Drum size, energy rating, spin speed and smart features — everything you need to know before you buy, explained in plain English.
The most important decision in buying a washing machine is its capacity, measured by the size of its drum. Getting this wrong means either doing multiple loads every day or washing clothes in a half-empty drum and wasting energy. As a general rule of thumb: 7 to 8kg suits one or two people, 9kg works well for three or four, and 10kg or above is the right call for families of five or more, or anyone who regularly washes bedding and large items. These weights refer to the dry weight of the clothes.
A typical 8kg load consists of roughly 4 t-shirts, 2 pairs of jeans, 5 items of underwear, 4 pairs of socks, 2 hand towels, 1 jumper and 3 shirts. That comes to around 4kg dry weight, which means you can comfortably fit two people's weekly clothes in a single 8kg load. A good rule is to fill the drum to about three quarters full when loading dry clothes — this leaves enough space for the water and gives the machine room to wash effectively.
| Item | Quantity | Approx dry weight |
|---|---|---|
| T-shirts | 4 | 600g |
| Jeans | 2 | 1,400g |
| Underwear | 5 | 250g |
| Socks (pairs) | 4 | 200g |
| Hand towels | 2 | 600g |
| Jumper / sweatshirt | 1 | 500g |
| Shirts | 3 | 450g |
| Total | ~4kg dry |
Every washing machine has an energy rating. The highest rating under the current UK framework is A, introduced when the scale was reset in 2021. An A-rated machine typically uses around 0.55 kWh per cycle at 40°C. At the current electricity rate of 24.67p per kWh (April 2026 price cap), that works out to roughly 14p per wash cycle. Over 200 washes a year — about four loads per week — that comes to approximately £27 per year in electricity.
A B-rated machine uses around 0.85 kWh per cycle, costing around 21p per wash and approximately £42 per year. Choosing A-rated over B-rated saves around £15 per year on your electricity bill. Given current energy costs, it is worth prioritising the rating rather than just the purchase price.
Note on the old energy scale: Older machines rated A+++ under the previous system are roughly equivalent to B or C on the new scale. It is worth checking which scale the label refers to when comparing machines.
A higher spin speed extracts more water before the clothes go to dry, which cuts drying time and energy use if you use a tumble dryer. Unless you are washing delicate fabrics that need a lower speed, 1400rpm is the right choice for everyday laundry. Machines at 1200rpm are cheaper but leave clothes noticeably wetter, which costs more in tumble dryer time or means longer line drying.
Wi-Fi connectivity is worth having if you run a busy household and want to start a wash remotely or get notifications when a cycle finishes. Some machines also have smart sensors that detect how soiled the clothes are and adjust the wash cycle for optimum energy use. It may be worth paying a little extra if any of these features would be genuinely useful in your circumstances.
Most washing machines are designed to last between 8 and 12 years depending on how often they are used. A household running two or three loads a day will wear out a machine faster than one running two or three loads a week. Brands that offer a 5-year or longer motor warranty, like Beko or Haier, are typically more confident in their long-term durability.
Since March 2021 the UK moved to a new energy label scale that runs from A to G. A-rated is now the most efficient category. Older machines rated A+++ under the previous system are roughly equivalent to B or C on the new scale, so it is worth checking which scale the label refers to when you are comparing machines.
A higher spin speed removes more water before the drying stage, which means clothes come out less wet and take less time to dry. For most households 1400rpm is the right choice. Going above 1400rpm adds cost to the machine and can be harsher on fabrics without delivering a meaningful real-world benefit for everyday laundry.
The right machine depends on your household size, how often you wash, what you are looking to spend, and whether features like Wi-Fi or specific programmes matter to you. The fastest way to find your best match is to use our guided questionnaire — it asks you the right questions and gives you a personalised recommendation in under two minutes.
Answer a few questions and we will find your perfect washing machine in under two minutes.
Find my perfect washing machine