If you only have room for one appliance, a washer-dryer lets you wash and then dry your laundry, provided you keep each load within its drying capacity, which is lower than its washing capacity. Two separate appliances are only a practical option if their dimensions, door clearance and installation requirements suit your home. Air-drying is still an option if you have somewhere to hang your laundry and are happy to wait for it to dry.
You want to wash and then dry your laundry without setting aside floor space for a second appliance. A washer-dryer meets this need if your loads fit within its drying capacity, which UFC-Que Choisir says is lower than its washing capacity.
You need to dry laundry frequently or handle larger loads. Separate appliances are worth considering if you have room for both and can install the tumble dryer you choose.
Before ordering, compare the available space with the appliance’s overall dimensions, including any protruding parts and the open door. The LG F164R78BSTA product specifications show why the appliance’s body depth alone is not enough.
First, check what will physically fit and whether the door can open in your home. Then compare how much laundry you need to dry and which cycles you’ll use. If separate drying is still practical, this could mean a tumble dryer or somewhere to hang your laundry; with the latter, you’ll need to allow time for it to dry.
| Factor | What to check before buying | Best suited to which shoppers? |
|---|---|---|
| Available space | Measure the space and the access route with the door open. For a washer-dryer, also check its drying capacity in kg. | If I only have room for one appliance, I want to wash and dry without adding a second appliance on the floor. Around 46% of shoppers put this need first. |
| Drying consumption | For the cycles you plan to use, compare the energy, water and duration information on the labels of the models you’re considering. | If I dry my laundry regularly, I want to assess how much water and electricity my routine will use. Around 36% of shoppers put this need first. |
| Load size and drying time | Compare the drying capacity with your usual load and check the programme duration. For a vented tumble dryer, also check whether you can connect it to an external vent. | If I need to dry a lot of laundry without splitting one wash across several drying cycles, capacity and drying time matter more to me. Around 18% of shoppers prioritise this requirement. |
An open door or protruding parts can block access, even if the appliance body fits in the space. For the LG F164R78BSTA, LG lists a body depth of 565 mm, 620 mm including protruding parts, and 1 100 mm with the door open at 90°. These measurements apply to this model only.
Check the overall dimensions and the space needed with the door open for the model you’re considering, then compare them with your actual access route.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, a washer-dryer can dry less laundry than it can wash. A full-capacity wash load may therefore need to be split across several drying cycles.
Compare both capacities in kg and choose based on how much you want to dry in one go.
The European Commission provides separate information for washing-only and combined cycles on a washer-dryer. The relevant information depends on how you plan to use the appliance.
For the models you’re comparing, check the energy, water and duration information for the wash-and-dry cycle if you plan to use it.
UFC-Que Choisir says a vented tumble dryer needs an opening to the outside or access to a ventilation duct.
Check whether this is possible before choosing this type of appliance. Otherwise, look at the installation requirements for a condenser model, with or without a heat pump.
Features vary from model to model, so compare the capacity and dimensions of the specific appliance you’re considering rather than choosing based on the brand name alone.
Bosch’s French range of washer-dryers includes appliances that combine washing and drying in a single space.
Some LG models are worth considering if depth is a key constraint.
The Haier X5 HWD120-BP14357U1 is an example of a washer-dryer to consider if you have more depth available.
These models combine washing and drying in a single appliance, so they’re worth considering if you only have room for one appliance on the floor. Their capacity alone won’t tell you whether they’ll fit in your home; check the overall dimensions and door clearance before choosing.
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This two-in-one model is worth considering if you want to wash and dry with a single appliance.
Listed capacity: 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. Make sure your load is within the drying capacity, and check the clearance needed with the door open as well as the information for the cycle you plan to use.
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This washer-dryer lets you combine both functions in a single space.
Listed capacity: 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. The product description mentions app control; check the compatibility requirements if you plan to use this feature, as well as the clearance needed with the door open and the cycle information.
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This model combines washing and drying if your home doesn’t have room for two separate appliances.
Listed capacity: 8 kg for washing and 5 kg for drying. Check the product specifications for the model’s overall dimensions and door clearance before deciding whether it will fit your space. Also check the information for the cycle you plan to use.
Measure the width, height and depth of the space, then check the appliance’s overall dimensions and the room needed to open the door of the model you’ve chosen. As an example for the LG F164R78BSTA only, LG lists a body depth of 565 mm, 620 mm including protruding parts, and 1 100 mm with the door open at 90°.
Yes, but only if the load is also within the washer-dryer’s stated drying capacity. UFC-Que Choisir points out that this is lower than the washing capacity, so compare both figures in kg before planning to run a wash-and-dry cycle.
Compare condenser tumble dryers, with or without a heat pump, based on their energy use and the duration of the programmes you’re interested in. A vented model also needs an opening to the outside or a ventilation duct, as UFC-Que Choisir notes. Check that this type of installation is possible in your home.
Use the information for the cycle you actually plan to run. The European Commission’s label distinguishes between washing alone and the wash-and-dry cycle. For the same type of cycle, compare energy use, water use and duration across the models you’re considering.