Which washer-dryer brand to buy in 2021

Choose the wrong washer-dryer and it could be costly. That’s why each year we survey more than 500 Which? members in our unique reliability and customer satisfaction survey to find out whether they're happy, or have experienced problems with their washer-dryers. 

We survey owners of AEG, Bosch, Hotpoint, Indesit, John Lewis, LG, Miele and Zanussi washer-dryers to find out which develop the fewest faults over time and which brands have the happiest customers  – and have calculated a reliability rating and customer score for each so you know which brands to choose – and which to avoid.

Knowing which brands develop the most faults and how quickly, is vital when you're buying a new washer-dryer. Our survey data takes into account the reported fault rates, severity of the faults and the speed with which they occurred. 

Almost a fifth of washer-dryer faults owners reported to us were classed as catastrophic, which meant their washer-dryer ended up unusable. Failing to drain water properly is the most common fault.

Best vs worst washer-dryer brands compared

We found a lot of variation between washer-dryer brands, as shown in the graph above. The biggest difference was in customer satisfaction where the best brand scored 84% and the worst scored 60%.

The most reliable washer-dryer brands

The table below summarises this year’s reliability results. Brands are ranked by their customer score, which relates to whether their customers would recommend it.

Only logged-in Which? members can view which brands achieved the ratings and verdicts in the table below. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.

Table notes: Results based on feedback from 558 washer-dryer owners, surveyed in September 2019.

Common washer-dryer problems

Failure to empty water properly is the most common fault washer-dryer owners experience. Electrical failures, poor drying of laundry and broken door seals were also common issues.

Owners believe their washer-dryer should remain fault free for at least nine years, according to our survey. But we found that a third of those buying a washer-dryer from the worst-rated manufacturer for reliability reported a fault after just five years.

Top three most common washer-dryer faults

1. 9% not emptying water This might be caused by a blockage in your pump or hose. Make sure there's no kinks or sharp bends in your hose that could prevent it from draining properly.
2. 8% electrical failure Be careful - make sure you switch off and unplug your washer-dryer before trying to diagnose the problem.
3. 8% not drying properly This might be caused by a problem with the sensor, which adjusts the drying time based on how wet your clothes are. Try wiping the drum with white vinegar to clean it.
   

There's not necessarily a direct link between how much you pay for a washer-dryer and how reliable it is. Although the worst-rated brand for reliability in our survey also had the cheapest products on average, the second-cheapest brand had an impressive reliability score of 79%.

Which washer-dryer brand stays fault free for longest?

The graph above shows how the washer-dryer brand that stays fault-free for longest compares with the worst brand and the overall average. Which? members can see how brands compare for faults over an eight-year period in the table below.

If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.

Table notes: Results based on feedback from 558 washer-dryer owners, surveyed in September 2019.

How long will my washer-dryer last?

On average a washer-dryer will last ten years. This is based on the experiences of Which? members who told us how long they kept their previous appliance before they replaced it, either due to a fault, or because it wasn’t working as well as when they first bought it. As you can see from the graph below there’s a big difference between how long the best and the worst brands last.

Which? members can login to view which washer-dryer brands last the longest before they need to be replaced. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.

How we measure faults and reliability in washer-dryers

Our reliability scores take into account minor, major and catastrophic faults.

• Minor A fault that doesn't affect the product's performance significantly or a fault that only occurs occasionally with minimal impact. The issue may be irritating or annoying but it isn't frequently problematic and you can easily work around it. For example, a machine that is unusually noisy.
• Major A fault that noticeably affects the product’s performance. It affects how you use the product and can be problematic. For example, a faulty sensor that affects how well the machine dries laundry.
• Catastrophic A fault that renders the product unusable, with the fault needing to be repaired or parts replaced before it can be used again. For example, an electrical failure.

Washer-dryer brands rated

Choose a brand from the list below to find out more detail about its performance in our survey, plus how many of its models are Best Buys and the average score of its washer-dryers in our lab tests.

Only logged-in Which? members can view which brands achieved the ratings and verdicts in the table below. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.

Head to our washer-dryer reviews

Know which washer-dryer brand you want? Use the links to go straight to our reviews and find your ideal model:

• AEG washer-dryer reviews
• Bosch washer-dryer reviews
• Hotpoint washer-dryer reviews
• Indesit washer-dryer reviews
• John Lewis washer-dryer reviews
• LG washer-dryer reviews
• Miele washer-dryer reviews
• Zanussi washer-dryer reviews

How we calculate the best and worst brands

Which? has a wealth of information on Britain's favourite washer-dryer brands. Every year we ask Which? members to tell us about the washer-dryer products they own - from how likely they would be to recommend a brand, to how reliable the products are once they get them home. This year 558 Which? members told us about their washer-dryers. We calculate a brand's reliability and its customer score based on the results of our annual survey.

Our reliability surveys, combined with our extensive lab tests, mean we can recommend the best washer-dryers you should buy.

This data is crucial for our testing, too. If a brand falls far below the category average, we take away the manufacturer’s Best Buy status and won’t recommend any of their products unless a marked improvement in reliability is shown.