If you regularly have full laundry baskets and wash bulky items, it’s worth considering a 10 to 12 kg washing machine. If you only wash very large loads occasionally, 8 to 9 kg is generally enough for a household of 3 to 4 people, according to Que Choisir. In either case, check the load limit for the programme you plan to use: the stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that a particular duvet can be washed in the machine.
How often you wash large loads matters just as much as the size of the duvet you want to wash.
Clothes, sheets and towels regularly fill the drum. A larger capacity can mean you don’t have to split these loads, as long as it’s suited to your usual laundry. Que Choisir recommends matching capacity to how often you actually do large washes.
Weight in kilograms isn’t the only thing to consider: check the care label, the programme’s load limit and the space available in the drum. Darty advises against cramming in a duvet, as it takes up more room once wet.
If most of your washes are small or medium-sized, an intermediate capacity may suit your everyday needs better than a very large drum that’s rarely full. ADEME recommends checking that a large capacity is right for your household’s needs.
Start by looking at your usual loads, then separately check what the machine can handle for duvets and the programmes you plan to use.
Who it’s for : Households that regularly have full baskets and large loads may want to consider 10 to 12 kg, in line with the situations described by Que Choisir.
Things to consider : Extra capacity is less useful if the drum is often underfilled; also check how much space you’ll need for installation.
Who it’s for : According to Que Choisir, 8 to 9 kg is generally enough for a household of 3 to 4 people if very large loads aren’t a regular occurrence.
Things to consider : A duvet still needs to comply with its care instructions and the selected programme’s load limit. The stated capacity alone won’t tell you whether it’s suitable.
| Factor | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity in practice | Consider how often you do full loads and have to split your laundry. Que Choisir generally recommends 8 to 9 kg for a household of 3 to 4 people, and suggests considering 10 to 12 kg if large loads are a regular occurrence. | Are my baskets often full, or is it mainly the occasional duvet that makes me consider a large drum? |
| Load per programme | Check the manual for the exact model and the item’s care label. The European Commission defines rated capacity in kilograms of dry textiles for a specific programme, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. | I want to know whether the bedding or delicate programme can actually handle the item I plan to wash. |
| Room in the drum | Make sure a duvet fits without being squashed. To help it move around, Darty recommends filling the drum halfway, or no more than three-quarters full. | The duvet needs room to move during the wash; its dry weight alone doesn’t tell me how much space it will take up. |
| Consumption | Compare kWh per 100 cycles, litres per cycle and the Eco 40-60 programme duration on the energy label. If you often do small loads, also check any information available for partial loads. | My loads vary a lot, so I don’t want to estimate consumption based on the stated capacity alone. Que Choisir points out that an unsuitable capacity can lead to excessive consumption or more cycles. |
| Installation and use | Measure the space, access routes and room needed to open the door. Also compare the noise level and spin-drying class on the label, and check that the parts requiring maintenance are accessible. | I want to be able to load household laundry easily and use and maintain the machine in the space available. |
If most of your loads are small or medium-sized, you may rarely use the extra capacity. ADEME recommends checking that it meets your needs; Que Choisir points out that an unsuitable capacity can increase consumption or mean you have to do more washes.
For a few weeks, keep track of how often you have full baskets and bulky items before deciding between 8 to 9 kg and 10 to 12 kg.
Rated capacity refers to the weight of dry laundry for a specific programme, as defined by the European Commission. It doesn’t mean that the same load is suitable for every fabric or cycle.
Before washing a duvet or throw, compare its care label with the load chart in the manual and leave enough room for it to move around.
Two machines with the same capacity won’t necessarily use the same amount of energy under the conditions shown on their labels. Que Choisir highlights that an unsuitable capacity can increase consumption or the number of cycles.
Compare kWh per 100 cycles, litres per cycle and the Eco 40-60 programme duration on the same basis, and take into account how often you do partial loads.
A machine that suits your household’s laundry loads also needs to fit through your doorways, with enough room to open the door and access the parts that need maintenance.
Check the dimensions of the exact model, measure the route to its intended position and look at its durability rating before you choose.
These models offer specific configurations to compare; a feature of one model doesn’t necessarily apply to the whole brand.
The LFR62E114S is a 10 kg front-loading model worth considering if you regularly wash large loads.
The WGB256A2FR is a 10 kg model to compare if you often wash bulky loads.
According to LG France, the F14R35WHS has a stated capacity of 10 kg and a 68 L drum.
The WWD380 WCS is a 9 kg model to consider if your large loads don’t necessarily call for 10 kg of capacity.
This selection includes 10 kg washing machines for frequent large loads, as well as 8 to 9 kg models to consider if large loads are more occasional. For a duvet, always check the model’s manual and the item’s care label.
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Worth considering if you regularly wash large loads. The product listing states a capacity of 10 kg, a spin speed of 1 400 rpm and an A energy rating. Check the manual for the load limit on the programme intended for your bulky items. Also make sure the plug specified for this model is suitable for your installation.
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A capacity worth considering if your laundry baskets are regularly full. AEG lists a 69 L drum and describes ProSense as adjusting the cycle to the amount of laundry; the product listing states a spin speed of 1 400 rpm and an A energy rating. Check the load limit for the programme intended for your duvet and the space needed for installation.
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Its stated capacity of 10 kg makes it worth considering for regular large loads. Before putting a duvet in the machine, check the manual for suitable programmes and their maximum loads; rated capacity doesn’t necessarily apply to every cycle.
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Compare it with 10 kg models if you don’t wash large loads as often. The product listing states a capacity of 9 kg and a spin speed of up to 1 600 rpm. Check that the programme and load limit suit your bulky items, and follow their spin-drying instructions.
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This intermediate capacity is worth considering if very large loads are only occasional. The product listing states a capacity of 8 kg and a spin speed of 1 400 rpm. For a duvet or large throw, check the load limit for the selected programme and how much room the item takes up in the drum.
No. Check the duvet’s care label, the programme and its load limit, then make sure the item isn’t crammed in. Darty points out that a duvet takes up more room as it absorbs water, and recommends filling the drum halfway, or no more than three-quarters full, to give it room to move around.
No. According to the European Commission’s definition, rated capacity is the maximum weight of dry textiles for a selected programme, with the load arranged in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Check the model’s load chart before using a delicate or bedding programme.
First, compare the figures on their energy labels on the same basis, including kWh per 100 cycles, litres per cycle and the Eco 40-60 programme duration. Then consider your usual loads: as Que Choisir points out, an unsuitable capacity can lead to excessive consumption or force you to run more cycles.
Check the care instructions for your items, then compare the spin-drying class and noise levels shown for the machines you’re considering. A higher number of revolutions per minute doesn’t mean you can skip checking which programme is actually suitable for your sheets, throws and other delicate items.