If you want a trusted name, a Hisense inverter machine is a sensible step up; for a big household, an 11kg drum takes the largest loads; and on the tightest budget a basic 8kg machine does the job for around £229. The big-brand machines (Bosch, Samsung, Beko) cost more largely for the badge; the value brands here deliver the specs that actually matter for less. Below we explain how to size the drum, why spin speed quietly saves you money, and what an inverter motor buys you.
Last reviewed 14 October 2026
Prices and stock on this page are pulled live from each listing and refresh several times a day. The two things that matter most on a washing machine are matching the drum size to your household and getting a decent spin speed and energy rating, which keep running costs down. Big-brand machines cost more for a badge; the value brands here offer the specs that matter for less. How we choose: we compare the live Amazon listings, the makers' published specs and the owner reviews, including the 1 to 3 star ones, and we don't test hands-on, so we never claim to.
The top 4, ranked
★ Our pick · Best overallCOMFEE' 9kg Washing Machine (A-Rated, 1400rpm, BLDC)A 9kg A-rated drum with a 1400rpm spin and a durable inverter motor, for well under £250.£269.99In stockBuy on Amazon
Best brandHisense 1Q Series 8kg Washing Machine (Inverter, 1400rpm)A trusted-brand 8kg inverter machine with a strong spin, for a bit more reassurance.£269.00£329.00Save 18%In stockBuy on Amazon
Best large capacityHisense 11kg Washing Machine (1400rpm, Auto Wash)An 11kg drum for big households, bulky bedding and fewer, fuller loads.£299.00In stockBuy on Amazon
Best budgetGorenje 8kg Washing Machine (1400rpm)A capable 8kg 1400rpm machine for around £229: the cheapest sensible family drum.£219.00£239.00Save 8%In stockBuy on AmazonCompare the specs
| Product | Capacity | Spin speed | Energy rating | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMFEE' 9kg Washing Machine (A-Rated, 1400rpm, BLDC)★ Best Overall | 9kg | 1400rpm | A | Families, value | £269.99 |
| Hisense 1Q Series 8kg Washing Machine (Inverter, 1400rpm)Best Brand | 8kg | 1400rpm | Check listing | Brand reassurance | £269.00 |
| Hisense 11kg Washing Machine (1400rpm, Auto Wash)Best Large Capacity | 11kg | 1400rpm | Check listing | Large households, bedding | £299.00 |
| Gorenje 8kg Washing Machine (1400rpm)Best Budget | 8kg | 1400rpm | Check listing | Budget, family basics | £219.00 |
Prices are live from Amazon and refresh through the day; last page update 14 October 2026.
Size the drum to your household
Drum capacity (in kg) is the first thing to get right, and it is about how many people you wash for, not how big the machine looks:
- 7kg: one or two people. Fine for couples and small households.
- 8 to 9kg: the family sweet spot, handles most households and the odd load of bedding.
- 10 to 11kg: large families, and anyone who regularly washes bulky duvets and bedding, so you can do it in fewer, fuller loads.
Bigger is not automatically better: a large drum you only half-fill wastes a little energy and costs more upfront, while a drum that is too small means more frequent washes. Match it to your usual laundry, with a little headroom for bedding, and you have made the main decision. The kg figure is the maximum dry weight of cotton it is rated for, not what you should cram in every wash.
Spin speed and energy rating: where the running cost hides
- Spin speed (rpm): a higher spin (1400rpm is the sensible standard) wrings more water out, so clothes come out drier and need less time in the tumble dryer or on the airer. Since drying is where a lot of laundry energy goes, a good spin quietly saves you money downstream. Very high spins (1600rpm+) wring out a touch more but can crease clothes and cost more.
- Energy rating: the scale was reset in 2021, so today's A to G is stricter, an A or B is genuinely efficient, and most decent machines sit in that range. A more efficient machine costs less to run over its life, which can outweigh a slightly higher purchase price.
- The big running-cost lever is you: most of a wash's energy goes on heating the water, so washing at 30 degrees and running full loads saves more than almost any spec. At the Ofgem cap of 26.32p/kWh, lower temperatures and fuller loads are the real savings.
Inverter (BLDC) motors are worth having
Most quality machines now use a brushless inverter (BLDC) motor instead of an older belt-driven one. It is worth looking for, because it:
- Runs quieter, which matters if your machine is near living space or you run it at night.
- Is more efficient, contributing to the energy rating.
- Lasts longer and is more reliable, which is why inverter motors often carry a longer warranty (sometimes 10 years on the motor).
A long motor warranty is a good sign the maker trusts the machine. It is not the only thing that matters, but given the choice, an inverter-motor machine is the more durable, quieter buy.
Our picks in detail
COMFEE' 9kg Washing Machine (A-Rated, 1400rpm, BLDC)
A 9kg A-rated drum with a 1400rpm spin and a durable inverter motor, for well under £250.
A strong-value family machine.
The COMFEE 9kg is the washing machine most households should buy. It gets the fundamentals right for the money: a generous 9kg drum that swallows a family's washing, the top A energy rating on the current scale to keep running costs down, a 1400rpm spin that gets clothes drier so they need less time in the dryer or on the airer, and a brushless BLDC inverter motor that runs quieter and lasts longer than older belt-driven motors. For well under £250, that is a lot of the right specs.
It is a value brand rather than a Bosch or Samsung, so it does not carry the premium badge or the longest brand pedigree, and the programme list is sensible rather than endless. But the specs that actually affect your wash and your bills, capacity, energy rating, spin and a durable motor, are all here, and you are not paying a premium for a name. If you want a trusted brand, the Hisense below is the step up; for the best balance of the specs that matter and price, this is the pick.
Hisense 1Q Series 8kg Washing Machine (Inverter, 1400rpm)
A trusted-brand 8kg inverter machine with a strong spin, for a bit more reassurance.
If you want a recognised brand, the Hisense 1Q Series 8kg is a sensible step up. Hisense is an established name across home appliances, and this delivers an 8kg drum suited to most families, a durable inverter motor and a 1400rpm spin, with the reassurance of a bigger brand's support and reliability record. It is a well-rounded machine that covers everyday family washing without fuss.
It costs a little more than the value pick for a similar core spec, so you are partly paying for the brand and its backing rather than a dramatically different wash. But for buyers who want a known name and are happy to pay a bit for it, it is a dependable choice. If you want the most capacity per pound or the lowest price, the COMFEE and budget options suit better; for a trusted-brand machine at a fair price, this is the one.
Hisense 11kg Washing Machine (1400rpm, Auto Wash)
An 11kg drum for big households, bulky bedding and fewer, fuller loads.
If you have a big household or regularly wash bulky items like duvets and bedding, the Hisense 11kg gives you the drum size to do it in fewer, fuller loads. A bigger drum means you run the machine less often, which is both more convenient and more efficient per item washed, and it comfortably handles large families' laundry and king-size bedding that a smaller drum struggles with. It keeps the 1400rpm spin and auto-wash convenience too.
A larger machine costs a bit more and, if you only ever wash small loads, the extra capacity is wasted and you would do better with a smaller, cheaper drum. But for genuinely large households and bulky washing, the ability to do it all in one load is a real convenience and efficiency win. If you are one or two people, an 8kg machine is plenty; for a big family or lots of bedding, this is the pick.
Gorenje 8kg Washing Machine (1400rpm)
A capable 8kg 1400rpm machine for around £229: the cheapest sensible family drum.
If you want a proper family washing machine for as little as possible, the Gorenje 8kg does the job for around £229. It is a full-size freestanding machine with an 8kg drum that suits most families, a 1400rpm spin to get clothes drier, and the everyday programmes you actually use, from a European brand, at a keen price. For a first machine, a rental or a tight budget, it covers the essentials without fuss.
At this price the feature set and finish are more basic than the dearer machines, and you may not get the very latest motor or the longest warranty. But the core job, washing a family's clothes efficiently with a decent spin, is delivered cheaply. If you want the top energy rating, a bigger drum or a durable inverter motor with a long warranty, the COMFEE and Hisense are worth a little more; as the cheapest capable family machine here, this is honest value.
Which features are worth it?
- A quick-wash programme: genuinely useful for lightly soiled loads you want done fast, and uses less water and energy than a full cycle.
- A good spin and a 30-degree eco wash: the features that actually save money, as above.
- Delay timer: handy if you want the wash to finish for when you get home, or to run on a cheaper overnight tariff if you have one.
- Auto dose / load sensing: nice-to-haves that adjust water and detergent to the load.
- Dozens of niche programmes: most people use three or four. Do not pay a premium for a long programme list you will ignore.
Common myths, corrected
- "Big brands wash much better." Not really. The wash depends on the drum, spin and programme, which value brands match. You pay more for the badge, support and sometimes build, not dramatically cleaner clothes.
- "Hot washes clean best." For most everyday laundry, 30 degrees with a good detergent cleans fine and costs far less, since heating the water is where the energy goes. Save hot washes for heavily soiled items and towels.
- "A bigger drum always saves energy." Only if you fill it. A large drum run half-empty wastes energy; match the drum to your loads.
- "More programmes means a better machine." No. Most people use a handful. A good spin, energy rating and reliable motor matter far more than a long programme list.
What we’d skip
- Paying a big premium for a badgeThe wash depends on the drum size, spin speed and programmes, which value brands match. Big-brand machines cost more largely for the name and support, not dramatically cleaner clothes, so spend on the specs that matter instead.
- Buying a drum that does not match your householdToo small means constant washing; too big and half-empty wastes energy and money. Match the kg capacity to your usual loads, with headroom for bedding, rather than buying the biggest or cheapest.
- Ignoring the spin speedA higher spin (1400rpm) wrings clothes drier so they need less tumble drying, which is where a lot of laundry energy goes. A low spin quietly costs you more at the dryer, so do not overlook it.
- Washing everything hotMost of a wash's energy heats the water, so routine hot washes cost far more. Wash everyday laundry at 30 degrees with a good detergent and run full loads; save hot washes for heavily soiled items.
- Paying for dozens of programmes you will never useMost people use three or four. A good spin, a strong energy rating and a durable inverter motor matter far more than a long list of niche cycles.
Frequently asked questions
What size washing machine do I need?
Match the drum to your household: around 7kg suits one or two people, 8 to 9kg is the family sweet spot that also copes with the odd load of bedding, and 10 to 11kg suits large families or regular bulky washing like duvets. Bigger is not automatically better, since a large drum run half-empty wastes energy, while too small means constant washing. The kg figure is the maximum dry cotton load it is rated for, so size it to your usual laundry with a little headroom.
Does spin speed on a washing machine matter?
Yes, more than people realise. A higher spin speed, with 1400rpm the sensible standard, wrings more water out of your clothes, so they come out drier and need less time in the tumble dryer or on the airer. Since drying uses a lot of laundry energy, a good spin quietly saves you money downstream. Very high spins of 1600rpm and up wring out a touch more but can crease clothes and cost more, so 1400rpm is the practical sweet spot.
Are expensive big-brand washing machines worth it?
Not dramatically, for the wash itself. How clean your clothes come out depends on the drum, spin speed and programmes, which value brands match for less. What you pay more for with premium brands is the badge, the support network, and sometimes build quality and longer warranties. If brand reassurance and support matter to you, pay for it; if you want the specs that affect your wash and bills for the least money, a good value-brand machine is the smarter buy.
What temperature should I wash clothes at to save money?
For most everyday laundry, 30 degrees with a good detergent cleans perfectly well and costs far less, because most of a wash's energy goes on heating the water. At the Ofgem price cap of 26.32p per kWh, dropping from hot washes to 30 degrees and running full loads saves more than almost any machine feature. Save hotter washes for heavily soiled items, towels and bedding where they genuinely help; the rest can go cool.
What is an inverter or BLDC motor, and is it better?
An inverter, or brushless BLDC, motor replaces the older belt-driven motor with a direct-drive design. It is worth having because it runs quieter, is more efficient, and lasts longer and more reliably, which is why inverter motors often carry a longer warranty, sometimes ten years. A long motor warranty is a good sign the maker trusts the machine. Given the choice, an inverter-motor washing machine is the quieter, more durable buy.
What energy rating should a washing machine have?
Aim for A or B on the current scale. The energy label was reset in 2021 to be stricter, so today's ratings are harder to achieve than the old A+++ ones, and an A or B is genuinely efficient. A more efficient machine costs less to run over its years of life, which can outweigh a slightly higher purchase price. That said, how you use it, washing cooler and running full loads, affects your bills more than the rating difference between two decent machines.
How do I reduce my washing machine running costs?
Wash at 30 degrees where you can, since heating the water is where most of the energy goes, and always run full loads rather than frequent half loads. Choose a machine with a good spin speed so clothes come out drier and need less tumble drying, and a strong energy rating. Use a quick wash for lightly soiled loads. These habits save far more than the difference between two decent machines, so how you use it matters most.
How many washing programmes do I actually need?
Most people use just three or four: a cottons or everyday wash, a quick wash, a cooler eco wash, and maybe a delicates or synthetics cycle. The long lists of niche programmes on some machines mostly go unused, so do not pay a premium for them. What matters far more is a good spin speed, a strong energy rating and a reliable inverter motor. Choose a machine on those fundamentals rather than the number of programmes.
