Anyone who wants to keep their existing door panel
If the new door needs to sit flush with your kitchen units, check its format and fixings as well as the recess dimensions. The hinge type and plinth can also affect how the door opens.
Who is this choice for?
People with an open-plan kitchen
If your dishwasher runs near your living area, its stated noise level can help you choose between appliances that already fit the recess and door panel. Que Choisir highlights how important this can be in an open-plan kitchen.
Anyone with a narrow or unusual recess
In an older fitted kitchen, width alone won’t tell you whether a model will fit. Bosch, Siemens and Whirlpool offer different formats; compare the installation dimensions for the exact model with your recess measurements.
What should you check before buying?
To keep your existing kitchen layout, first rule out appliances that aren’t compatible with the recess and door. Then consider the control panel, noise level and installation services.
Fully integrated
Choose this if: you want to conceal the appliance completely behind a door panel that matches your kitchen units.
Bear in mind: the control panel won’t be visible when the door is closed, and the door panel and its fixings must be compatible with the model.
Semi-integrated
Choose this if: you want a door panel that matches your kitchen units while keeping the controls visible at the front.
Bear in mind: the visible control panel breaks up the continuous look of the door, and the panelled section still needs a compatible door.
Freestanding, with changes to your kitchen layout
Consider this if: you’re adapting or removing the existing recess rather than replacing your built-in appliance like for like.
Bear in mind: this option won’t reuse the matching door panel as an integrated appliance would.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Recess and door panel | Measure the usable width, height and depth. Also compare the door panel, plinth and its fixings with the instructions for the exact model. | If I’m keeping the current door panel, I want to fit and open the new door without altering the kitchen units. Around 42% of consumers would make this compatibility their priority. |
| Appearance | Check whether the control panel remains visible and which part of the door takes the decorative panel. | I’d prefer either a completely uniform door or controls that are accessible at the front. This would be a priority for nearly 25% of consumers. |
| Noise in an open-plan kitchen | Compare the stated noise emissions in dB(A) and the noise class of compatible models. | If my kitchen opens onto the living area, I want to take the noise during cycles into account. Around 17% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Installation and removal | Check what’s included in the removal, installation, door panel fitting and collection of your old appliance. | I want to arrange the removal of my old appliance and installation of the new one without missing a step. For around 16% of consumers, this would be their main concern. |
Mistakes to avoid when replacing your dishwasher
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Relying on the stated width alone
A built-in dishwasher needs to fit the recess and work with the intended door panel. The height beneath the worktop, depth, plinth or door fixings can prevent a suitable installation, even if the width seems right.
Measure the recess and door panel, then compare them with the installation diagrams for the exact model before ordering.
If the appliance isn’t compatible, installation may be delayed or the kitchen unit or door panel may need adapting.
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Mixing up the different installation types
A semi-integrated model has a visible control panel, unlike a fully integrated model concealed behind a door panel. The finished look and access to the controls are therefore different.
Check the door diagram and the position of the controls instead of relying on the word ‘built-in’ alone.
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Forgetting the steps involved in installation
Removing the old appliance, fitting the door panel and arranging collection are separate from delivery of your new dishwasher.
Check with the retailer which services are included in your order and what you need to do before the installation visit.
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Choosing based on noise first
Noise levels matter in an open-plan kitchen, but they won’t solve a problem with the recess or door mechanism.
Compare stated noise levels only after you’ve shortlisted models that will fit your kitchen.
Brands to compare for your kitchen layout
Bosch
Bosch’s range in France includes built-in dishwashers in different formats, including semi-integrated and fully integrated models.
- These configurations let you compare a visible control panel with a seamless door.
- Check the format and door system for each model before reusing a door panel.
Siemens
Siemens’ range in France includes integrated and fully integrated models in several formats, with door systems that vary between certain models.
- Information about the recess and door can help you choose a model for your existing kitchen layout.
- An option listed for the range doesn’t guarantee it’s available on the model you’re considering or that it will work with your door panel.
Whirlpool
Whirlpool’s range in France includes built-in dishwashers, notably in 45 cm and 60 cm formats.
- Some product pages give the dimensions, stated noise level and services available for a specific model.
- Check that the decorative door panel and its fixings are suitable for the model, and what the installation service includes.
Beko
Beko offers integrated models whose product pages may specify door and installation requirements.
- For the BDIN18451, Beko states an installation height of 82 to 92 cm and a supported door weight of 3 to 9 kg. Compare these figures with your kitchen.
- These figures apply to the BDIN18451 and don’t automatically apply to other Beko models.
Miele
Miele’s range in France distinguishes between built-under dishwashers and models designed to take a kitchen door panel.
- This distinction helps you check the installation type before replacing an appliance in an existing kitchen.
- A built-under appliance with its own door panel may not allow you to keep your kitchen unit door.
Fully integrated models on Joybuy
These four models suit anyone looking for a fully integrated dishwasher for a fitted kitchen. Before choosing one, compare its instructions with the recess, plinth and door panel you want to keep.
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Whirlpool W2I HD526 A fully integrated dishwasher, 60 cm, 14 place settings, E rated
Worth considering if you want to conceal the appliance behind a matching door panel. Check the installation dimensions and door fixing system before reusing your existing panel.
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Samsung DW80H72YBB0U1 fully integrated dishwasher, 60 cm, 13 place settings, B rated
Consider this if you want a door panel that completely conceals the appliance, after checking the recess and door fixings. If you have an open-plan kitchen, check the technical details for the exact model before comparing its noise level, as the available figures differ.
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AEG FSB34707Z fully integrated dishwasher, 14 place settings, C rated
Worth considering if you want a fully panelled door and need to check the hinge mechanism. The stated widths differ, so check the installation dimensions in the instructions before deciding whether this model will fit your recess.
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Samsung DW70H72WCB0U1 fully integrated dishwasher, 60 cm, 13 place settings, C rated
Worth considering if the door movement and plinth need particular attention. This model is listed with a Kitchen Fit sliding door; check its instructions for the recess dimensions and whether the fixing system is compatible with your door panel.
Frequently asked questions
Can I replace my old built-in dishwasher with any other built-in model?
No. The new dishwasher must fit the recess and work with the intended door panel. Compare your kitchen measurements, plinth and door fixings with the installation instructions for the exact model. According to Que Choisir, a built-in dishwasher is designed for a recess, not simply to stand on the floor.
Should I choose a fully integrated or semi-integrated model?
Choose a fully integrated model to conceal the appliance behind a matching door panel, or a semi-integrated model if you want the control panel to remain visible. In either case, check that the door panel and its fixings are compatible with the model you choose.
What should I allow for when arranging installation?
Make sure the dishwasher is installed according to the model’s instructions, levelled and connected with the connections accessible. Que Choisir recommends using a level surface and adjusting the feet to keep the dishwasher horizontal.
Can I arrange for my old dishwasher to be taken away?
The ‘one-for-one’ take-back scheme described by the Ministry for Ecological Transition covers handing over an old product when buying another of the same type. Ask the retailer how to arrange collection of your dishwasher, particularly if delivery and disconnection happen at different times.
Does the appliance come with a decorative door panel?
Don’t assume that a built-in dishwasher comes with a decorative door panel. Before ordering, check whether you can reuse your existing one and whether the parts needed to attach it are compatible with the model you’ve chosen.