If washing-up regularly piles up, a dishwasher can make everyday life easier to manage, provided its capacity and installation suit your home. A freestanding model needs no cabinet door, while an integrated one requires a compatible housing unit and door front. A compact model suits smaller loads but takes up useful space. If you rarely have a full load or don’t have suitable connections, washing up by hand remains a sensible option.
If you’d like to spend less time on a recurring chore, compare the stated capacity with the plates, dishes and pans you use. UFC-Que Choisir and the European Commission outline useful criteria for comparing appliances.
Available space matters, but a compact or slimline appliance also needs to be connected as set out in its instructions. Bosch and Electrolux installation guides explain what to check.
To fit the appliance into your kitchen units, check the housing, door front and what’s included in the installation. If you’re planning to make changes to a rented home, ANIL advises that you’ll need your landlord’s written permission.
| What matters to you | What to check before buying | Who this is especially relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Making daily washing-up easier | Make a note of how much washing-up you produce and how often you could run a suitable load. | If I want to cut down on a chore that comes round after every meal, I check that an appliance makes sense for my routine. Around 25% of consumers prioritise daily washing-up. |
| Making room for the appliance and connecting it | Measure the space and check the water inlet, waste outlet and power supply specified in the instructions. | If my kitchen is small or the installation needs to work with the existing layout, I check every connection before choosing a size. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Matching the capacity to the washing-up you produce | Compare the stated place settings and basket layout, particularly for dishes and pans. | If I need all my usual cookware to fit, I look at the interior as well as the stated capacity. Around 20% of consumers prioritise usable capacity. |
| Keeping resource use and running costs in check | Compare kWh per 100 eco cycles, litres per eco cycle and cycle duration on the same basis. | To work out what it could mean for my day-to-day life, I compare the label information with how often I’ll use the appliance and my tariffs. Running costs are the priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Keeping noise to a minimum | Compare the noise level shown on the labels of models that are already suitable for your kitchen. | In an open-plan kitchen, I pay attention to the noise during a cycle. Around 10% of consumers put quiet operation at the top of their list. |
The European Commission lists information including electricity use per 100 eco cycles, water use per cycle, cycle duration, capacity and noise emissions. ADEME publishes appliance consumption benchmarks, but your actual costs depend on how you use your appliance and your tariffs.
A smaller size doesn’t tell you what installation involves. A countertop model also takes up worktop space.
Read the model’s instructions and measure the available space. Check the water inlet, waste outlet and power supply.
A countertop appliance takes up part of your worktop, and you may need to adapt the connections.
The housing, door front and door opening all need to suit the model. The product details for the Electrolux EEA27210L state that it’s supplied without a furniture door. Electrolux’s pre-installation guide says that the carpentry work isn’t included in the service described.
Check the housing, door front and exactly what’s included in the installation. If you rent and plan to alter the property or its fittings, ask your landlord for written permission.
Depending on your kitchen and the service you choose, you may need to arrange a door front or carpentry work separately.
The figures on the energy label relate to eco cycles. The number of cycles you run and your household tariffs affect your actual costs.
Compare models on the same basis, then factor in how you’ll use the appliance and your tariffs. Don’t assume an ADEME average will apply directly to your household.
Worth considering for freestanding or compact models, depending on the space available and your household’s needs.
Worth looking at if you only need to wash smaller loads and are considering a countertop appliance, provided you have enough space and suitable connections.
Worth considering if your kitchen can accommodate a fully integrated appliance and has a compatible housing unit.
Worth looking at among slimline freestanding models if your kitchen limits the available width.
This selection includes compact, freestanding and integrated dishwashers, so you can compare models suited to different load sizes and kitchen layouts.
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Worth considering for smaller loads if a countertop appliance suits your kitchen.
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Worth looking at if you want a 60 cm freestanding model with a large capacity.
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Worth considering for a kitchen that can fit a 60 cm freestanding model and loads of up to 14 place settings.
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Worth considering if your kitchen has a space that’s compatible with a fully integrated model.
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Worth considering for a kitchen that can accommodate a 60 cm fully integrated dishwasher.
Check the space, water inlet, waste outlet and power supply specified in the model’s instructions. Bosch outlines these connections for installation. Electrolux’s pre-installation guide explains that its described service doesn’t include plumbing, electrical or carpentry work.
If your plans involve altering the rented property or its fittings, get your landlord’s written permission before starting work. This doesn’t mean that every straightforward appliance connection needs permission: check what changes are involved.
The European energy label includes information such as electricity use per 100 eco cycles, water use per eco cycle, cycle duration and capacity. Compare figures calculated on the same basis, then factor in how many cycles you’ll run and your tariffs. ADEME publishes usage benchmarks, not a prediction of your future bill.
Check your model’s instructions and make sure you clean the filter. Bosch explains that, on its appliances, a clogged filter can affect washing performance and provides instructions on how to clean it.
In France, the legal guarantee of conformity is compulsory when a business sells goods to a private individual. The Ministry of the Economy states that you have two years to claim under it. Also check the repairability index and the criteria it covers, where it applies to the dishwasher in question.