If you only have room for one appliance, a washer-dryer lets you wash and dry your laundry in one go, provided you keep the load within its drying capacity, which is usually lower than its washing capacity. If you can fit two appliances, either side by side or stacked using a compatible stacking kit, a separate tumble dryer avoids this limitation. Compare its capacity and energy consumption, and check the installation requirements. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the difference between the washing and drying capacities of washer-dryers, while compatibility for a stacked set-up must be checked against the specific models and kit you choose.
If there’s no room for a second appliance or a stacked set-up, a washer-dryer takes up floor space for just one appliance. Bear in mind, though, that the amount of laundry it can dry in one cycle differs from its washing capacity, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
If you don’t have room to hang laundry but can fit two appliances, compare your usual washing load with the capacity of a separate tumble dryer. If you’ll use it regularly, check the energy consumption figures for the programme you’re likely to use.
If you have the height but not the width for two appliances side by side, stacking them could be worth considering. The dimensions, model numbers and stacking kit instructions all need to match. Electrolux, for example, has specific requirements for its STA8GW4 kit.
First, work out whether you can install a second appliance, either side by side or stacked. Then compare the load you need to dry, energy consumption figures and installation requirements for the models you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Just one appliance on the floor | Measure the space and compare the washer-dryer’s washing and drying capacities. | If there’s no room for a second appliance, I want to be able to wash and then dry my laundry without transferring it, even if that means limiting the load from the start. Around 33% of consumers prioritise having a single appliance. |
| Electricity consumption | For tumble dryers with a similar capacity, check the energy label and the figures for the programme you need. | If I often need to tumble-dry my laundry because I don’t have space to hang it out, the electricity used each time matters to me. Around 27% of consumers prioritise reducing energy consumption. |
| Load dried in one go | Compare the drying capacity with the load you usually dry, without confusing it with the washing capacity. | To avoid splitting a wash across several cycles, I’d prioritise how much laundry I can dry at once over having a combined appliance. Around 20% of consumers put this need first. |
| Two appliances stacked | Check which models are compatible, the permitted depths and the fixings required by the stacking kit. | If there’s not enough width but there is enough height, I want to keep two appliances without assuming they can be stacked. Around 20% of consumers prioritise making sure this type of installation is possible. |
A condenser tumble dryer, with or without a heat pump, doesn’t need an air exhaust duct to the outside, unlike a vented model, according to UFC-Que Choisir. Don’t choose between a heat-pump dryer and a conventional condenser dryer based on the technology alone: compare the energy consumption and programmes of models that fit your available space and load.
UFC-Que Choisir points out that its drying capacity is lower. This means a full wash load may need to be split before drying.
Check both capacities for the model you’re considering, and base a wash-and-dry cycle on the lower figure. For example, LG France lists the LG F964X76WSTA as having a 9 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity.
Width alone doesn’t tell you whether appliances are compatible. The Electrolux STA8GW4 kit is designed for front-loading appliances with a depth of 47 to 60 cm and requires wall fixing. These requirements don’t apply to other kits.
Check the instructions for the kit and both appliances against their exact model numbers, then measure the depth and clearance needed.
LG France lists the F964X76WSTA washer-dryer as having a 9 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity.
Bosch Électroménager France lists the WQA23300FR as a heat-pump tumble dryer with a maximum capacity of 8 kg.
Samsung France lists the DV90DG52A0AEEF as a 9 kg heat-pump tumble dryer, measuring 600 × 850 × 600 mm.
Electrolux offers the STA8GW4 stacking kit for front-loading washing machines and tumble dryers.
These washer-dryers are for homes where there’s room for just one appliance on the floor. The heat-pump tumble dryers are for homes that can accommodate a separate appliance. If you’re planning a stacked set-up, check that the specific models and kit you choose are compatible.
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Wash and dry your laundry with just one appliance on the floor, keeping the drying load to 6 kg. The stated washing capacity is 11 kg; check the dimensions and installation clearances for this model.
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Run a wash and drying cycle without needing a second appliance, as long as the drying load doesn’t exceed 6 kg. This model has a stated washing capacity of 10 kg; check its installation requirements and the connections it needs.
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Get washing and drying in a single appliance, with a stated drying capacity of 5 kg compared with an 8 kg washing capacity. The dimensions given for this model don’t match, so ask the retailer to confirm the width, depth and clearances before planning an alcove.
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A separate appliance for drying your laundry if you have room for one. Its stated capacity is 8 kg; compare its energy consumption figures and check the installation dimensions. If you plan to stack it, you’ll need documented compatibility with your washing machine and stacking kit.
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A separate appliance for drying your laundry if you have a suitable space. The title states a 10 kg capacity, but other information for this model gives 8 kg. Confirm its exact capacity before comparing it with your usual load. Also check the installation dimensions and energy consumption figures.
Yes, as long as the load is within the drying capacity of the programme you’ve chosen from the start. A washer-dryer’s drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity, so if a model is listed as 9/6 kg, you shouldn’t expect to dry 9 kg in a single wash-and-dry cycle.
No. A condenser model, including a heat-pump dryer, doesn’t need an air exhaust duct to the outside. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes these appliances from vented tumble dryers, which need an opening to the outside or access to an air duct. Still, follow the installation instructions for the model you choose.
The brand alone doesn’t determine whether they’re compatible: you need confirmation that the two specific models work with the stacking kit. Check the permitted depths and fixings too. The Electrolux STA8GW4 kit, for example, specifies front-loading appliances with a depth of 47 to 60 cm and requires wall fixing.
Follow your model’s instructions for cleaning the filters, emptying the water tank if you use it, and maintaining the condenser if your appliance has one. UFC-Que Choisir includes filter maintenance among its criteria for ease of use.