Choose your appliances based on your kitchen plan and the installation dimensions for each model before comparing the features that matter to your household. An incompatible cabinet door, ventilation arrangement or connection can prevent installation, even if the appliance meets your needs. For a kitchen project, France’s National Consumer Institute stresses the importance of listing the appliances, their key features and the expected timescales in the quote.
If the housing, worktop height or cabinet door dimensions are fixed, check them against the installation diagram for the exact model. The dimensions given for an entire appliance category aren’t enough to confirm that it will fit.
Check the model numbers, work, deliveries and timescales before you commit. France’s National Consumer Institute stresses the importance of a detailed quote for a project involving cabinets, appliances and installation.
Once you’ve identified compatible models, compare the details that matter to you, such as energy and water consumption, noise levels and capacity. ADEME presents the energy label as a useful comparison tool for the appliances it covers.
Start with the cabinet and installation requirements, then compare the compatible models against your needs. Make sure the appliances and services are clearly specified in your order documents.
| Consideration | What to check when buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet and door front | Compare the model’s installation diagram with the housing and door system planned for your kitchen. Also check the specified clearances. | When the cabinets have already been chosen, I want to avoid buying an appliance that won’t fit or whose door front can’t be fitted. Around 36% of consumers put this compatibility check first. |
| Order and timescales | Make sure each model and its key features are listed, then confirm the delivery, installation and expected timescales. | If the appliance purchase and installation are part of the same project, I want to know exactly what will be delivered and installed, and when. Around 29% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Everyday use | For compatible models, compare the relevant energy-label indicators, including energy consumption and noise levels, as well as the capacity you need. | For a kitchen used every day, I’m looking for an appliance that suits my household’s habits without overlooking its energy use or noise levels. Around 21% of consumers prioritise these aspects. |
| Connections and ventilation | Check the model’s instructions for the required supplies, connections and clearances. Ask a professional to assess any planned technical changes. | If the location means a supply or waste connection needs to be changed, I want to know whether installation is possible before ordering. Around 14% of consumers would put technical feasibility first. |
The stated width doesn’t confirm the housing height, whether the cabinet door can be fitted or the required clearances. Bosch, for example, offers dishwashers with different heights and integration systems.
Make sure the dimensions are marked on your plan and keep the installation diagram for the model you order.
A compatibility issue could mean altering a cabinet or door front, or postponing installation.
When a project includes both cabinets and appliances, vague model numbers or service details make it harder to compare quotes and check what will be delivered.
Ask for every appliance to be clearly identified, and for delivery, installation, adaptations and expected timescales to be listed separately.
The hob’s width alone doesn’t determine the cut-out, clearances, connection or extraction solution needed for your project.
Check the hob’s instructions against your worktop plan and ask a professional to confirm what technical work is needed before finalising the layout.
A different width may require changes to the worktop or extraction system.
The indicators provided by ADEME can help you compare the appliances they cover, but they don’t confirm whether an appliance is compatible with your cabinets or installation requirements.
First rule out any models that aren’t compatible with your project, then compare the indicators that are relevant to how you’ll use them.
Bosch’s French range of built-in dishwashers includes different formats and integration types.
Electrolux’s range of built-in fridges illustrates under-counter and tall-cabinet installations.
Miele’s range of built-in ovens includes several sizes and features.
Whirlpool’s guide covers hobs in a range of widths, from compact formats to larger models.
These Joybuy models cover washing, cooking and refrigeration for a fitted kitchen. Before choosing one, compare it with your kitchen plan, its installation instructions and the services included.
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Worth considering for a kitchen where the dishwasher needs to sit behind a fitted cabinet door. The model name indicates an energy rating of B; check the housing dimensions in the instructions before finalising your cabinets. Also check the noise level for the programme you’re comparing.
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Consider this if your project includes an induction hob fitted into the worktop. Check the cut-out dimensions in the instructions against your plans, and ask a suitably qualified professional to assess the electrical connection. Check the kitchen’s extraction solution separately.
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Compare it with the oven housing already planned for your cabinets. Check the dimensions and power supply requirements in the instructions. Also confirm the oven configuration and finish of this variant before matching it with the rest of your kitchen.
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Worth considering if you want a tall kitchen cabinet to house both refrigeration and freezing in one appliance. The model name indicates an energy rating of C. Before planning the cabinet door, check the housing dimensions, door fitting and required ventilation clearances in the instructions.
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Worth considering for a kitchen cabinet designed to house a built-in dishwasher. The model name indicates an energy rating of E. Before ordering the cabinet door, check the housing dimensions, hinges and door limits in the installation diagram.
Make sure the brand, model number and key features of each appliance are listed, along with the services and expected timescales. France’s National Consumer Institute highlights the value of a detailed quote when checking that what you order works with the cabinets and work planned for your project.
No. Also check the housing height, integration type, cabinet door and hinges against the model’s instructions. Bosch, for example, offers built-in dishwashers in different heights, and they may not all fit the same under-worktop space.
Compare the energy rating, kWh per 100 cycles, litres of water per cycle, Eco programme duration, capacity and noise information. ADEME presents these as useful comparison points. First choose models that fit your available space, then compare the figures with how often you’ll use the dishwasher.
Before planning the connection, ask a suitably qualified professional to assess your home’s electrical installation and the requirements in the model’s instructions. Having a power supply where you want to install the appliance doesn’t, on its own, mean it’s suitable for the appliance or the work planned.