Best washer-dryers 2023: Which? Best Buys and expert buying advice

 We test every washer-dryer, from how thoroughly it cleans your clothes and how evenly it dries them to how much it will cost to run.

You want one that washes as well as a washing machine and dries as well as a tumble dryer.

We've seen big differences between the models we've tested, from those that excel as Best Buys to several being rated Don't Buys to avoid, plus those that will give you just average results.

Only logged-in Which? members can view our recommendations in the table below. If you’re not yet a member, join Which?  to get instant access to all our reviews.

Best washer-dryers 

To help you narrow down what you need, we've rounded up the best washer-dryers.

Cheapest Best Buy washer-dryer

Last updated: November 2022

Video: How to buy the best washer-dryer

Watch for the lowdown on what's important when you buy

See our guide to washer-dryer features to find out more about the key things you should consider.

Key washer-dryer types

Freestanding washer-dryers

On freestanding models, the front of the machine will always be visible and won’t be hidden away like an integrated machine.

Drum capacities vary, but an average-sized one will take around 8kg of washing and 5kg of drying.

See all our freestanding washer-dryer reviews.

Integrated washer-dryers

The front of an integrated washer-dryer is covered with a kitchen door panel when it's installed. 

Drum capacities tend to be smaller than freestanding washer-dryers. Most models have a wash capacity of around 7kg and a dry capacity of 5kg.

See all our reviews or read our guide on how to buy the best integrated washer-dryer.

Do I need a vent?

Vented dryers remove warm air through a hose or vent that leads out of the house, for example through a window. Washer-dryers usually don't need a vent, as the majority of models cool air inside the machine and the remaining water is drained away. 

Can you buy an eco-friendly washer-dryer?

Washer-dryers hit your energy bills as they wash and dry.

The average model will cost you £117 in running costs for washing and £281 for drying, with the October price cap increase, so £398, on average. 

The most expensive-to-run washer dryer we've tested costs £168 in washing costs and £493 in drying costs, so £661 a year. 

The cheapest costs £44 in washing costs and £189 in drying costs, adding up to £233 overall. 

While tumble dryers have become more energy efficient recently due to heat pump technology, washer-dryers still lag behind. 

Even the most efficient option still uses more energy than most heat pump dryers, so the most environmentally friendly choice is to buy a separate washer and dryer. But if that's not an option, our Eco Buys can help you find the best for the planet and your bills.

An Eco Buy cleans well and dries quickly while keeping energy and water use as low as possible. A washer-dryer can’t be an Eco Buy if our survey shows that the brand is below average for reliability.

Our reviews give you information about a washing machine's running costs, too, as do our tables (if you're logged in).

See our Eco Buy washer-dryer reviews.

Key washer-dryer features

See below for which features to look out for when choosing a washer-dryer and keep scrolling to find out why you might want automatic drying, and why you definitely need to factor in noise and water usage.

Control panels

Many washer-dryers are set using just a dial and a start button. Some come with a digital display, which helpfully shows the remaining program time, and more expensive machines have bigger LCD screens showing the state of the wash and identifying any faults. We test control panels for ease of use in 19 different ways - find an easy to use model among our Best Buys.

Washing capacities

Washing capacities for washer-dryers are on average 7kg to 8kg, and will always be higher than the drying capacity. The largest machine we’ve tested has a 12kg drum. But think twice about buying a massive machine if you don’t do much washing. A 7kg drum can wash around 22 shirts whereas a 12kg drum can wash 38. We have Best Buy washer-dryers with a range of capacities, so filter by size on our site to find the machine with the right capacity for you.

Spin speeds

Spin speeds range from 1,000rpm to 1,600rpm with most washer-dryers spinning at 1,200rpm or 1,400rpm. So, there’s no cut in spin speeds for washer-dryers when compared with washing machines. But faster spinning doesn’t always mean better results and dryer clothes.

Drying capacity

The compromise you make when buying two machines in one is that drying capacities are usually low, often no more than half the washing capacity. A drying capacity of around 3.5kg to 4kg is about average, whereas tumble dryers can dry about twice as much. But we can point you to Best Buy washer-dryers that dry as much as a tumble dryer could.

Condenser and waste water

One benefit of a washer dryer over a condenser or heat-pump tumble dryer is that you won’t have to remove and empty a waste-water tank when it’s full. Water from the drying clothes is drained away, rather than collected in a tank – this is helpful as water tanks can be heavy and unwieldy when full, so there’s one less chore to do.

Automatic drying

Almost all washer-dryers nowadays come with sensor-driven automatic drying programs. This means that the machine sets the drying time based on the humidity in the drum. But our tests have found that some are much more accurate at setting how long to dry than others.

We've found those that over-dry clothes, which could lead to shrinkage and fabrics becoming damaged. Others miscalculate the other way, leaving clothes too wet.

Take a look at our heated clothes airer reviews and buying advice as it's kinder to clothes.

Which washer-dryer is quietest?

When you’re in the shop, you won’t be able to tell how noisy different models are. So, if having a quiet appliance is important, take a look at our washer-dryer reviews for those that get at least a four-star noise rating from us.

We include a noise star rating for all models we review. The more stars the quieter the machine will be.

Which washer-dryers use the least water?

Almost all washer-dryers use water when drying – they use it to cool the condenser and it's this that turns the steamy air into water, which can be drained away from the machine. An average sized one (8kg washing and 5kg drying) will use around 20,000 litres per year in total to wash and dry.

How much does a washer-dryer cost?

A washer-dryer can cost anything from around £300 to more than £1,500.

Our research shows that paying more doesn't necessarily mean that you'll get a more reliable machine. In fact, the brand with the lowest average spend achieved a decent 70% reliability rating. Find out more by checking our washer-dryer reviews.

Running costs for washer-dryers can be expensive, but opting for a more efficient machine will help save money in the long run. A typical washer-dryer will cost about £120 per year to run, with drying making up the majority of this cost.

We'll give you the usage cost in each of our reviews, so you can compare the most and least expensive models. Take a look at our washer-dryer energy-saving tips to find out how you could cut the cost of your bills.

Size and spin speed

How big is a washer dryer?

Most washer-dryers are between 595 and 600mm wide. They are designed to fit into a space 600mm wide. The standard height of a front-loading washing dryer is 850mm high. But there can be exceptions, so check the specifications before choosing a model.

Depth can differ, though – ranging from around 40cm to 70cm. Avoid having your machine sticking out into the walkway of your kitchen by checking the specs of a model against the space you have in your home before you buy it.

What size drum should I look for?

Washer-dryers always have two drum capacities – one for washing and one for drying, and they can always wash a larger load than they can dry.

Think about how often you wash your clothes and the amount of garments you wash in one go. If you have lots of clothes but you only like to do two loads a week, a larger drum size will suit. 

Washing capacities in washer-dryers

The amount a washer-dryer can clean in one go typically starts as little as 5kg (which is enough to wash 16 men's cotton shirts at once) and ranges up to 12kg, which is enough to wash 38 shirts at once. An 8kg washing drum capacity is about average.

Drying capacities in washer-dryers

The drying capacity is always smaller than the machine's wash capacity, typically ranging from 2.5kg to 8kg. That means that if you've filled the drum when washing, you’ll need to take a few items out before drying. The more you need to take out, the more of a pain the machine might be to live with. The weights given are dry, rather than wet weights.

Typical washing to drying capacity for a 8kg drum size

• 8kg wash capacity 11 towels
• 5kg dryer capacity 7 towels

What spin speed do I need?

A good spin can remove the majority of water from your clothes, which reduces the amount of drying time you’ll need.

Spin speeds typically go from 1,000rpm to 1,600rpm, and you may have to pay more for a model with a higher spin speed. Faster isn’t always better, though, as we’ve tested washer-dryers with 1,400rpm spin speeds that do a better job of removing moisture from clothes compared with a model with a 1,600rpm spin.

Pros and cons of washer-dryers

Pros

• Space saving Being able to combine two machines into one is probably the best thing about a washer-dryer. This means they're ideal for those who are short on space, don’t have a garden to hang out washing or just simply don’t want too many large appliances in your home.
• Upfront cost If you’ve just moved home and you need new appliances, or if your washing machine and tumble dryer have conveniently packed up at the same time, opting for a washer-dryer means you save money buying one machine instead of two.

Cons

• Running cost Like most standard washing machines, the wash cycle is generally efficient and economical in a washer dryer. However, the dry cycle typically uses more energy than traditional condenser or vented tumble dryers.
• Drum size The wash and dry drum capacity is different in every machine. This means that if you fill the wash cycle to its capacity, you'll have to remove some garments before the dry cycle. If you tend to wash as much as you can in one load, this could be a hassle.
• Lack of choice Naturally there will be less choice for washer-dryers, compared with traditional washing machines and tumble dryers, because there is less demand for them. So if you’re looking for a different colour or specific features, finding the perfect product might be a bit more difficult.

Black and silver washer-dryers

If you’re looking for a black or silver washer-dryer, you shouldn’t have too much trouble. Most brands, including Indesit and Samsung, make models in variations of white, black and silver.

But if you’re looking for more individual shades such as green or blue you'll have less choice, will probably have to pay a little more and you might have to opt for a lesser-known brand.

Best washer-dryer brands and popular models

Which washer-dryer brand won't break down?

These are two machines in one so, in theory, there’s more that can go wrong with them. Choose a washer-dryer from a brand with a good reputation for product reliability and performance.

Going for a well-known name won’t guarantee you'll get a reliable washer-dryer that won’t break down, particularly where washer-dryers are concerned.

Every year, we contact thousands of members and get feedback to find out how reliable brands of washer-dryers are. Find our which washer-dryer brands have the best breakdown record with our most reliable washer-dryer brands guide.

Popular washer-dryers

We've tested washer-dryers from brands including Bosch, Hotpoint and John Lewis. See below for quick summaries of the most popular models, including key specs. Or, take a look at the best washer-dryers to find out which models we recommend.

Bosch WDU28560GB, £763.97

• Type Freestanding
• Wash capacity 10kg
• Dry capacity 6kg

This washer-dryer has a very generous wash capacity which is useful for households that do a lot of laundry. But with a price of more than £700, it’s an expensive option.

Is it worth investing in in? See our Bosch WDU28560GB washer-dryer review.

John Lewis JLWD1614, £679

• Type Freestanding
• Wash capacity 8kg
• Dry capacity 4kg

The John Lewis JLWD1614 washer-dryer offers a whole range of useful programs, including an anti-allergy cycle, a steam refresh and a specialist sportswear option. There’s even a program that will wash and dry a small load in just one hour.

Find out what we thought of it in the John Lewis JLWD1614 washer-dryer review.

Zanussi Z716WT83BI, £629

• Type Integrated
• Wash capacity 7kg
• Dry capacity 4kg

The Zanussi Z716WT83BI has 21 different programs, with specialist cycles covering everything from wool to denim and duvets. Those with a busy lifestyle will appreciate the Flextime function, which lets you shorten the program to get your clothes cleaned more quickly.

See our Zanussi Z716WT83BI washer-dryer review to find out if it’s any good at its key tasks.

Ready to buy? See our washer-dryer reviews to get an expert verdict on the latest models.