For an open-plan kitchen, start by comparing the noise levels of the models, then choose a capacity that suits your everyday washing-up and the space available. A 60 cm appliance can handle a larger load, while a 45 cm or compact model takes up less room but calls for closer attention to capacity. Before ordering, check the water supply, drainage and electrical connection. For an integrated model, check the housing and door panel too.
If your dishwasher runs during meals, while you’re working from home or when you’re relaxing, you may hear it throughout your living space. Que Choisir highlights how important this is in an open-plan kitchen: compare the stated noise levels of models that will fit your kitchen.
Do plates, pans and cutlery pile up quickly? Check the stated capacity, as well as the basket layout and space for larger dishes. According to Que Choisir’s guide to integrated models, 60 cm appliances generally hold more place settings than 45 cm models.
A narrow housing space, existing kitchen units or limited worktop space may point you towards a 45 cm, integrated or compact model. Measure the space and check the connections. With an integrated model, also make sure the door panel is compatible.
For everyday washing-up in an open-plan kitchen, start with the available space and connections, then compare capacity and noise level against how you’ll use the appliance. Freestanding, integrated, 45 cm and compact models suit different needs. Width alone won’t tell you how noisy an appliance is.
| Feature | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Noise in the living space | The noise level in dB and the noise emission class of the specific model; check which programme is being used if its noise level varies. | If the cycle is running while I’m in the living room, I want to choose an appliance with a noise level I’m comfortable with. Around 31% of consumers would put quiet operation first. |
| Everyday capacity | The stated number of place settings and the space actually available in the baskets for pans and dishes. Que Choisir’s guide gives a capacity of 12 to 17 place settings for 60 cm integrated models, compared with 9 to 10 for 45 cm models. | If the washing-up piles up after every meal, I mainly want to avoid having to load the dishwasher too often. Capacity would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Space and installation | The dimensions of the space, water supply, drainage and electrical connection; for an integrated model, check the housing, plinth and door panel. | In a fitted kitchen, I need an appliance that fits in its space and can be connected. For around 25% of consumers, compatibility would come before other considerations. |
| Energy use and maintenance | The water and energy figures for the Eco programme, the maintenance required and the model’s repairability index. | If I’m running regular cycles, I’d rather know about energy use and maintenance options before choosing. Around 19% of consumers would prioritise these aspects. |
A marketing claim is no substitute for a measurement. Que Choisir points out that a 3 dB difference corresponds to a doubling of sound intensity, although this doesn’t mean the noise will seem twice as loud.
Compare the dB levels and noise emission classes of the models you’re considering, taking into account when you’ll run the cycles near the living room.
An integrated appliance needs to fit the housing and door system provided. The stated width alone won’t confirm that the door panel and plinth will work together.
Measure the space and check the installation instructions, connections and door panel compatibility before ordering.
You may also need a suitable door panel or alterations to the cabinetry and plumbing.
A small footprint doesn’t guarantee enough capacity for a large amount of washing-up. Candy, for example, offers a tabletop model with 6 place settings, while Que Choisir’s guide puts 45 cm integrated models at 9 to 10 place settings.
Think about what you’ll need to wash after a full day of meals, and consider a slimline model too if you have space under the worktop.
Two appliances that fit the same space may have different energy consumption figures. In France, the Ministry for Ecological Transition lists dishwashers among the appliances covered by the repairability index. The index doesn’t tell you how well an appliance washes or how noisy it is.
Compare the Eco programme figures, repairability index and maintenance options for the model you’re interested in.
The range includes freestanding, integrated and compact models. Compare individual models based on the space available and their stated noise levels.
The range includes 45 cm and 60 cm integrated models, worth considering if you’re looking for a good fit with your kitchen units and a practical basket layout.
The freestanding and fully integrated ranges include slimline models to compare if you have limited width.
The range includes freestanding and integrated appliances, including 45 cm and 60 cm models.
Tabletop, slimline and standard models give you several ways to make the most of the space available.
These 60 cm models suit two different set-ups: a space for a freestanding appliance or a housing designed for a fully integrated model. For each one, compare capacity and noise level against your needs, then check the dimensions and connections before installation.
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Worth considering if you have space for a freestanding appliance and have a large amount of washing-up every day.
Check the exact dimensions in the model documentation before allowing for a 60 cm space, and check the noise level on the label.
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Worth considering for a fitted kitchen if you’re looking for a capacity of 14 place settings.
Check the housing dimensions and door panel compatibility against the model’s instructions. Also compare the noise level before choosing a dishwasher for an open-plan kitchen.
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This freestanding model, with a stated capacity of 14 place settings, could suit a large everyday load.
If the appliance will run near the living room, compare its noise level with those of other models you’re considering. Also check the Eco programme figures on the label.
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Worth considering if you’re looking to fit a 13-place-setting appliance into a fitted kitchen.
Check the housing and door system in the instructions. To compare noise levels, distinguish between the appliance’s stated noise level and that of its Extra Silence programme.
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This 13-place-setting model is designed for a fitted kitchen with suitable housing for an integrated appliance.
Check the dimensions and make sure the door panel is compatible with its fixed hinge. To compare noise levels, check both the label figure and the figure for the programme you’ll use.
Yes, especially if the dishwasher is running while people are using the living room. Que Choisir specifically lists noise as a factor to consider in an open-plan kitchen: compare the dB levels of specific models rather than relying on marketing claims.
Make sure the space allows you to connect the appliance to a water supply, drainage and an electrical supply. The permitted distances and connections depend on the model and installation, so check the instructions before deciding where to put it.
Not necessarily: an integrated model needs suitable housing and a compatible door system. Check the dimensions, plinth, door panel and connections before replacing a freestanding appliance.
Yes. France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition includes dishwashers among the appliances covered by the repairability index. Use this information to compare how repairable models are, separately from their capacity, noise levels and washing performance.
It may be, if your everyday load suits its capacity and you have enough room on the worktop. Candy offers a tabletop model with 6 place settings. If pans and plates pile up, also compare the space available with what you’d need for a 45 cm appliance.