If your rented home doesn’t have a washing machine, first check whether the space and connections allow you to install one in line with the manufacturer’s instructions. If not, a laundrette may be worth considering. If installation is possible, choose between a front-loader and a top-loader based on the space available for the machine and its door or lid. A washer-dryer can meet your drying needs when space is limited, but be sure to compare its drying capacity and full-cycle figures separately from those for washing alone.
Before choosing an appliance, check the access routes and connections, and make sure you can install it on a stable floor in line with its instructions. Bosch, in particular, highlights the importance of levelling the machine during installation.
Consider not just the space taken up by the machine, but also the room needed to open the door or lid. And if you want to dry your laundry at home, factor in the space required for that too.
Match the capacity to your usual loads, and compare water and energy use, spin noise and durability. ADEME recommends weighing up these features rather than choosing on capacity alone.
First, make sure installation is feasible. If you’re not sure, compare the practicalities of using a laundrette with those of having a machine at home. Once you’ve confirmed the space is suitable, consider how much room you’ll have to load the laundry and whether you need a drying function.
Worth considering: if you have around 60 cm of width and space in front for the door to open, based on the formats described by the French National Consumer Institute.
Bear in mind: the front of the machine needs to stay clear, even after installation.
Worth considering: if width is your main constraint; the French National Consumer Institute describes models that are 40 to 45 cm wide.
Bear in mind: you’ll need enough room above the machine to open the lid.
Worth considering: if you can install a machine but don’t have space to hang laundry up or fit two appliances.
Bear in mind: washing and drying capacities can differ. Electrolux, for example, lists 8/4 kg and 10.5/6 kg configurations.
Worth considering: if you can’t confirm that there’s a suitable space and the right connections before buying a machine.
Bear in mind: travelling to use equipment outside your home needs to work for how often you do laundry.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Measure the space and access routes. Check that the connections and floor stability meet the model’s requirements. If the property needs modifying, clarify this before you buy. | I want to be sure I can install the machine as soon as I move in, without finding out later that it won’t fit or can’t be connected. Around 36% of consumers would put installation feasibility first. |
| Space | Compare the width, depth and height, then check the clearance in front of a front-loader or above a top-loader. | In a small room, I first need to find a format I can load once it’s in place. This would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Washing and drying | Match the capacity to your usual loads. For a washer-dryer, check the washing and drying capacities separately. | If I can’t easily hang laundry up at home, I need to know how much of a load can be dried in the machine. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Use and durability | Compare water, energy and noise figures for the cycle you’ll use. For a new washing machine sold in France that falls within the relevant category, also check its durability index, which has applied to this category since 8 April 2025, according to the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition. | If I do laundry frequently, I want to take consumption, noise and expected lifespan into account. Around 14% of consumers would put these criteria first. |
A top-loader needs clearance above it, while a front-loader needs room for its door to open. Width also tells you nothing about delivery access or the connections you’ll need.
Measure the full space and access routes, then compare them with the model’s installation diagram, including the required clearances.
Some washer-dryers listed by Electrolux have different washing and drying capacities. An 8/4 kg configuration, for example, means 8 kg for washing and 4 kg for drying.
Choose based on the load you actually want to dry, not just the amount you can wash.
If your washing load is larger than the drying capacity, you may need to remove some laundry and dry it separately.
The product information for the Beko B3YDFT51044W model lists 51 kWh/100 cycles for the Eco 40-60 wash and 306 kWh/100 cycles for the wash-and-dry cycle. These figures relate to different cycles on this specific model.
Compare figures for the cycle you intend to use, on the same basis and across the models you’re considering.
According to the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition’s guidance, the requirement to calculate and display a durability index does not apply to second-hand, reused, reconditioned, loaned or rented appliances. So the absence of an index on these listings doesn’t, by itself, tell you anything about their durability.
For a second-hand or reconditioned appliance, check its exact model reference, condition, maintenance history and the availability of spare parts.
A brand to look at if you want to check installation and maintenance guidance before choosing a model.
A brand to explore when comparing the stated capacities of washer-dryers.
A brand to consider if you want to distinguish wash-only figures from wash-and-dry figures.
A brand to consider when comparing front-loading washing machines by capacity and spin speed.
These top-loading and front-loading models are for washing at home, provided installation is possible. Compare their capacity and format with your available space. None of the appliances shown here is a washer-dryer.
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Worth considering if you prefer a top-loader for doing laundry at home, provided there’s clear space above it.
Stated capacity of 7 kg, spin speed of 1 200 tr/min and energy class A. Check the dimensions and connections in the instructions for this variant.
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Worth comparing if you have space in front of the door and are looking for an 8 kg washing capacity.
The model name indicates a spin speed of 1 400 tr/min. Check the full dimensions, clearances and connections before deciding where to put it.
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Its stated 10 kg capacity is best compared with the size of your usual laundry loads, rather than an occasional extra-large load.
Allow space in front of the door, and check the dimensions, delivery access and connections using the instructions.
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Worth considering if you’d like a top-loader and 6 kg loads suit the way you do laundry.
The model name indicates a spin speed of 1 400 tr/min and energy class B. Check that you have enough room to open the lid.
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Its stated 8 kg capacity can be compared with your usual loads if a front-loader suits the room.
The model name indicates a spin speed of 1 400 tr/min. Check all its dimensions, the door clearance and the energy label details for the model you’re considering.
Measure the space, delivery access routes and the clearance needed to open the door or lid. Then check that the water supply, waste outlet, electrical supply and floor stability meet the model’s requirements. Bosch also advises removing the transit bolts and adjusting the feet during installation.
No. Its width may suit a narrow alcove, but you still need room to open the lid. The French National Consumer Institute describes top-loaders that are 40 to 45 cm wide. If you have space in front for a front-loader, compare the capacity and dimensions of those models too.
Not necessarily: check both capacities for the specific model. An 8/4 kg configuration, such as those listed in the Electrolux range, has a lower drying capacity than washing capacity. Also compare the figures for washing alone with those for a wash-and-dry cycle.
Yes, for new washing machines sold in France that fall within the relevant category. According to the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition, the index has applied to washing machines since 8 April 2025. It complements checks on capacity, consumption and installation requirements.
No. The French Ministry for the Ecological Transition’s guidance excludes second-hand, reused and reconditioned appliances, among others, from the requirement to calculate and display an index. For this type of listing, ask for the exact model reference, the appliance’s condition and any available information about maintenance and spare parts.