Think in free movement, not a magic garment count
Washer capacity is measured in cubic feet, but the same drum can hold very different dry weights depending on whether the load contains T-shirts, towels or bulky bedding. A practical visual check is to keep items loose and leave meaningful free space rather than compressing them to fit.
Why overloading hurts the process
A crowded drum can limit movement, detergent distribution and rinsing. Heavy wet towels or bedding also create balance and capacity issues that are not obvious from dry volume alone. Split the load when the machine cannot redistribute it freely.
Use the washer manual as the product-specific limit
Agitator, impeller and front-load designs do not behave exactly the same. The appliance manual and model-specific capacity guidance outrank a generic percentage. The WashCareLab Laundry Load Calculator therefore compares visible drum fill with a reviewed range rather than claiming an exact number of garments.
Load size also affects other decisions
Detergent dose, cycle choice and drying performance all depend partly on load size. Check those settings after you decide whether the drum itself is appropriately filled.
Garment care labels, appliance manuals and laundry-product directions can be more specific than a general guide. Use them when they set a tighter limit.