacities separately, then check the permitted load for a combined wash-and-dry programme. For example, Bosch lists 9 kg for washing and 6 kg for the wash-and-dry cycle on the WNG24402FR. | I want to start drying as soon as the wash is finished, without having to remove part of an oversized load. |
| Complete cycle | Check the duration and water and electricity figures for the wash-and-dry cycle, for the programmes and loads you’re considering. Compare figures on the same basis, and don’t confuse them with figures for washing alone. | If I often use the machine to dry laundry, I need to know how long the appliance will be occupied and which figures apply to that use. |
| Stacking | Check the available height, dimensions, whether the two models can be stacked, and which kit is designed for them. Bosch specifies that its 00717524 kit is intended, among other things, for a washing machine with a depth of more than 55 cm. | I have enough height but not enough room for two appliances side by side. I want to make sure the proposed stack can be installed in line with the manufacturer’s instructions. |
| Indoor humidity | If you’re air-drying laundry, consider the size of the room and whether it can be ventilated or has suitable extraction. ADEME identifies air-drying laundry as a major source of indoor humidity. | An airer would suit me if I can make room for it and manage the humidity while the laundry dries. |
A washer-dryer listed as 9/6 kg or 10/6 kg can wash more laundry than it can dry in the relevant cycle, according to Bosch and Electrolux’s specifications for the models mentioned.
Compare your usual washing load with the capacity of the wash-and-dry programme on the exact model. If your load is larger, plan to reduce it or remove some laundry before drying.
Figures for washing alone don’t tell you how long a cycle that also dries your laundry will take, or how much it will consume. Beko’s published information for the B3D596441M, for example, distinguishes between the two uses.
If you expect to use the integrated drying function regularly, compare figures for the combined cycle across models, using comparable programmes and units.
Not all two front-loading appliances can be stacked. Bosch advises checking that the models are compatible and using a suitable kit.
Note down the exact model numbers and dimensions, then check the manuals and the kit’s requirements before planning a stacked set-up.
You may also need a compatible stacking kit and time to install it.
According to ADEME, laundry drying naturally adds a lot of moisture to the air inside your home. This can make air-drying more challenging in a small, enclosed room.
Choose a room where the laundry can dry without getting in the way of everyday activities, and where moisture can be removed through ventilation or suitable extraction.
These models illustrate different capacities and installation requirements to compare; they don’t represent every range offered by each brand.
The brand offers washer-dryers as well as accessories for certain stacked installations.
The EW9W1166RB is a heat-pump washer-dryer presented by Electrolux.
LG describes the F964R71WRST as a 9/6 kg washer-dryer.
Beko’s published information for the B3D596441M washer-dryer lets you look at washing alone and the combined cycle separately.
These three models combine washing and drying in one appliance. Compare their drying capacities with your usual loads and check their dimensions against the space you have available.
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For washing and drying with one appliance, this model’s name indicates 11 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. If your washing load is more than 6 kg, check the manual to find out how to divide the laundry before starting the drying cycle.
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This washer-dryer is listed with a washing capacity of 10 kg and a drying capacity of 6 kg. If you want to run both stages without removing any laundry, use the wash-and-dry cycle capacity stated in the manual as your limit.
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If space is tight, check this model’s installation dimensions before buying. Its name indicates an 8 kg washing capacity, a 5 kg drying capacity and a stated width of 465 mm. An 8 kg washing load therefore exceeds its stated drying capacity.
No, not if the wash-and-dry cycle is limited to 6 kg. Specifications for Bosch and LG models listed as 9/6 kg show separate washing and drying capacities. Reduce the initial load or remove some laundry before drying, as directed in the manual.
Compare information for the wash-and-dry cycle, including its duration and consumption, using the same basis for each model you’re considering. Figures for washing alone relate to a different use. Beko, for example, provides separate information for these cycles on the B3D596441M.
No. Check that the exact models can be stacked and that the kit is suitable for their dimensions, then follow the installation instructions. Bosch specifically advises checking that the appliances are compatible and using a suitable kit.
It can be, if you have space for an airer and can remove the moisture while the laundry dries. ADEME highlights the significant amount of moisture released when laundry is air-dried indoors. Check the room’s ventilation or extraction before choosing this option.