Best energy-efficient washer-dryers

Energy bills seem to be going up constantly and we're all looking at ways to make savings. Find out how to save energy if you use a washer-dryer. 

Washer-dryers use about the same amount of energy as a washing machine to wash your clothes, but much more than a tumble dryer to dry them. That's why, in general, we recommend buying two standalone machines if you can, or doing without a tumble dryer if you have an outdoor space to hang clothes.

If you need a washer-dryer, though, because you're short on space and often have lots of laundry to dry, make sure it's one that washes and dries well and isn't too energy-hungry compared to others.

If you just want to see the very best on test, head over to the best washer-dryers 2024

The best energy-efficient washer-dryers

Table last checked: November 2024

How much does a washer-dryer cost to run?

There are massive differences in running costs between the cheapest and most expensive washer-dryers. The cheapest running costs for washer-dryers we've tested are £28 a year for washing and around £80 for drying. But others will cost significantly more.

There are several factors that feed into that, including capacity. A 7kg capacity model (with 4kg drying capacity) will cost on average an annual £146 to run (for both washing and drying together) while a 12kg model (with 8kg drying capacity) will cost on average £274.

That's based on the washer-dryer being used to wash at 40°C four times a week and dry three times a week, and using the new energy price cap figures that come into effect from October 2024.

A washer-dryer with comparatively very low running costs won’t necessarily be any good when it comes to washing and drying clothes. Often, this kind of appliance will be OK as a washer but struggle to dry effectively. 

Use our washer-dryer reviews to have the best chance of finding a washer-dryer that’s great at its job and that keeps running costs low, too.

Washer-dryer energy labels

The energy label you see in the shop or online will give you an indication of where the washer-dryer sits in terms of energy use, but it doesn’t give you the full picture.

In every one of our washer-dryer reviews, we show how much each machine costs to run – and that’s the kind of information that you won’t find on the energy label.

The washer-dryers energy label is calculated based on tests with machines filled to the brim. But in Which? tests, we find out how much energy machines consume based on how people actually use them in the home.

As most people tend to underfill when washing and drying, and our tests are designed to mimic normal consumer use, we only fill our washer-dryers to 80% of their washing capacity and 70% of their drying capacity in our tests.

Find out more about how we test washer-dryers. 

Eco Buy washer-dryers

If you want to make the most sustainable choice when you're buying your next washer-dryer, a Which? Eco Buy is a good option, as it will have a lower impact on the environment over its lifetime than other washer-dryers.

We calculate this in two ways: how energy-efficient they are and how little water they use. Because of this, you can expect an Eco Buy washer-dryer to save you money on your bills as well as reduce your environmental impact.

To become an Eco Buy, a washer-dryer must have:

• A test score of at least 65%
• Four stars or more for water use
• Four stars or more for energy use during washing
• Three stars or more for drying performance on both cottons and synthetics
• A good brand reliability record in our annual washer-dryer owner survey

Only around 5-10% of washer-dryers are sustainable enough to be Eco Buys. 

To find out which did enough in our tests to earn this badge, browse all our Eco Buy washer-dryer reviews 

Washer-dryer energy-saving tips

Wash at lower temperatures: washing clothes at lower temperatures will help to reduce the cost of doing the laundry. Turning the dial down from 60°C to 40°C cuts your washing costs by about a third.

Wash at off-peak times: electricity costs more at busier times (5pm to 8pm) when people are coming home from work and switching on their appliances. You can save money by running your washer-dryer outside these peak times. 

However, we don't recommending washing or drying your clothes at night. If there's an electrical fault which causes a fire, you'll be asleep and won't know about it. 

Separate different fabrics when drying: drying sensors inside the washer-dryer become confused if different fabrics are dried together, and this can lead to longer-than-necessary drying times. So separate different fabrics to speed up drying and save money.

Loosen your laundry: clothes bundled into a ball will take forever to dry, and that will drive up the cost of drying. Fix this by loosening your clothes before drying them – and with large items, such as a duvet cover, look for any stray clothes that may have become trapped inside.

Prefer to get a tumble dryer after all? Head over to our tumble dryer reviews