If you have room for two appliances and regularly dry large loads, consider a separate tumble dryer. If you only have space for one appliance, compare washer-dryers and check their drying capacity, which is separate from their washing capacity. If you use a clothes airer, your washing machine’s spin efficiency is still worth considering, but your laundry will still need to dry. When you can’t dry it outdoors, ANSES recommends using a well-ventilated room.
If you don’t want to add a drying appliance, compare washing machines’ spin efficiency. You’ll still need to hang your laundry out to dry: ANSES recommends using a well-ventilated room when you can’t dry it outdoors.
A separate tumble dryer is an option if you have a suitable space. Gifam says it can be stacked on a front-loading washing machine. Check the available height, dimensions and stacking-kit compatibility for the models you’ve chosen.
A washer-dryer combines both functions in one appliance. However, compare its washing and drying capacities separately: a load that’s been washed may not all fit in the same drying cycle.
Consider this if: you’re keeping your clothes airer and don’t want to install a drying appliance.
Bear in mind: spinning doesn’t remove the need to dry your laundry. ANSES recommends using a well-ventilated room when drying clothes indoors.
Consider this if: you want a dedicated drying appliance and have room for two machines, either side by side or in a compatible stacked installation.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to install and power a second appliance, even if it’s stacked on your washing machine.
Consider this if: you only have room for one appliance and want to wash and dry in the same drum.
Bear in mind: if the washed load is larger than the model’s drying capacity, you’ll need to remove some items before drying.
| Criteria | What to check | How this fits my needs |
|---|---|---|
| Spinning and drying | Compare washing machines’ spin-efficiency ratings. For an appliance that also dries, check its drying capacity and the duration of the cycle you’re interested in. Don’t assume a wash cycle is the same as a complete wash-and-dry cycle. | I can keep using a clothes airer, or I’d prefer my laundry to go through a drying cycle in an appliance too. |
| Space and installation | Check the dimensions, clearances and connections required in the model’s instructions. If you’re stacking two appliances, check that they and the stacking kit are compatible. | I only have room for one appliance, or I can install two machines as long as they’ll genuinely fit in the room. |
| Laundry load | For a washer-dryer, check the washing and drying capacities separately, as well as the maximum load for a wash-and-dry cycle. | My laundry loads are sometimes large, so I want to know how much can be dried without taking any items out of the drum. |
| Drying laundry indoors on an airer | If you use a clothes airer, choose a well-ventilated room, as ANSES recommends when you can’t dry laundry outdoors. A drying appliance won’t resolve an existing damp problem in your home. | I’ll still dry some of my laundry on an airer, so I also need to consider the room where I’ll use it. |
| Energy and cycle duration | Compare the stated energy use and cycle duration for equivalent programmes and functions. For a washer-dryer, check the figures for washing and for the wash-and-dry cycle; a single rating doesn’t cover both uses. | I want to compare the figures for how I usually use the appliance, whether I’m washing, drying or doing both in sequence. |
A washer-dryer’s washing and drying capacities can differ. You may need more than one drying cycle for a full wash load, or have to air-dry some of your laundry.
Check the stated capacity in kilograms for washing, drying and the wash-and-dry cycle on the exact model you’re considering.
Stacking saves floor space, but you’ll also need enough height and a compatible installation.
Check the full dimensions, clearances, socket locations and the stacking-kit model that’s compatible with both appliances.
You may need a compatible stacking kit; check with the manufacturer or retailer.
ADEME notes that air-drying laundry releases moisture indoors. Changing your washing machine won’t prevent this if you continue to hang your laundry out to dry.
If you can’t dry clothes outdoors, follow ANSES’s advice and use a well-ventilated room for your clothes airer.
The figure shown for a washer-dryer’s washing cycle doesn’t, by itself, tell you how much energy a wash-and-dry cycle uses.
Check which function and cycle the energy use, capacity and duration refer to, then compare like-for-like figures.
The models below are featured in Clubic’s washer-dryer comparison. These details apply to the specific models listed, not to every appliance from each brand.
Clubic lists the Candy CS WS 41 06 TWM RE with a stated washing capacity of 10 kg and a drying capacity of 6 kg.
The Haier HWD100-B14939-FR features in Clubic’s washer-dryer comparison.
Clubic includes the LG LSWD100E in its washer-dryer comparison.
These options include washer-dryers for households with room for one appliance, and a separate tumble dryer for households that can install a dedicated appliance. If you plan to keep using a clothes airer, compare your washing machine’s spin efficiency too, and make sure you have a well-ventilated room.
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This washer-dryer combines both functions in one appliance. The product title lists an 11 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity. Check the maximum load for a complete cycle and the dimensions needed for your installation.
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This washer-dryer lets you plan for a single space for both washing and drying. The product title lists a 10 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity, as well as Zeo-Cycle, LintClear and automatic dosing. Check the maximum load for a complete cycle, the dimensions and the installation requirements.
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This washer-dryer is worth considering if you only have room for one appliance. The product title lists a 10 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity. Check the wash-and-dry cycle details before planning to dry a full load.
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This washer-dryer is an option when you can only install one appliance. The product title lists a 10 kg washing capacity, a 6 kg drying capacity and 27 washing programmes. Check which programmes suit your laundry and the maximum load for a complete cycle.
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This dedicated tumble dryer is worth considering if you can install an appliance separate from your washing machine. The product title lists an 8 kg capacity and heat pump technology. Check its dimensions, installation instructions and details for the drying programme you plan to use.
No. Spinning removes some of the water from your laundry, but it still needs to dry. If you hang it indoors, ANSES recommends using a well-ventilated room when you can’t dry it outdoors.
Not necessarily. Compare the washing and drying capacities of the exact model. The European regulation on washer-dryer energy labels explains, among other things, how to determine the rated capacity of the wash-and-dry cycle when an appliance doesn’t offer a continuous cycle. So check the stated capacity for the cycle you’re interested in.
Measure the whole installation before you buy, including the height and clearances. Gifam says a tumble dryer can be stacked on a front-loading washing machine, but check that the models and stacking kit are compatible and follow the installation instructions.
Compare capacity, energy use and cycle duration for equivalent functions and cycles. For a washing machine, Gifam highlights figures for the Eco 40-60 programme and the spin-efficiency rating. For a washer-dryer, check the information for washing and wash-and-dry cycles separately. Gifam says a new energy label has applied to tumble dryers since 1 July 2025.