If you have no floor space, choose a countertop dishwasher only if there’s room for it on your worktop and you can drain the waste water. A slimline 45 cm model still needs floor space. If none of the appliances suit your setup or the amount of washing-up you produce, sticking with hand-washing avoids taking up valuable kitchen space unnecessarily.
For someone living alone or a couple with mainly worktop space to spare, drainage is just as important as the size of the appliance. The Bob mini model from Daan Tech illustrates this constraint: its tank means it doesn’t need a fixed water supply, but its hose still needs to reach a drain.
If you do have floor space, it’s worth comparing a 45 cm appliance with countertop models for capacity. The dimensions published by Bosch and Whirlpool for the models mentioned here show that you’ll also need around 60 cm of depth.
If you don’t generate much washing-up each day, your kitchen is temporary or there’s no practical way to drain an appliance, hand-washing may be easier to manage. Before buying, consider whether you’d fill the appliance regularly enough to use it as intended. ADEME recommends waiting until it’s sufficiently full before starting a cycle.
Start by checking where the appliance will go and how the water will flow, then compare its capacity with what you actually use for meals. Place settings alone won’t tell you whether your frying pans or large plates will fit.
Worth considering: if you have a suitable surface but no fixed water supply nearby.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to fill it by hand and make do with a small load, as well as emptying the waste water.
Worth considering: if you have an accessible water supply and enough worktop space for installation.
Bear in mind: it will take up a permanent section of your worktop.
Worth considering: only if you can set aside a narrow, sufficiently deep space on the floor.
Bear in mind: its narrower width doesn’t mean it can do without floor space.
Worth considering: if neither the installation requirements nor the filling routine of an appliance suit your kitchen.
Bear in mind: washing-up will remain a daily chore.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Space and drainage | Measure the available surface and door clearance; check the water supply and drainage route in the model’s manual. | If I don’t have floor space, the appliance needs to fit on my worktop without making the sink unusable. Around 33 % of consumers would prioritise this installation option. |
| Capacity and cycles | Compare the stated place settings with your plates, frying pans and saucepans, then consider how many cycles you’d be happy to run. | If I cook at home often, I want to know whether all my washing-up will fit without needing multiple loads. This day-to-day capacity would be the top priority for around 27 % of consumers. |
| Noise and consumption | Check the label for the exact model, comparing noise, capacity, water per Eco cycle and energy per 100 Eco cycles. | In a small home, I may hear the cycle from my living area, and I want to compare consumption for similar loads. Around 27 % of consumers would put these everyday considerations first. |
| Everyday usefulness | Consider how much space the appliance will take up permanently and whether you can wait until it’s sufficiently full before each cycle. | If my kitchen is temporary or I produce very little washing-up, I’d rather avoid an appliance that’s hard to fit into my routine. Avoiding an unsuitable purchase would be the priority for around 13 % of consumers. |
The European Commission says dishwasher labels include information such as capacity, Eco programme duration, water consumption per cycle, energy consumption per 100 Eco cycles and noise. Compare these details for specific models: they don’t tell you how many cycles your household will need to run.
A mini model’s tank may mean you don’t need to connect it to a water supply, but you still need somewhere for the waste water to go. A mains-connected countertop appliance needs an accessible water supply, while a freestanding 45 cm model takes up floor space.
Measure the space, locate the sink and check the full hose route in the manual for the model you’re considering.
Adapting a water supply, drain or support may also require some work.
A couple who use saucepans and lunch boxes won’t have the same load as a couple who prepare few meals. The models mentioned from Daan Tech, Candy and Whirlpool are rated for 2, 6 and 10 place settings respectively, but these figures don’t tell you how much space each item takes up.
Make a list of everything you use for a day’s washing-up, then check the permitted dimensions and basket layout.
Two per-cycle figures don’t reflect the same usage if the appliances have different capacities and the smaller one needs to run more often. The label shown by the European Commission also lets you check capacity, duration, energy and noise.
Compare the Eco programme for specific models and factor in how often you’re likely to run them. ADEME recommends waiting until the dishwasher is sufficiently full.
In France, the Ministry of the Economy states that the statutory legal guarantee of conformity is mandatory for goods sold by a business to a private individual. A commercial warranty is separate.
Before accepting an extended warranty, read its terms and check what it offers beyond the legal protection that applies to your purchase.
The Bob model is an example of a mini countertop dishwasher for homes without any floor space to spare.
The CP 6E51LS provides a useful comparison for a higher-capacity countertop model than a mini model with a water tank.
The SPS4EMI11E is an example of a slimline freestanding model to consider only if you have floor space available.
The WSFO3T223P is another example of a 45 cm freestanding dishwasher to compare if you have floor space and the necessary connections.
These countertop models are for smaller households looking into options that don’t need floor space. Before choosing one, check its manual for the space required, water supply and, most importantly, drainage route.
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Worth considering if you want an appliance on your worktop without relying on a fixed water supply. The title states that it has an integrated 5 L tank and “5+1” wash cycles. Check its loading capacity, the space it needs and the drainage route in your kitchen.
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Worth considering if a small load suits your day-to-day washing-up. The title states that it has 3 place settings and 7 programmes. Before choosing where to put it, check its dimensions, drainage and the noise level listed for the exact model.
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Worth considering if your usual load is bigger than a mini model’s and you have access to a water supply. The title states that it has 6 place settings and 7 programmes. Measure your worktop and check the manual for how to set up the water supply and drainage.
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Worth considering for a small kitchen where there might be room for a countertop appliance. The title states that it has 7 programmes and an automatic door-opening feature. Before buying, check that its capacity suits you and read the model’s instructions for the water supply and drainage.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a countertop model with a choice of wash programmes. The title states that it has 8 programmes and a built-in water softener. Check the dimensions, capacity, water supply and drainage requirements before setting aside a space for it.
It can work without being connected to a water supply, but you’ll still need a way to drain the waste water. Daan Tech says Bob has a 3,9 L tank and a drainage hose. Check your model’s manual to see where the hose needs to lead.
No. A narrow 45 cm freestanding model isn’t a countertop appliance. Bosch’s SPS4EMI11E and Whirlpool’s WSFO3T223P are 600 mm and 59 cm deep respectively. Choose this format only if you have a suitable space on the floor.
Compare the Eco programme details on the labels of specific models, taking their capacity and the number of cycles you’ll need into account. The European Commission says the label includes information such as energy consumption per 100 Eco cycles and water per cycle. The litres used per cycle alone aren’t enough to decide.
No. The French Ministry of the Economy distinguishes between the statutory legal guarantee of conformity, which is mandatory for goods sold by a business to a private individual, and a commercial warranty. Read the terms of the extended warranty to see what it adds, and don’t confuse it with your legal rights.
Yes. Check the electrical requirements in the dishwasher’s manual, and ask a suitably qualified professional to inspect an old or uncertain installation. The French order published on Légifrance concerning electrical installations in residential buildings refers in particular to the NF C 15-100 and NF C 14-100 standards. You’ll still need to check the requirements for your appliance and home.