For a dishwasher you’ll use every day, start by choosing a type that suits your kitchen and its connections: freestanding if you don’t have a dedicated housing, integrated if the housing and door panel are compatible, or compact if space is tight and the capacity is enough for you. Then compare how your dishes fit and check the Eco programme figures on the energy label. Water hardness and consumables also affect day-to-day use.
If plates, utensils and pans pile up every day, a freestanding model lets you install a dishwasher without a kitchen door panel. Still, measure the space and check the connections before choosing its capacity. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between freestanding models measuring 45 and 60 cm wide.
An integrated model is a good option if you want your appliance to blend into a kitchen designed for one. Before comparing programmes, make sure the housing’s height, width and depth, the door panel and the connections are all compatible with your chosen model.
A countertop compact model is worth considering if there’s no room for a full-size appliance. UFC-Que Choisir lists countertop models with space for 6 place settings. Compare this capacity with the plates and pans you use, and consider how often you’d be willing to run a cycle.
For the dishes you use at mealtimes, the dishwasher must first fit in your kitchen. Usable capacity and running figures can then help you choose between models that are suitable for installation.
Worth considering : if your kitchen has no dedicated housing and you want an appliance with its own finished exterior.
Bear in mind : the appliance will be visible. Installing it under a worktop depends on its dimensions and whether the top can be removed.
Worth considering : if you have a dedicated housing and want the appliance to blend into your kitchen.
Bear in mind : the housing, fixings and door panel must be compatible with the model. The control panel on a semi-integrated model remains visible.
Worth considering : if there’s no room for a 45 or 60 cm appliance and you don’t have a large volume of dishes to wash.
Bear in mind : capacity per cycle is more limited, so you may need to run more cycles if you do a lot of cooking.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Installation and connections | Measure the space in all three dimensions. Check the installation instructions for clearances and connections, and for a door panel if needed. | If my kitchen doesn’t have a suitable housing, I need to find an appliance I can actually install without blocking the door from opening. Around 36% of consumers would put this compatibility at the top of their list. |
| Capacity and loading | Compare the stated place-setting capacity and basket layout with your plates, serving dishes and pans. | When I cook every day, I want to be able to load bulky utensils too, without always having to run an extra cycle. For around 29% of consumers, usable capacity would be the priority. |
| Water, energy and consumables | Check the label for kWh per 100 cycles, litres per cycle and the Eco programme duration. Also check the instructions for salt and rinse aid. | If I use the appliance regularly, I want to understand its standard consumption figures and which products I’ll need for my water. This would be the top consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Space for a compact model | Check the available worktop space, connections and whether the interior can hold the dishes from a meal. | In a very small kitchen, my main priority is finding room for a dishwasher, even if I have to limit how much I wash per cycle. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise a small footprint above all else. |
An appliance may be the right width but still leave too little room for hoses or for the door to open. An integrated model must also fit the housing and door panel.
Measure the height, width, depth and clearances, then check the installation instructions for the exact model before ordering.
Depending on your kitchen, fitting a door panel and having it installed may involve extra steps.
UFC-Que Choisir lists countertop compact models with space for 6 place settings. That figure doesn’t guarantee that the larger items you use at mealtimes will fit alongside the rest of your dishes.
Work out how you’d load the dishwasher after a typical meal, and check the internal dimensions and basket layout.
The figures on the energy label relate to the Eco programme, not necessarily a quick or automatic cycle. The European Commission says the label includes figures such as energy use per 100 cycles, water per cycle and the Eco programme duration.
Compare these figures on the same basis and consider which programme you’ll actually use.
Detergent, salt, rinse aid and maintenance are also part of running the appliance.
An incorrect setting can lead to marks or limescale deposits. Beko and Bosch explain that water hardness affects the water softener setting and salt use.
Find out how hard your water is, then follow the model’s instructions for settings and consumables alerts.
Worth considering if you’re comparing freestanding models by their dimensions and the features of a specific model.
Worth considering if you’re comparing a 60 cm fully integrated model and its loading or dosing features.
Worth considering if you’re looking at 60 cm freestanding models and comparing the capacity or options listed for each appliance.
These appliances are designed for freestanding use or installation in a housing, and for everyday dishes. Choose according to the space available, then compare the stated capacity with your dishes and the figures on the energy label.
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Worth considering for a kitchen with a dedicated housing, if 14 place settings suit the dishes you use at mealtimes. Check the housing dimensions, door panel and connections in the model’s instructions. Also check the programme list and energy label figures.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a freestanding appliance for everyday dishes and want to compare a stated capacity of 14 place settings. Check that your larger dishes fit in the baskets, and check clearances, connections and the Eco programme duration before installation.
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Worth considering if you have room for a 60 cm freestanding model and want to fit the dishes from your meals into a stated capacity of 14 place settings. If it needs to go under a worktop, check the instructions for the required dimensions, whether the top can be removed and the connections. Also compare the Eco programme figures on the energy label.
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Worth considering for freestanding installation and a stated capacity of 14 place settings. Check the dimensions and connections in the instructions, then check the Eco figures on the energy label. The product details warn of a risk of burns when the door opens automatically after a hot cycle. Keep children away and follow the model’s safety instructions.
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Worth considering if your kitchen has a dedicated housing and the stated capacity of 14 place settings suits your everyday meals. Before choosing this integrated model, check the housing and door panel against the instructions, then consult the energy label to compare water and energy use, as well as the Eco programme duration.
Measure the height, width and depth of the space, as well as the clearance needed to open the door. For an integrated or semi-integrated model, also check the housing and door panel. For a freestanding model under a worktop, check the instructions to see whether its top can be removed. Confirm the chosen model’s water, drainage and electrical connections.
Compare the energy rating, energy use per 100 cycles, water per cycle, capacity and Eco programme duration. The European Commission also says the label shows noise emissions. Eco programme figures provide a common basis for comparison, but may not reflect the programmes you use most often.
Check the instructions for your chosen model for guidance on dishwasher salt, rinse aid and maintenance. As Beko and Bosch explain, water hardness affects the water softener setting and how much salt you need. Follow the appliance-specific guidance when setting it up.