A washing machine is one of the hardest-working appliances in the house, and one of the easiest to buy badly — because the number on the front, the drum size in kilograms, is the thing most people choose on and the thing that matters least once you have enough of it.
Here's what actually decides whether you are happy with it.
Step one: freestanding or integrated?
Freestanding machines stand on their own. Cheaper, easier to replace, and generally available in larger drum sizes for the money.
Integrated machines hide behind a cabinet door so the kitchen reads as one run. They cost more, top out at smaller drums, and are slightly more involved to replace — but in a fitted kitchen the difference in how the room looks is real.
One thing worth knowing: integrated machines are usually a little louder in use than their freestanding equivalents, because the cabinet door does not damp sound the way a solid appliance case does.
Step two: drum size, honestly
The rule of thumb is roughly 1–2kg of drum per person, but the more useful way to think about it is how often you want to run it.
- 7kg — one or two people. A full load is about a week of clothes for a couple.
- 8kg — a small family. The most common size sold in the UK, and the right default if you are unsure.
- 9–11kg — a family of four or more, or anyone washing bedding and towels regularly. A 9kg drum takes a double duvet; a 7kg one does not.
- 12kg — large households, or if you would rather do two big washes a week than five small ones.
The thing nobody mentions: a half-empty large drum is less efficient than a full small one, because the machine heats water for the drum, not the clothes. Buying much bigger than you need costs you twice — once at purchase and again every wash.
What we stock at each size
- 7kg integrated — the AWT714S 7kg 1400 spin integrated at £349, or the CDA 7kg integrated 1200rpm at £439.
- 8kg integrated — the Montpellier MBIWM814 8kg fully integrated at £459.
- 9kg freestanding — the Samsung Series 6+ 9kg with Auto Dose at £459.
- 9kg integrated — the Candy CBW49D1W4J 9kg 1400rpm integrated at £399.
- 10kg integrated — the Hoover H500 10kg 1400rpm integrated at £599.
- 11kg freestanding — the Samsung Series 6+ 11kg Auto Dose at £579.
- 12kg freestanding — the SIA SWM121400W 12kg 1400rpm with inverter motor at £299.99, which is remarkable value for the capacity.
Step three: spin speed
Spin speed decides how wet the laundry is when it comes out, which decides how long it takes to dry.
- 1200rpm — fine for most households, especially if you line dry.
- 1400rpm — the sweet spot. Noticeably drier laundry, and it makes a real difference if you use a tumble dryer, because the dryer then runs for less time.
- 1600rpm — marginal gains over 1400, more wear on fabrics, and usually more vibration.
If you own a tumble dryer, 1400rpm pays for itself. If everything goes on an airer, 1200 is plenty.
Step four: the things that actually decide whether you like it
- Noise. Quoted in dB for wash and spin separately — the spin figure is the one you will hear. In an open-plan kitchen this matters more than any feature on the list.
- Inverter motor. Brushless, quieter, more efficient and usually carries a longer motor warranty. Worth looking for.
- Quick wash. A 15–30 minute cycle for lightly worn clothes. The cycle you will use most often, and not every machine does it well.
- Auto dose. The machine holds a reservoir of detergent and measures each wash itself. Genuinely reduces waste, because almost everyone over-doses by hand.
- Delay start. Run it overnight on a cheaper tariff.
Before you order
- Measure the aperture, including height under the worktop. Integrated machines need a specific housing.
- Check the plumbing — water supply, waste and a socket within reach.
- Remove the transit bolts. Every new machine ships with bolts locking the drum for transport. Running it with them still in will damage it, and it is the single most common installation mistake.
- Check the floor is level. An unlevel machine walks across the room on spin.
Our measuring guide covers what to record first.
The quick answer
- Best value, largest drum: the SIA 12kg 1400rpm at £299.99.
- Best all-round freestanding: the Samsung Series 6+ 9kg at £459.
- Best integrated for a family: the Montpellier MBIWM814 8kg at £459.
- Smallest household: the AWT714S 7kg integrated at £349.
Browse the full washing machine range, or read our washing machine buying guide for more on drum sizes and energy labels. If you are weighing one machine against two, our washer dryer vs separates guide covers that decision.
Prices correct at September 2026.
