12 kg washing machines
33 current models in this size class: 26 front loaders and 7 top loaders. Prices at the shops tracked run from $1,047 to $4,199 across 19 of them, checked 10 Sept 2026. The Haier HWD1280PXB1 uses the least energy of them, 255 kWh a year.
Commonly published sizing guidance: about 5–6.5 kg for one or two people, 7–8.5 kg for small households, 9–10 kg for a family of four, and 11 kg or more for large households and bulky items. Drum capacity is a ceiling, not a requirement.
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| Machine | Load | Capacity | Stars | kWh/yr | Cost/yr @ 32¢ | W×D×H mm | Best price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haier HWD1280PXB1 | Front+dryer | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 255 | $82 | 595×678×850 | — |
| Samsung WW12BB944DGH | Front | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 272 | $87 | 600×695×850 | — |
| Fisher & Paykel WH1260RG5 | Front | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 275 | $88 | not listed | $1,999 |
| Fisher & Paykel WH1260PG5 | Front | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 275 | $88 | 602×661×850 | $1,453 |
| Fisher & Paykel WH1260DG5 | Front | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 275 | $88 | not listed | $1,499 |
| Fisher & Paykel WH1260HG5 | Front | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 275 | $88 | not listed | — |
| Fisher & Paykel WH1260TG5 | Front | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 275 | $88 | not listed | $2,499 |
| Haier HWF12PXW1 | Front | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 275 | $88 | 595×679×850 | $1,213 |
| Fisher & Paykel WH1260YZB5 | Front | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 275 | $88 | 602×676×850 | $4,199 |
| Fisher & Paykel WH1260MZB5 | Front | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 275 | $88 | 602×661×850 | $2,799 |
| Whirlpool FWHD12002IW | Front | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 276 | $88 | not listed | — |
| Haier HWF12DW1 | Front | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 279 | $89 | 595×623×850 | $1,111 |
| LG WTX5-12G | Top | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 279 | $89 | 651×680×1060 | — |
| Electrolux EWW1243R7WC | Front+dryer | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 281 | $90 | 600×659×850 | — |
| Electrolux EWW1242R9WC | Front+dryer | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 281 | $90 | 600×659×850 | — |
| Haier HLC1290CTB1 | Front+dryer | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 291 | $93 | 600×690×1500 | — |
| LG WV9-1412B | Front | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 291 | $93 | 600×610×850 | $1,599 |
| Haier HLC1290CTB2 | Front+dryer | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 291 | $93 | not listed | $2,999 |
| LG WWT-1209B | Front | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 291 | $93 | 600×660×1655 | $3,961 |
| LG WWT-1210AB | Front | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 291 | $93 | 600×660×1655 | — |
| Electrolux EWF1243R7WC | Front | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 292 | $93 | 600×659×850 | — |
| Electrolux EWF1242R9WC | Front | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 292 | $93 | 600×659×850 | — |
| LG WV10-1412W | Front | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 299 | $96 | 600×615×850 | — |
| LG WX10-1412MB | Front | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 304 | $97 | 650×615×850 | $1,787 |
| LG WXC101412MB | Front+dryer | 12 kg | 5 ★ | 304 | $97 | 650×615×850 | $1,999 |
| Haier HWT12AD1 | Top | 12 kg | 4.5 ★ | 322 | $103 | 640×650×1093 | $1,047 |
| Whirlpool VWED1202IG | Top | 12 kg | 4.5 ★ | 340 | $109 | not listed | $1,299 |
| LG WTL9-12B | Top | 12 kg | 4.5 ★ | 352 | $113 | 690×730×1070 | $1,499 |
| Fisher & Paykel WH1260P1 | Front | 12 kg | 4.5 ★ | 358 | $115 | 600×665×850 | — |
| LG WVC9-1412W | Front+dryer | 12 kg | 4.5 ★ | 390 | $125 | 600×615×850 | $1,699 |
| LG WTG1234WF | Top | 12 kg | 4 ★ | 420 | $134 | 690×730×1023 | $1,599 |
| Samsung WA12A8376GW | Top | 12 kg | 4 ★ | 428 | $137 | 700×748×1131 | $1,152 |
| Haier HWT12MW1 | Top | 12 kg | 3 ★ | 634 | $203 | 701×720×1095 | — |
Specifications are from the Australian Government's energy-rating database; prices from dated retailer and manufacturer-store checks. The full table filters this set against every other current machine, including by the space it has to fit.