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1 October 2021

Top five washer-dryers for 2021

Which? takes the hard work out of choosing a washer-dryer with our pick of the top five, from the cheapest Best Buy to best for a large family.

Aaron West

We test every washer-dryer, from how thoroughly they'll clean your clothes and how evenly they'll dry them to how much it will cost to run.

You're ideally looking for a washer-dryer that washes as well as a washing machine and dries as well as a tumble dryer. Those that excel at in our tests become Best Buys.

We've seen big difference between the results of models we've tested, which has led to several being rated Don't Buy washer-dryers that you should avoid, and a whole host that will give you very average results.

To help you narrow down what you need, we've rounded up the best washer-dryers so you can choose one depending on what's important to you, whether it be having a large-capacity machine for a big family or a cheap model that won't break the bank.

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.

Top five best washer dryers

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75%
£844.00
If you need a washer-dryer that's going to wash and dry like a pro, then look no further than this machine. It has an impressive 10kg wash capacity, and there isn't a job that this machine can't handle.
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73%
£699.00
This easy to use machine scored top marks in our washing tests, blasting through stains on both cottons and synthetics. It works brilliantly as a dryer too, making it a well-deserved Best Buy.
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70%
£1019.99
This machine washes both cottons and synthetics well, is a pretty good dryer and is easy to use. We were so impressed with this washer-dryer that it becomes a Best Buy.
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70%
£649.00
This machine not only aced our cleaning tests, delivering outstanding wash results on grubby laundry, but it’s got decent drying power too. Add to that the fact it’s incredibly easy to use, and it’s clear to see why we didn’t hold back in naming this a Best Buy.
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70%
£619.00
This will give you expertly washed and dried clothes. The rinse cycle isn’t great and it isn’t the cheapest to run, but that isn’t enough to stop it joining the ranks of our Best Buy washer-dryers.
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Last updated: 1 October 2021

You can also go straight to our washer-dryer reviews where you can compare these five models alongside all the others we've reviewed.

Three washer-dryers to avoid

Not all machines are a whizz at washing (and plenty are lacklustre and slow dryers). We’ve found models that struggle with everyday stains and take forever to dry your laundry. These are just some of the washer-dryers we recommend steering clear of:

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41%
£399.00
A poor cottons wash and lacklustre drying are just two of the reasons this washer dryer failed to impress our experts in the test lab. Plus, with its feeble rinsing and lengthy program times, it’s clear that this is one to avoid.
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45%
£1099.99
This isn't a cheap washer-dryer, and we felt underwhelmed with its washing and drying. In our tests it was OK at some things, but overall it wasn't really good enough.
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46%
£759.00
The cotton wash almost couldn't get any worse, and it takes ages to dry clothes. In fact, it was so poor that it only narrowly missed becoming a Don't Buy.
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What makes Which? Best Buy washer-dryers better?

At Which?, our reviews are based on weeks of rigorous lab testing. We look at every aspect of each washer-dryer, from how well it cleans to how much energy it uses.

We splatter cotton clothes with tough stains, such as chocolate, oil, blood and red wine, and run both the cottons and synthetics programs. We then measure to see how much light bounces off the fabric – the more, the better the machine has moved the stains. The best washer-dryers do a brilliant job of shifting stains, while with the worst machines, stains will be still visible after the wash.

We also check to see how much detergent each machine has removed in the rinsing cycle. We collect any water left and measure how alkaline it is – the higher the reading, the more detergent has been left.

For our full list of Best Buys, head to all our washer-dryer reviews.