Front loading washing machines have been popular in Europe for decades and are increasingly commonplace in North America. Their growing availability is due to a combination of their efficiency and lower water consumption along with the fact that they are known to be more gentle on your clothes.
They also tend to be quieter than top loading machines since they don’t have an agitator violently churning the clothes. But you may have also noticed that the way front load washers display their capacity is different too.
A front load washing machine’s capacity is measured in cubic feet or kilograms and refers to the amount of dry clothing it is capable of holding and effectively washing at one time. Wet clothing is heavier but it’s the dry weight you need to worry about when loading it.
We’ve already discussed my experiences with both front load and top load washing machines and I wrote a comparison article that discusses pros and cons and differences between them. This article will focus on the capacity of front loading washing machines to help you choose and use it correctly.
What does a front loading washing machine capacity mean?
The capacity of a washing machine is always rated in terms of the size or weight of dry clothing that it can hold and wash at one time. When the items get wet, the weight will obviously increase but it’s the dry weight that determines capacity.
While North American washing machine capacities are rated in cubic feet (cu. ft.), European machines are rated in kilograms (kg). This refers to the maximum amount of dry clothing you can put into the washer for each load.
But what does this mean in practice? Are you supposed to measure or weigh your clothes before putting them in the machine?
Let’s take a closer look below to learn more about how much clothing you can reasonably fit in your front load washer.
How much does clothing weigh?
Here’s a loaded question if there ever was one…I mean, who weighs their clothes? Who actually knows how much clothing actually weighs, too.
Here are some indicative weights of various common items that need to be washed to help you estimate them.
1 kg (2.2 lbs) of clothing is roughly equal to:
- 1 full sized bedsheet
- 1 medium sized sweater
- 1 pair of jeans and a shirt
- 2 bath towels
- 2 extra large shirts
- 5 shirts
Obviously your clothing, bedding and towel weights will vary based on material size, thread count and quality among other things.
Front loading washing machine capacities in cubic feet and kilograms
Top loading washing machines tend to be known for large and deep drums that can take a large amount of clothing and that agitate left and right with an impeller. Front load washers tend to have smaller drums and thus use less water. They also rotate in a circle without agitation and no impeller.
Consult your washing machine manufacturer but if you can’t get a solid answer, here’s a quick comparison in case your front load machine only has the clothing capacity in cubic feet or kilograms and you need to know the other.
Remember: This refers to dry clothing.
| Cubic feet (cu. ft.) | Kilograms (kg) | Suitable use | Amount of clothing (estimated) |
| 1.43 cu. ft. | 5 kg | Individual | 5 full bedsheets. |
| 1.71 cu. ft. | 6 kg | Couple | 6 sweaters. |
| 2 cu. ft. | 7 kg | Small family | 7 full bedsheets. |
| 2.29 cu. ft. | 8 kg | Medium family | 8 pairs of jeans. |
| 2.57 – 2.86 cu. ft. | 9 kg – 10 kg | Large family | 1 large duvet or blanket. |
| 3.14 – 3.43 cu. ft. | 11 kg – 12 kg | Very large family | 1 large duvet or blanket. |
Again, these are estimates. In my experience and in actuality, the true amount of clothing you can put in a front load washer is less than what is listed above. We have a 6 kg washer and I couldn’t imagine putting 6 bedsheets in there at one time.
I’d put 3 bedsheets at most along with a few pillowcases at most. Play it by ear because the thread count and thickness of a bedsheet (for example) will impact the weight.
What size front load washing machine capacity do I need?
The table above shows examples of clothing weights and which size washer you might need based on family size. But it’s also worth considering what items you might have to typically wash.
Do you use a duvet for your bed?
A single duvet will require a capacity size of at least 6 kg. A double duvet will need a capacity of at least 7 kg. King and queen sized duvets will need a capacity of at least 10 kg.
Large heavy blankets are a similar consideration.
Consider the largest items you will need to clean and choose a washer with an appropriate capacity that will fit that item.
What happens if you overfill a front loading washing machine?
There are several things that can happen if you overfill a front loading washer:
- The clothes won’t get properly cleaned.
- The load won’t properly spin and won’t completely wring out the water because it’s too heavy.
- You will use more energy and possibly detergent.
- You may need more drying time for your clothes if they remain wet after washing.
From personal experience, there are some clothing loads you will try to wash in a front loading washer – particularly a large duvet or several large bath towels – that either simply won’t fit a particular washing machine model.
Some loads that do fit won’t wring out properly and remain soaking wet when the load is done. They also may come out relatively wrung out but not as good as they should be if the washer was overfilled.