Start by choosing a capacity that suits the loads your household actually builds up. According to ADEME, 7 kg is usually enough, but you should still consider the laundry you wash. If width is a key factor, compare top-loading and front-loading machines. If you’re interested in a washer-dryer, check its separate drying capacity and cycle times. A launderette can also be a useful occasional option for exceptionally bulky items, depending on what’s available near you.
You wait until you have enough laundry to run a cycle, but don’t want to buy a drum that’s too large for your usual loads. ADEME says that 7 kg is usually enough; use this as a guide, while taking into account the amount and types of laundry in your household.
The width, depth or access to the drum may determine the format before you even consider the programmes. UFC-Que Choisir gives a width of 40 to 46 cm for top-loading models. A standard front-loader is generally around 60 cm wide, while a slim front-loader is mainly shallower.
If you do laundry regularly, compare water and electricity use, spin performance and noise on the energy label, as ADEME recommends. For washing machines covered by the scheme in France, the durability index adds a score out of 10 to these criteria.
Start with your usual load, then rule out any formats that won’t fit the space available. Next, compare the usage information for the models that remain suitable.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and cycles | Weight of the loads you usually build up and the capacity of the programme you use; whether the cycle can be adjusted to suit the load. | When I wait until I’ve gathered enough laundry before running a cycle, I want to avoid a drum that’s too large for my everyday loads. Around 36% of consumers put finding the right capacity first. |
| Format and installation | Width, depth, height and clearance needed to open the machine; compatibility with the planned installation. | In a tight space, I need to be able to install and open the machine without difficulty. This is the main concern for around 29% of consumers. |
| Consumption and comfort | Electricity per 100 cycles, water per Eco 40-60 cycle, cycle time, spin performance and noise, compared on the same labelling basis. | When I do laundry regularly, I keep an eye on water and electricity use, as well as noise near living areas. For around 21% of consumers, these everyday factors take priority over other criteria. |
| Durability | The durability index for the model concerned and the details behind its score, alongside capacity and the energy label. | I want to compare how long I may be able to keep using an appliance, without basing my choice on a single score. Around 14% of consumers prioritise durability. |
Format addresses a different constraint from capacity. UFC-Que Choisir generally gives a width of 40 to 46 cm for top-loading washing machines. For a front-loader, also check the space needed in front of the door. A washer-dryer is only the right choice if you genuinely plan to dry laundry in the same appliance: its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity, according to UFC-Que Choisir. If you only occasionally wash a bulky item, check whether a local launderette could complement your home appliance.
A high capacity doesn’t guarantee that your usual loads will fill the drum sufficiently. ADEME recommends choosing a capacity suited to the laundry you actually wash.
Keep an eye on the loads you build up over a few weeks, then compare their volume with the stated capacity and the space available.
Two machines with the same rating may have other usage figures worth checking. The energy label provides information on water and electricity use, spin performance and noise, among other things, according to ADEME.
Compare the figures for the models you’re considering side by side, using the same programme as a basis for comparing consumption and cycle time.
UFC-Que Choisir points out that a washer-dryer can take a smaller load for drying than for washing. You may therefore need to split a full wash load before drying it.
Check the two capacities separately, along with cycle times, if you want to run a wash and dry back to back.
The score out of 10 for appliances covered by the scheme doesn’t tell you whether their capacity, dimensions or consumption suit your household. It complements these checks; it doesn’t replace them.
Compare the index and its breakdown for models that already suit your space and your loads.
The French range includes front-loading washing machines worth considering if this format suits your installation.
The brand offers top-loading and compact front-loading formats to consider depending on whether width or depth is the limiting factor.
The French range of front-loaders is worth considering if your regular loads call for a higher capacity.
These front-loaders offer a range of capacities for household laundry that you build up between washes. Match each one to your usual loads. This selection of front-loaders doesn’t, on its own, help you decide between a top-loader and a washer-dryer.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if your usual grouped loads suit a 7 kg capacity. The product title lists an A energy rating. Before choosing this model, check its dimensions, cycle information and connection requirements.
Image unavailable
Compare its 8 kg capacity with your regular loads rather than an occasional need. The product title gives a maximum spin speed of 1,400 rpm. Check the model’s label for the Eco 40-60 programme time and consumption figures.
Image unavailable
Consider this model if you regularly build up loads that call for a 9 kg capacity. Otherwise, it may be larger than you need day to day. Check the Eco 40-60 cycle time, dimensions and applicable durability index before choosing.
Image unavailable
This model offers a capacity close to ADEME’s 7 kg guide, subject to the loads you actually wash. Before buying, check all the dimensions and the model’s water, electricity and noise figures on the label.
Image unavailable
Choose this capacity only if you regularly build up large loads; smaller loads alone don’t justify 11 kg. The product title lists an A energy rating. Also check the dimensions, installation requirements and figures on the energy label.
No. ADEME says that 7 kg is usually enough, but the capacity should suit the loads you actually wash. A larger capacity is mainly worthwhile if you regularly build up more laundry, including bulky items.
If width is your main constraint, measure the space before looking at top-loaders: UFC-Que Choisir generally gives a width of 40 to 46 cm for this format. If you’re short on depth, consider the dimensions of a compact front-loader and check the clearance needed for its door.
Compare electricity per 100 cycles, water per Eco 40-60 cycle, cycle time, spin performance and noise. Don’t focus on the energy rating alone. ADEME recommends relating this information to how you actually use the machine.
For washing machines covered by the scheme in France, it provides an additional score out of 10, in line with information published by the ministry responsible for ecological transition and the decree of 5 April 2024. Check the breakdown, but assess the model’s capacity, dimensions and consumption separately.
Not necessarily. UFC-Que Choisir points out that its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity. If you want to run both functions in succession, compare the separate capacities and the cycle time for your load.