In a small kitchen with no dedicated space for an appliance, a countertop dishwasher could work if you have enough room on the worktop, can arrange the drainage and power supply, and its capacity suits your everyday washing-up. If dishes are piling up and you can make space on the floor, compare a slimline 45 cm model instead. A water tank means you don’t need a water inlet, but you’ll still need to drain the wastewater.
You have a bit of worktop space next to the sink, but no gap for a standard appliance. Que Choisir lists 6-place-setting countertop dishwashers as an option for smaller homes. You’ll still need to check the available space and the route for the waste water.
You’d like to wash saucepans, frying pans and serving dishes too. Before ruling out a slimline 45 cm model, compare the space they take up with the interior layout of a countertop dishwasher. A slimline model does, however, need floor space.
If the appliance will run in your living space, its stated noise level and the length of the programme you’ll use matter just as much as its dimensions. The energy label also lets you compare water and energy use under the specified test conditions.
Consider this if: you have space near the sink and access to a water inlet and waste outlet.
The trade-off: it takes up worktop space, and you’ll need to make sure larger items of crockery fit in the basket.
Consider this if: the water inlet is the main obstacle and you only have small loads.
The trade-off: you’ll need to fill the tank and arrange safe drainage. Daan Tech confirms this for its Bob Carafe.
Consider this if: you can free up around 45 cm of floor width and want to explore a larger capacity than a countertop appliance offers.
The trade-off: width alone won’t tell you whether it will fit. Depth, height, door clearance and connections matter too.
Consider this if: you have a suitable space for it or are planning a kitchen refurbishment.
The trade-off: you’ll need to check the installation dimensions, door panel and access to the connections. It isn’t a simple option to place in a kitchen with no space set aside for it.
| Factor | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Connections and power supply | Check the waste outlet and the route to it; confirm whether the model uses a water inlet or a tank. Ask a qualified professional to check any uncertain electrical supply. | Without a nearby water inlet, I need to be able to fill the appliance and drain the waste water safely, without improvising. Around 42% of shoppers put this practical consideration first. |
| Capacity and loading | Compare your largest plates, saucepans and frying pans with the model’s basket, rather than relying on the stated place-setting capacity alone. | When I cook several meals, I want to know whether larger items will fit without having to run multiple washes. Around 25% of shoppers say this is their top priority. |
| Noise and energy use | Check the energy label for decibels, litres per reference cycle and kWh per 100 cycles, and take the capacity into account. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to understand how much noise it will make while I’m at home, as well as how much it will use. Around 17% of shoppers say this is their main concern. |
| Kitchen space | Measure the width, depth and height, as well as the door clearance. For a built-in model, check the space and door panel too. | If I want to keep my worktop clear, I need to work out whether a floor-standing appliance will really fit. This is the priority for around 16% of shoppers. |
On models designed for tank use, the tank replaces the water inlet, but the waste water still needs to be drained. Daan Tech says a drain hose is still required for the Bob Carafe.
Before buying, plan a practical route for the drain hose and check the manual for instructions on how to secure it.
Filling the tank by hand adds a task every time you use the dishwasher.
A capacity given in place settings doesn’t guarantee that your largest cooking items will all fit at once.
Measure a large plate, a saucepan and a frying pan, then compare them with the basket dimensions and the model’s loading instructions.
An appliance may be narrow enough but still impossible to position because of its depth, height, open door or hose route.
Measure the usable space in all three dimensions and check the installation dimensions, not just the external measurements.
Its size alone won’t tell you how noisy it will be in a studio flat or open-plan kitchen. The stated noise level varies by model, and programmes may have different operating conditions.
Compare the noise level on the energy label and check the details of the programme you plan to use.
The brand’s mini-sized Bob range includes the Bob Carafe, which has a water tank, and the Bob easywater, which connects to a water inlet.
Candy’s CP 6E51LS is a countertop model advertised for 6 place settings, with a direct connection to a water inlet.
Beko’s range includes the BDFS26040X, a freestanding slimline dishwasher advertised for 10 place settings.
Midea offers slimline integrated models, including the MDWEB1004LS-W, advertised for 10 place settings.
These countertop appliances are worth considering for kitchens without a floor-level space for a dishwasher. First compare how they take in water and their capacity, then check the drainage and space requirements. Slimline floor-standing models are another option if you have more dishes than a mini model can hold.
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Worth considering if you want to place an appliance near the sink without relying solely on a water inlet. The product name states that it has a built-in 5 L tank. You’ll also need a safe route for the drain hose and enough room on your worktop.
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Consider this for smaller loads, after comparing your plates and cooking utensils with the basket. The product name states that it has 3 place settings and 7 programmes. Check the manual for drainage instructions before deciding where to put it.
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This 3-place-setting model is worth comparing if you wash only a few dishes at a time. The product name states that it has 7 programmes and can run with or without a water inlet connection. Check its dimensions, the route for the drain hose and the noise level on the model’s label.
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Compare this if worktop width is a key consideration and you’re interested in a model with a tank. The product name states that it is 37 cm wide, but check the exact depth and height in the installation dimensions, as well as the drainage set-up.
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Its stated capacity of 6 place settings may suit a household whose loads are too large for a 3-place-setting mini model, provided larger items fit in the basket. The product name states that it has 7 programmes. Check the dimensions and confirm whether it can be connected to a water inlet and waste outlet.
Yes, if the version you choose is designed to be filled using a tank. Daan Tech says that the Bob Carafe has a built-in 4 L tank and doesn’t need a water inlet. However, its drain hose must still be connected or secured as instructed in the manual.
No. You’ll need enough room for the appliance and its door, as well as a suitable route for the hoses and an appropriate power supply. Measure the available space and check the model’s installation instructions before deciding where to put it.
First compare the energy labels of models that suit your space and washing-up needs. ADEME says the labels show details including capacity, energy use in kWh per 100 reference cycles, water use per reference cycle and noise level. These figures should be read in the context of their test conditions.
Check that the planned location has a power supply suitable for the appliance and that it meets the installation instructions. If you’re unsure about the condition or capacity of the circuit, ask a qualified professional to check it rather than modifying the installation yourself.