Start by considering the laundry you usually wash and the space available, rather than going for the biggest drum. A front-loading washing machine is a good choice if its dimensions and door clearance suit your room. A top-loading model may work better if width is limited, while a washer-dryer combines two functions in one space, although its drying capacity may be lower than its washing capacity.
If you regularly wash large loads, compare the capacity you actually use with how often you do laundry and the space available. ADEME and UFC-Que Choisir emphasise the importance of choosing a capacity that suits your laundry habits.
If you do small or separate loads frequently, a capacity that better suits your usual loads can help you avoid running the drum when it is barely full. ADEME and UFC-Que Choisir discuss choosing a capacity to suit how you use your machine.
Width alone won’t tell you whether the machine will fit. Also consider the clearance needed to open the door or lid, the route into your home and access to the connections. If you want to dry your laundry in the same space, drying capacity matters too.
Start with the size and frequency of your loads, then check that the appliance can be installed and used as intended.
| Priority | What to check | Who considers it most important |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and frequency | Estimate the usual weight of your dry laundry, how often you do a wash and whether you wash bulky items. | When I often have large loads, I want to cut down on cycles without choosing a drum that will regularly be only partly full. Around 33 % of consumers prioritise capacity and load frequency. |
| Installation and connections | Check the overall dimensions, access route, opening clearance and connections specified in the instructions. | If space is tight, I need to be able to install the appliance, open the door or lid and access the connections. Around 20 % of consumers put the available installation space first. |
| Energy use, noise and spin cycle | Compare energy label figures on a like-for-like basis, as well as the noise level and spin-drying class. | If I do laundry more often or have the machine near a living area, I want to consider energy use, noise and spin performance. Around 20 % of consumers prioritise these practical considerations. |
| Built-in drying | Compare washing and drying capacities separately, along with the figures for each mode. | If I only have room for one appliance, I want to wash and dry without transferring laundry to another machine. Around 14 % of consumers prefer an all-in-one appliance with a drying function. |
| Durability and condition | Check the durability index where applicable, then check the appliance’s condition and the seller’s terms. | Whether I’m buying new, refurbished or second-hand, I want to assess its potential useful life without confusing the model’s index with the condition of the individual appliance. Around 13 % of consumers prioritise condition, useful life and available remedies. |
A large capacity is most useful if you regularly wash large loads. If you often do small loads, a drum that is rarely full may not be the best fit.
Make a note of the size and frequency of your loads before comparing the stated capacities.
The capacity can differ between the two functions, and the energy figures for washing alone don’t reflect those for a wash-and-dry cycle.
If you plan to use both functions one after the other, size your load according to the drying capacity and check the figures for the full cycle.
A top-loading model needs room for its lid to open, while a front-loading model needs clearance for its door. The instructions also specify the connections required.
Measure the appliance and the clearance it needs when in use, then check the instructions for the exact model number.
The front-loading WAJ24008FF is one model to consider if you’re comparing capacity with the space it takes up.
The TDLR6247FR/N is a top-loading washing machine to consider if width is limited.
The F964V50WRS washer-dryer is one model to consider when comparing two functions in a single space.
The French-language instructions for the BMEDWFT38411 can help you prepare to install this model.
This selection includes front-loading washing machines and washer-dryers, with capacities to suit different load sizes.
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Worth considering if you wash large loads and also want to dry them in the same appliance.
Stated capacity : 11 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. The product details list 48 kWh/100 cycles and 54 L/cycle for washing, and 308 kWh/100 cycles and 90 L/cycle for washing and drying.
Stated dimensions : 60 × 85 × 60 cm. For a combined cycle, bear the drying capacity in mind.
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Worth considering if you need to wash large loads and dry them in the same appliance.
Stated capacities : 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. Energy rating stated in the product name : D.
Stated dimensions : 600 × 850 × 590 mm. The load for a combined cycle must stay within the drying capacity.
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Worth considering if an 8 kg capacity and reduced depth suit your laundry loads and available space.
Stated capacity : 8 kg. For the Eco 40–60 programme, the product details list 33 kWh/100 cycles and 38 L/cycle. Maximum spin speed : 1 400 rpm; stated noise level during spinning : 72 dB(A).
Stated dimensions : 595 mm wide, 845 mm high and 47 cm deep.
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Worth considering if you regularly wash bulky loads and the dimensions suit your space.
Stated capacity : 12 kg. For the Eco 40–60 programme, the product details list 44 kWh/100 cycles and 45 L/cycle. Maximum spin speed : 1 400 rpm; stated noise level during spinning : 72 dB.
Stated dimensions : 850 × 595 × 681 mm.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a stated 10 kg capacity and its depth suits your space.
The product details list 51 kWh/100 cycles and 52 L/cycle. Maximum spin speed : 1 351 rpm; stated noise level during spinning : 76 dB.
Stated dimensions : 847 × 597 × 658 mm.
In France, front-loading and top-loading washing machines have been included in the categories covered since 8 April 2025, according to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition. For online sales, the Ministry of the Economy says that details of the score must be accessible from the same page. This does not mean the same conclusion can be applied to a washer-dryer or every second-hand listing.
Follow the instructions for the model you bought when connecting the water supply and drainage, adjusting the feet and connecting the power. Bosch also advises removing the transit bolts and levelling its washing machines. Check your model’s instructions for specific guidance.
Only if the load is within the model’s drying capacity too. LG lists the F964V50WRS with a 9 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity. For a combined cycle, don’t exceed the stated drying capacity.
When a professional sells to an individual, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity also covers second-hand and refurbished goods, according to the Ministry of the Economy. Check the seller’s identity and the description of the specific appliance. The same rules don’t apply in the same way to sales between individuals.