10 best washer-dryer machines that will make doing your laundry easier

Best: Overall

• Max. wash/dry load: 9 kg/ 6 kg
• Energy rating: C/E
• Spin speed: 1,400rpm

This excellent washer-dryer from Bosch offers a variety of innovative features in a simple, user-friendly package.

We particularly appreciated the “Iron Assist” setting, which steams the laundry load inside the machine. This seems to help washing come out of the machine with relatively few creases – so you might not even need to iron it before you put it away.

Another interesting feature is the anti-allergy setting, which maintains a high temperature throughout washing and drying. Apparently, this removes allergens especially efficiently. With that said, be careful to use this setting only with fabrics that can withstand the heat.

Best: For efficient washing

• Max. wash/dry load: 9kg/6kg
• Energy rating: B/E
• Spin speed: 1,400rpm

LG is hitting it out of the park in 2021, with a raft of new appliances offering a mix of good performance, contemporary style and impressive energy efficiency. This washer-dryer is one of the only models we’ve encountered which warrants an impressive B grade on the new energy efficiency rating scale (albeit only during the wash cycle; it goes down to an E grade during drying).

We were impressed with this machine’s “intelligent care” tech, which detects the weight and softness of your laundry load, then chooses a washing pattern to suit.

Best: For delicate performance

• Max. wash/dry load: 8kg/5kg
• Energy rating: C/E
• Spin speed: 1,400rpm

This sleek, chic washer-dryer would make a superb addition to pretty much any modern kitchen. The tinted door is a particularly snazzy touch.

But what we really love about this washer-dryer is its “ecobubble” tech, which uses a combination of air, water and detergent in the wash cycle to remove dirt from clothes. This innovative approach gets great results at relatively low temperatures, which could help to minimise the risk of delicate materials getting shrunk in the wash.

Another big selling point to this washer-dryer: it’s beautifully quiet.

Best: For large households

• Max. wash/dry load: 12kg/8kg
• Energy rating: E
• Spin speed: 1,400rpm

The real selling point to this washer-dryer is its tremendous capacity. There’s enough space in the drum for a 12kg load during washing, or an 8kg load during drying. If you’re a member of a big household, or if you want to launder large items such as duvets, this could be the washer-dryer for you.

And it’s not all about capacity: the HWD120-B14979 also has plenty of impressive features, including a high-temperature anti-allergy mode, and capability to add steam during drying.

One minor downside is that this washer-dryer can take longer than you might expect to dry your clothes. We wouldn’t recommend relying on the drying mode when you’re against the clock.

Best: For a reasonably priced integrated option

• Max. wash/dry load: 8kg/6kg
• Energy rating: D
• Spin speed: 1,200rpm

This integrated washer-dryer is designed specifically to be built in to a kitchen unit. It’s a simple, effective appliance that does the basics well, washing effectively and delivering reasonably dry laundry by the end of a cycle.

We were particularly impressed with how quiet this machine operates. When it’s behind the door of a kitchen unit, you’ll barely notice it.

Another strength of the BIWDIL861284UK is its energy efficiency– the appliance’s D energy rating for drying performance is actually quite good, relative to the other options currently available.

Best: For affordability

• Max. wash/dry load: 8kg/5kg
• Energy rating: E/E
• Spin speed: 1,400rpm

Coming in cheaper than many regular washing machines, the Logik L8W5D20 is a remarkably affordable washer-dryer that does a good job relative to the price you pay. All the key requirements are covered, including a choice of 16 wash programs, and a smart-looking, user-friendly interface.

Inevitably, the L8W5D20 lags behind some of its much-costlier rivals in certain aspects of its performance. The machine has relatively poor energy efficiency, and it can be noisy during a spin cycle.

With all that said, this is a great-value option that should be able to get your laundry significantly drier than a regular washing machine could.

Best: For a high-performance integrated option

• Max. wash/dry load: 7kg/4kg
• Energy rating: D/E
• Spin speed: 1,550

Here’s a superb built-in option for those of you who want a washer-dryer that will integrate into a kitchen unit.

The L7WE7631BI has excellent washing and drying performance, topped off with useful features such as steam cleaning and load sensing. It operates quietly, and seems to have only a low level of vibration when properly installed.

One big downside to the L7WE7631BI is its relatively low capacity. With just enough space for 4kg during drying, this would not be the best option for larger households. However, if you don’t need to do all that much washing, or you do your laundry frequently, this washer-dryer will do an excellent job.

Best: For blending in under a kitchen counter

• Max. wash/dry load: 9kg/6kg
• Energy rating: D
• Spin speed: 1,400rpm

This Hotpoint washer-dryer looks especially good in its black colourway, which equips it to assimilate discreetly into kitchens with a dark colour palette.

In terms of washing and drying performance, this machine represents outstanding value for money. The drum has enough capacity to cater for a medium-to-large household, and noise levels are impressively quiet during washing and drying.

Our one minor criticism of this washer-dryer would be that its drying cycle times can be on the lengthy side. Nonetheless, it’s a fantastic appliance for the price you pay.

Best: For user-friendliness

• Max. wash/dry load: 8kg/5kg
• Energy rating: C/D
• Spin speed: 1,400rpm

There’s a lot to love about this washer-dryer. We were particularly impressed with its user interface, which cleverly uses colour to highlight the settings which involve drying, as well as washing. This could make a big difference to users who sometimes find it tricky to identify the right setting.

We’re pleased to report that this machine does a great job of washing and drying, too – in some cases, leaving washing ready to use without any additional drying. The 1hr Fast Wash And Dry mode work pretty well with a small load.

Best: For washing and drying in a hurry

• Max. wash/dry load: 8kg/4kg
• Energy rating: D/E
• Spin speed: 1,600rpm

This washer-dryer has the power to get relatively small loads of laundry washed and dried in under one hour. If you were to find yourself needing to get a few important items ready to wear in a hurry, this machine would be the ideal option to have installed in your kitchen.

The Z816WT85BI isn’t just a time-saver; it’s a great time manager, offering “Flexitime” functionality that allows you to tweak the duration of the selected program.

Further benefits of this washer-dryer include its smart-looking design and quiet operation. The only real negative point is its relatively low drying capacity of 4kg.

Please note that this integrated washer-dryer is designed to be built into a kitchen unit.