If there’s no room for an appliance on the floor, a countertop dishwasher could suit a small amount of washing-up, provided you measure your worktop and plan how to fill and drain it. If you have around 45 cm of floor space, a slimline model offers greater capacity, but you’ll need compatible installation dimensions and connections. A standard 60 cm model, meanwhile, would mean reconfiguring the kitchen.
The space you actually have available, either on the floor or on the worktop, determines which formats to consider before you even compare capacity.
A countertop model can leave your base units free if you can set aside a stable surface for it. Measure the depth and height as well as the clearances required, then check how the water will be supplied and drained.
A slimline dishwasher is worth considering if you have more washing-up than a mini model can handle. Specific models from Whirlpool and Electrolux are listed as accommodating 10 and 9 place settings respectively, but a freestanding model and a fully integrated one need different arrangements.
A 60 cm appliance is only an option if the new layout genuinely frees up enough width and depth. As a guide for one specific model, Bosch lists dimensions of 845 × 600 × 600 mm for the SMS6TBW00F.
First rule out any formats that won’t fit, then compare the capacity of the remaining appliances with the washing-up that builds up between cycles.
Consider it if: there’s no floor space available, but your worktop can accommodate the appliance and you don’t have much washing-up.
The trade-off: its small footprint doesn’t guarantee enough capacity or a setup that avoids managing the water supply and drainage.
Consider it if: you have a suitable space on the floor and a mini model would be too small for your usual washing-up.
The trade-off: you’ll still need to allow for its depth and height, as well as the connections. A fully integrated version also needs a suitable housing unit and door panel.
Consider it if: a reconfiguration creates a suitable space and the amount of washing-up makes this format worth considering.
The trade-off: this format won’t fit in the kitchen described without changing the layout.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Space | Measure the available width, height and depth, as well as the clearances required in the instructions. For an integrated model, compare the housing unit dimensions with the exact installation diagram. | I may have space on the worktop, but not on the floor. The word ‘compact’ alone doesn’t tell me whether the appliance will fit. |
| Capacity | Compare the stated number of place settings with the washing-up between cycles. Check whether there’s room for large plates, serving dishes and pans, too; the place-setting figure doesn’t tell you everything. | If several meals’ worth of washing-up builds up before I run a cycle, I don’t want a small basket to leave me washing bulky items by hand. |
| Installation | Check how the water is supplied, the drainage route and access to a suitable socket. Manual filling is only possible if the model variant is designed for it; wastewater always needs somewhere to go. | Is my sink close enough, and can I route the hoses without improvising a connection? |
| Use and care | Compare water and energy use across comparable reference cycles. Check the instructions for the consumables required and how to maintain the model. | I want to be able to use and maintain the appliance in this kitchen, not just find somewhere to put it. |
A countertop appliance may need a water supply and a drain hose. Even if it has a tank for manual filling, you’ll still need to drain the wastewater.
Check the instructions for your chosen variant to see how it’s filled, where it drains and how the hoses can be routed.
A slimline model also takes up space in height and depth. For example, Whirlpool lists dimensions of 45 × 59 × 85 cm for its WSFO3T223P; an integrated version also needs a compatible housing unit.
Measure all three dimensions of the space and check the clearances in the diagram for the exact model.
If the basket’s capacity or layout doesn’t suit your household’s meals, some dishes may need to be washed separately or put through another cycle.
For a few days, keep an eye on what builds up between washes, then check whether there’s room for your plates, pans and serving dishes.
There’s more to using a dishwasher than installing it: UFC-Que Choisir points out that it also needs regular maintenance.
Check the instructions to find out which products are needed and what maintenance the model requires.
These examples illustrate different installation requirements. The dimensions and capacities quoted apply to the named models, not every range from each brand.
Bob is an example of a countertop format for kitchens where limited width guides the choice.
The WSFO3T223P is an example of a freestanding slimline dishwasher for a space on the floor.
The EES42210L is a different type of installation: a fully integrated 45 cm dishwasher.
Bosch’s published dimensions help distinguish a 45 cm space from a standard 60 cm space.
These countertop models are for kitchens where a standard appliance won’t fit. Their capacities and water supply options vary, so check each variant against the space available and the washing-up you need to do.
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Worth considering if your worktop is the available space and an integrated tank suits your filling requirements. The title lists 5+1 cycles and a 5 L tank. Before choosing this variant, check its overall dimensions, clearances and drainage route.
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With a stated capacity of 3 place settings, this model is aimed at smaller amounts of washing-up between cycles. Its title lists 7 programmes and an automatic door opening feature. Check the available space and clearances, and make sure the basket can accommodate the items you need to wash.
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Compare its two tiers with the washing-up that builds up in your home, but don’t assume the appliance will fit on your worktop. The title lists an integrated 5 L tank, three spray arms and a 12-hour delay start. Check the dimensions and clearances, and find out where this variant drains.
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Its stated width of 34 cm could be useful if your worktop is narrow, provided its capacity of 3 place settings suits your everyday washing-up. The Joybuy listing for the Bob Eco-Compact gives dimensions of 49 × 34 × 49 cm. Check the clearances, the required water supply for this variant and how it drains.
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Before making room for it on your worktop, compare its stated capacity of 6 place settings with the amount of washing-up in your household. The title lists 7 programmes and a noise level of 47 dB. Measure the space and confirm the water supply and drainage connections required.
Yes, if the variant is designed for manual filling. Daan Tech says Bob has an integrated tank, but also describes a tap-fed option. Check the instructions for your chosen model and make sure you can drain the wastewater in either case.
Measure the width, height and depth of the space, then check the installation diagram for the exact variant. The advertised width doesn’t tell you all the space you’ll need: for example, Electrolux lists dimensions of 818 × 446 × 550 mm for its fully integrated EES42210L, which needs a compatible housing unit.
Start by looking at the washing-up that builds up between cycles and check what will actually fit in the baskets. The Joybuy listing for the Bob Eco-Compact gives a capacity of 3 place settings, while Electrolux lists 9 for the EES42210L and Whirlpool lists 10 for the WSFO3T223P. These differences alone won’t tell you where to put the appliance.
Check the water supply, a suitable electrical socket and drainage that complies with the model’s instructions. Bosch lists these three requirements for installing a dishwasher and warns that installation can be complex or dangerous. If you can’t make the required connections yourself, ask a professional to do it.