If your kitchen is short on floor space and has no dedicated water supply, a mini dishwasher with a water tank could be an option, provided you can plan for drainage and make room for it on your worktop. A slim freestanding model needs a suitable space and connections, while a compact integrated model requires a compatible cabinet and a suitable door panel. Then compare capacity with the amount of washing-up you have, and check the full dimensions and Eco programme figures.
A mini model with a tank can do away with a fixed water connection. However, check where the waste water will drain, where the appliance will stand and how to meet the electrical requirements in its manual. Daan Tech describes both water-supply options for its Bob model.
If there’s a permanent space near the connections, a slim freestanding model means you won’t need to use up worktop space. Check its depth and height too: the Bosch SPS4EMW17E, for example, is 45 cm wide, 60 cm deep and 84.5 cm high, according to Bosch.
A compact integrated model is worth considering if the housing unit, door panel and connections are already part of your plans. Electrolux, for example, describes the ESL2500RO as a 55 cm fully integrated model; check the installation requirements before choosing it.
First rule out any types that won’t fit in your kitchen or can’t be supplied with water and drained. Capacity and usage figures can then help you choose between the remaining options.
Worth considering: when you don’t have a floor space set aside for the appliance; a model with a tank can also do away with a fixed water connection.
The trade-off: it takes up worktop space and may have limited capacity; a tank doesn’t remove the need to plan for drainage.
Worth considering: if there’s floor space near suitable water, drainage and electrical connections.
The trade-off: a width of 45 cm doesn’t guarantee a shallow depth or clear access in front of the door.
Worth considering: when your kitchen plans include a compatible cabinet and door panel.
The trade-off: the appliance doesn’t come with its own housing unit. Electrolux specifies that the furniture door for the ESL2500RO is not supplied.
| What to consider | What to check | Who should care? |
|---|---|---|
| Overall size | Measure the width, depth and height, as well as the clearance needed with the door open; for a countertop appliance, also check that the surface can support it. | If I want to keep my worktop clear or leave room to move around, I need to know how much space the appliance will take up during meals and when its door is open. Around 42% of consumers are said to prioritise the space it takes up. |
| Everyday capacity | Compare the number of place settings and the space in the racks with the crockery you usually use, rather than judging capacity by width alone. | When washing-up piles up between cycles, I’d rather have a size that means I don’t need to run several cycles. Capacity is said to be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Water, energy and noise | Compare the label for the exact model: kWh per 100 cycles, litres per cycle, Eco programme duration and noise level in dB. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to be able to assess noise and consumption in light of how often I wash up. Around 25% of consumers are said to put quiet operation and efficiency first. |
ADEME states that energy use is shown on the label in kWh per 100 reference cycles, while water use is given in litres per cycle. Consider these figures alongside each appliance’s capacity: a smaller model that needs to run more cycles may not suit the same needs as a larger one.
According to Bosch, the SPS4EMW17E is 45 cm wide, but it is also 60 cm deep and 84.5 cm high. Its depth and door could obstruct access or prevent a neighbouring cabinet from opening.
Measure all three dimensions, the door’s swing and the space left for moving around.
The tank on the Bob can replace a fixed water supply, but Daan Tech still requires waste water to be drained through a hose.
Find a drainage solution that’s compatible with the model’s instructions and check that its position will be stable before you buy.
The Electrolux ESL2500RO is supplied without a furniture door. Electrolux also says its installation service does not carry out carpentry, plumbing or electrical work.
Confirm the housing dimensions, door panel and requirements in the manual, and check the exact scope of the installation service with the relevant professionals.
Depending on the state of your kitchen, the cabinet or connections may need adapting before installation.
The rating alone doesn’t tell you the capacity, water used per cycle or noise level. According to ADEME, the label also gives consumption and usage figures to check for the model in question.
Compare these figures with the amount of washing-up you have and how often you expect to run a cycle.
Its Bob mini dishwasher is worth considering for a kitchen where limited space and no access to a fixed water supply narrow your options.
Its slim models are worth considering if you have floor space and the necessary connections.
Its compact fully integrated ESL2500RO is better suited to a project with a compatible cabinet.
Compare these countertop appliances if you’re thinking of giving up worktop space for a dishwasher rather than using a floor space or housing unit. Before choosing a model, check that its water-supply and drainage requirements suit your kitchen.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a countertop appliance with a tank rather than a fixed water supply.
The title specifies a built-in 5 L tank and 5+1 wash cycles. Check the space it will need on your worktop and the route for the drainage hose.
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Compare this if you want a countertop model with several wash programmes.
The title mentions eight programmes and a built-in water softener. Check the dimensions, water-supply method and drainage requirements for your chosen space.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a mini countertop appliance for smaller amounts of washing-up.
The title lists seven programmes and a D energy rating. Check the capacity against the crockery you use, as well as the drainage requirements.
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Worth considering if your priority is to minimise the worktop space the appliance takes up.
The title lists a width of 34 cm and a capacity of 3 place settings. For this listing, check the manual for the water-supply method and drainage requirements before relying on tank operation.
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Compare this if you’re looking for a stated capacity of six place settings and considering a countertop appliance.
The title lists seven programmes, 47 dB and a D energy rating. Check the overall dimensions, water connection and drainage requirements before setting aside space for it.
No. A tank can do away with a fixed water supply, but waste water still needs to drain away. For Bob, Daan Tech specifies a hose leading to the sink or another drain; check the manual and your kitchen layout.
No. Width alone doesn’t tell you whether it will fit without getting in the way. According to Bosch, the SPS4EMW17E is also 60 cm deep and 84.5 cm high; measure the space, the clearance with the door open and the room left to move around.
Compare kWh per 100 cycles, litres per cycle and noise, taking capacity and how often you wash up into account too. ADEME shows energy and water use against different reference bases; check the figures for the exact model.
Not necessarily. Electrolux says its installation service doesn’t carry out carpentry, plumbing or electrical work. Check what’s included with the seller, then confirm the housing unit, door panel and connections before ordering.