What load capacity does your washing machine need?
26 August 2026
7, 8 or 9 kilos: choosing a washing machine starts with the question of how many kg you actually need. And that is no small detail. Go too small and you will be running loads constantly. Go too big and you are paying for space you never use. In this blog you will find out which load capacity suits your household and how to fill your drum sensibly.
What is the load capacity of a washing machine?
The load capacity is the maximum weight of dry laundry the drum can take. So an 8 kg washing machine holds 8 kilos of dry clothes or bedding. That maximum also applies to the standard programme, usually cottons. For a quick wash, wool or delicates you only ever fill the drum part way.
Worth knowing: a bigger drum does not automatically mean a bigger appliance in your bathroom or utility room. The outside dimensions of washing machines are fairly standard, roughly 60 by 60 centimetres and 85 centimetres tall. The difference is mostly in the drum itself.
How many kg do you need per household?
The rule of thumb is simple: more people means more laundry, which means a bigger load capacity. This is the advice most appliance specialists land on:
Household | Load capacity | What that means |
|---|---|---|
1 to 2 people | 7 kg | 1 to 3 washes a week |
2 to 3 people | 8 kg | Room for bedding and towels |
4 people or more | 9 kg | Fewer cycles, bigger loads |
If you live alone or as a couple, 7 kg is usually plenty. You run a full drum a couple of times a week, which is exactly what these machines are built for. With two or three people in the house, or a small child, 8 kg is more comfortable: towels and sheets slot in easily alongside your clothes.
Pick a load capacity you can genuinely fill on a regular basis. That is the best choice for your energy bill and for your laundry.
How many kg of washing machine for a family of four?
For a household of four we would recommend a 9 kg washing machine. With four people you quickly reach five to seven washes a week, and you want those done in as few cycles as possible. With 9 kg you can wash a duvet cover, a full set of sheets or a mountain of sportswear in one go, instead of splitting it into two half loads.
With young children at home, that extra room is even more welcome. Baby clothes, bibs and bedding change more often, and playground mud does not wait. And for most families 9 kg is exactly enough: you run a few full drums a week rather than half a drum every day.
What does a load of laundry weigh?
Kilos sound abstract. To make it a little more concrete:
T-shirt: around 200 grams
Pair of jeans: around 700 to 800 grams
Bath towel: around 700 grams
Double fitted sheet: around 700 grams
Double duvet cover: around 1.5 kilos
An average mixed load for two people therefore adds up to 4 or 5 kilos. A complete bedding change for a double bed sits at around 3 kilos. That shows straight away that 7 kg really is enough for a small household, that 8 kg gives you just that bit of extra room for towels, and that with 9 kg you can wash bedding and a load of towels together.
Can you wash a duvet in your machine?
That depends on the size. A single duvet or a thin summer duvet generally fits an 8 kg drum. For a double duvet you need 9 kg. Not because a duvet is heavy, but because the volume takes up space: laundry still needs room to move around to get clean.
If you have to force the duvet in, it will not wash properly and the machine will struggle. A thick winter duvet is simply too big for almost any household machine; for that you are better off at a launderette with large machines. Always check the care label too, as not every duvet is machine washable.
How to fill your washing machine properly
A full drum is not the same as a stuffed drum. Leave about a hand’s width of space at the top, roughly ten centimetres. If you can still lay your hand in loosely, you are good.
Wool, silk and delicates come with a stricter rule: fill the drum halfway at most. A short 30-minute programme will not take the full load capacity either. Mix large and small items as well, so the load stays evenly spread and your machine shakes less during the spin cycle.
Choose your Homie washing machine
Know which load capacity you need, but not keen on spending hundreds of euros on it? With Homie you can have a washing machine subscription from just €9.99 a month. You pick the size that suits your household and we take care of the rest: delivery and installation are included, usually within 1 to 3 working days, and maintenance and repairs come with it.
You do the washing, we take care of the rest.
