LG vs Bosch washing machines UK 2026
Your parents swore by Bosch. The question is whether that trust was earned by the machine — or inherited from a different era.
LG, on our data, and clearly. The two brands are level on reliability at 84 apiece — Bosch’s engineering reputation is borne out in owner reviews. But LG leads on every other measure: overall WAC Score 82 to 66, features 84 to 68, efficiency 76 to 61, and value 56 to 30. LG also covers more of the market, from £329 against Bosch’s £449, with 17 models to 7. Buy Bosch if a quiet, solidly built machine from a German engineer matters more to you than the scores; otherwise buy LG.
The brands at a glance
Averages across every currently available freestanding model, colour variants collapsed.
| Brand | Models | Avg WAC | Reliability | Efficiency | Features | Value | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG | 17 | 82 | 84 | 76 | 84 | 56 | £329–711 |
| Bosch | 7 | 66 | 84 | 61 | 68 | 30 | £449–899 |
Reliability is the one column where they meet, and it is the column Bosch’s reputation rests on. The gap everywhere else is what you pay for the badge.
About the cards below. On a comparison page each card shows a brand’s best machine in the band, so you can see the two ranges side by side. They are representatives, not recommendations — our recommendation is the answer at the top of this page. That is why a card can show a machine scoring below 70, which we would not list as a pick in our ranked guides.
Mid-range — £400 to £649
The main event, and the only band where both brands field several machines. At the same £449, LG’s best scores 92 to Bosch’s 69; Bosch’s edges it on reliability, 85 to 86.
| Best machine in band | WAC | Reliability | Features | Value | Price | Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG F4X7009TBB | 92 | 86 | 93 | 67 | £449 | 9 |
| Bosch WAN28258GB | 69 | 85 | 67 | 35 | £449 | 6 |
LG F4X7009TBB
9kg · 1400rpm · A rated
Our top score of 92 with features at 93 and the lowest running cost in this comparison at 29 kWh per 100 cycles, for £449. The strongest machine either brand sells in the mid-range.
Bosch WAN28258GB
8kg · 1400rpm · A rated
Reliability of 85, a point above LG's best in this band, from Bosch's well-regarded engineering. An 8kg drum at £449. Its overall score of 69 reflects efficiency of 66 and features of 67; if build and dependability are what you are buying, it delivers on both.
Premium — £650 and above
Bosch fields a single machine here against LG’s 4, so this is a comparison of two machines rather than two ranges.
| Best machine in band | WAC | Reliability | Features | Value | Price | Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG F4X5013TBB | 92 | 91 | 81 | 89 | £711 | 4 |
| Bosch WGH254A0GB | 75 | 80 | 74 | 53 | £899 | 1 |
LG F4X5013TBB
13kg · 1400rpm · A rated
Reliability of 91 — the highest score we publish for any machine — with our top overall mark of 92 and a 13kg drum at £711. The most dependable machine in this comparison, and the largest.
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Bosch WGH254A0GB
10kg · 1400rpm · A rated
Bosch's only premium machine: a 10kg drum with reliability of 80 and a quiet, solidly built cabinet. If you specifically want a Bosch at this level, this is the one; it costs £188 more than the LG beside it.
Budget — under £400
Bosch does not sell a freestanding machine under £400, so LG has this band to itself.
| Best machine in band | WAC | Reliability | Features | Value | Price | Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG F2A509GBLN1 | 80 | 88 | 96 | 35 | £369 | 4 |
LG F2A509GBLN1
9kg · 1200rpm · A rated
Features at 96 and reliability of 88 with a 9kg drum for £369. LG's strongest budget machine, and the only machine in this comparison under £400 — Bosch sells nothing in this band.
Who should buy which
Buy LG for almost every buyer. It matches Bosch on reliability, beats it on features, efficiency and value, and reaches further down the price range — the F4X7009TBB scores 92 at £449.
Buy Bosch if build quality, quiet running and the brand’s service reputation matter more to you than the scores. Its reliability of 84 is genuine; what you give up is features and running costs, and what you pay for is the name.
Frequently asked questions
Is LG better than Bosch?
On our data, yes. Both brands average a reliability score of 84, but LG leads on overall WAC Score (82 to 66), features (84 to 68), efficiency (76 to 61) and value (56 to 30).
Are Bosch washing machines reliable?
Yes. Bosch averages a reliability score of 84 across 7 models, level with LG and among the strongest figures of any brand we track. Where Bosch scores lower is value and features, not dependability.
Why does Bosch score so low overall?
Mainly value. Bosch averages a value score of 30 against LG's 56, because its machines cost more for comparable measured performance, and its efficiency (61) and features (68) also trail. Reliability is not the problem.
Does Bosch make a cheap washing machine?
Not a freestanding one. Bosch's cheapest machine we score is £449. LG starts at £329.
Which is the best LG washing machine?
The LG F4X7009TBB at £449, scoring 92 with the lowest running cost in this comparison. For outright reliability, the LG F4X5013TBB scores 91, the highest we publish.
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