For a fitted kitchen, choose a fully integrated dishwasher if you want to hide the appliance behind a matching cabinet door and the installation is compatible with your space. A semi-integrated model keeps the control panel visible. If your cabinet door, plinth or space prevents you from fitting an integrated model, a freestanding dishwasher avoids the need for a decorative door, but will remain on show. Before ordering, compare your kitchen measurements and connections with the instructions for the specific model.
Start by measuring the space, cabinet door and plinth. The new appliance must also allow you to attach the decorative door and open it without obstruction. A matching nominal width alone doesn’t guarantee that it will fit.
A fully integrated dishwasher can be concealed behind a door that matches your cabinets. Make sure you have a door and fixing system that are compatible with your chosen model.
If the cabinet door, plinth or space isn’t suitable, consider a freestanding model in a suitable location. Check the clearances and connections, and bear in mind that the appliance will remain visible.
Choose this if: you want a continuous cabinet front and have a compatible decorative door.
The trade-off: the cabinet door’s fitting and movement as it opens need particular attention.
Choose this if: you want an integrated appliance with its controls visible on the front.
The trade-off: the control panel interrupts the continuous look and changes the size of cabinet door required.
Consider this if: a decorative door or plinth prevents you from fitting an integrated model and there’s another suitable location.
The trade-off: the appliance remains visible and won’t create a continuous run with your cabinets.
| Priority | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Space and cabinet door | Compare the usable width, height and depth with the measurements required in the instructions. Check the cabinet door dimensions, hinges or sliding mechanism, plinth and clearance needed when opening the door. | I’m replacing an appliance and don’t want to discover after installation that its door hits the plinth or my cabinet door can’t be attached. |
| Type of integration | Identify where the control panel is positioned and what type of decorative door is required. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes semi-integrated models by their visible front control panel. | I prefer either a continuous cabinet front or visible controls, so the type I choose needs to suit the look and functionality I want. |
| Installation work | Ask for details of how the cabinet door will be fixed, the connections and whether the old appliance will be removed. Darty’s described integrated installation service assumes existing connections meet the requirements and excludes modifications to the connections or cabinet door. | Before replacing the appliance, I want to know whether my kitchen will also need adjustments to the door or connections. |
| Model specifications | Once you’ve confirmed compatibility, compare capacity, noise and Eco cycle data on a like-for-like basis. According to the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition, new dishwashers in France are also covered by the repairability index. | The cabinet door matters, but I also want to choose an appliance with a capacity and features that suit my household. |
A nominal width doesn’t tell you the height of the space or how the door will move. Your existing cabinet door may need a different fixing or sliding system.
Measure the space, cabinet door and plinth, then compare them with the installation instructions for the exact model before deciding whether to keep the decorative door.
If the appliance isn’t compatible, you may need to adapt the cabinet door or arrange another installation visit.
Darty’s described integrated installation service relies on existing connections that meet the requirements. It doesn’t include modifications to the cabinet door or connections.
Ask someone to check the position of the connections and make sure any necessary alterations are listed separately from the appliance installation.
According to Bosch, a fully integrated model needs an additional cabinet door. For example, IKEA’s LAGAN 60 cm product page states that the door, plinth and handle are sold separately.
Check which cabinet and fixing components are required for your model and kitchen, or choose a different configuration if the door can’t be fitted.
The index won’t tell you whether the appliance will fit in the space or whether the decorative door will open properly.
First check that the appliance can be installed in your kitchen, then use repairability information to compare the models that fit.
The models below illustrate different configurations. For any specific kitchen, the product specifications and installation instructions are what matter.
Bosch offers fully integrated and freestanding models, making it easy to compare the two types of installation.
The range includes fully integrated models, where it’s worth checking how the cabinet door will be fitted in your kitchen.
Miele’s product pages distinguish between fully integrated appliances and integrated appliances with a visible control panel.
IKEA is worth considering if your dishwasher is part of a kitchen project with a matching door and plinth.
These integrated models are suited to fitted kitchen projects with matching cabinet doors. Before deciding on an installation, check the space, decorative door, plinth and connections against the instructions for each model.
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Worth considering for a fitted kitchen where you want to keep or install a decorative cabinet door. The model name indicates an energy rating of B. Compare the measurements of your space, cabinet door and plinth with the requirements in the instructions.
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An option to consider if you want your cabinet door and plinth to match your kitchen. The model name indicates an energy rating of C. Check the installation measurements and door fitting instructions for your kitchen.
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The capacity stated in the product name may appeal to households looking for 14 place settings in an integrated model. This is the white version with an energy rating of E. Check the space measurements, cabinet door dimensions and door clearance before choosing this model.
Not without checking its dimensions. A fully integrated model is concealed behind a cabinet door, while a semi-integrated model keeps its front control panel visible, as UFC-Que Choisir explains. Compare the cabinet door’s dimensions and fixings, the plinth and door clearance with the new model’s instructions.
Measure the usable width, height and depth of the space, then measure the cabinet door and plinth. Also check the clearance needed to open the door. Compare your measurements with the dimensions and installation instructions for the exact model, rather than relying on the “60 cm” measurement alone.
No. It tells you about repairability, not whether the appliance will fit in your kitchen. The French Ministry for the Ecological Transition includes dishwashers among the product categories covered in France. Compare the index once you’ve checked the space, cabinet door and door clearance.
Yes, provided there’s a suitable location and the necessary connections are available. A freestanding model doesn’t need the same decorative door as a fully integrated one, but it will remain visible. So this choice changes the look of your kitchen, not just how the appliance is installed.